Artist Sonya Darrow on Work with the Oral History Project

Detail from Untitled #1

To enhance the NCSML’s traveling oral history exhibit, Leaving Czechoslovakia, Cedar Rapids artist Sonya Darrow worked with the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library to create a collage of documents Czechs and Slovaks used to emigrate. Here, she reflects upon the collaboration:

The collage - Untitled #1 - was first shown in New York City at the Bohemian National Hall in June 2012. It has also been displayed at Des Moines Public Library, Iowa. It is the first in a series of artworks using documents gathered by the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s oral history project Recording Voices & Documenting Memories of Czech & Slovak Americans.

Untitled #1 on display in NYC

Sonya Darrow and Rosie Johnston with Untitled #1 in Des Moines

Humanities Iowa event in Des Moines, October 17

The NCSML is opening its oral history traveling exhibit, Leaving Czechoslovakia, in Des Moines Public Library Central Branch on Wednesday, October 17. 

At the opening, speakers will include Dr. Kieran Williams (Drake University), Dr. Mila Saskova-Pierce (University of Nebraska - Lincoln), Dr. Igor Tchoukarine (Macalester College) and Recording Voices & Documenting Memories interviewee Peter Vodenka.

The opening will run from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. It is free and open to the public. Leaving Czechoslovakia will remain on display at Des Moines Public Library until October 31. 

Please RSVP to Rosie Johnston by October 12 at rjohnston@ncsml.org. 

The event is co-sponsored by the Iowa International Center and Des Moines Public Library. It is made possible by a grant from Humanities Iowa, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.