SACROEXPO HAS COMMENCED!

The SACROEXPO 2017 was formally opened by HE Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski - Vice-President of the Polish Episcopal Conference, Metropolitan Bishop of Krakow, Rev. Jan Piotrowski PhD. - the Bishop of Kielce Diocese, Senator Krzysztof Słoń, Mayor of the City of Kielce ANdrzeh Sygut and President of Targi Kielce Andrzej Mochoń PhD took the floor at the ceremony.

For years SACROEXPO has attracted 5,000 visitors to Targi Kielce.  Targi Kielce is one-stop-shop presentation of the latest trends in sacral art, devotional items and accessories as well as church fitments, new technologies for sacral construction and properties and heritage conservation.  This year's exhibitors list includes 270 forms and organisations from 13 countries such as: Poland, the United States, Slovenia, Ukraine, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Russia, Germany, Macedonia, Greece, Portugal and Slovakia.

Through Arts to God

The Pontifical Council for Culture Medal “Per Artem ad Deum” has been awarded at SACROEXPO for 13 years now.  The Medal has been awarded to artists or institutions whose artistic achievements and heritage contribute to the culture development and shapes man's spirituality.  Until now the accolade has been presented to, inter alia  Wojciech Kilar, Krzysztof Zanussi, Ennio Morricone, Mario Botta, Krzysztof Penderecki.

This year the Medal Chapter has bestowed the Medal upon the three people who represent different fields of arts and science.  "In recognition of "a constant struggle with questions of great magnitude which help to understand the universe essence" the medal is presented to Professor  Michał Kazimierz Heller - a Catholic priest, theologian and professor of theology is presented the Medal. The Pontifical Council Medal is also presented to the Czech Catholic priest, a philosopher, psychologist and theologian - Rev. Professor  Tomas Halik.  The Chapter has resolved to present the medal "for the testimony truest faith demonstrated in the world perception through people's eyes".  "For the insightful and creative perception of man's beauty, diversity and uniqueness”  - the Medal is also presented to Austria based photographer and reporter -  Claudia Henzler who has worked for Austrian, German and American media.

The first PER ARTEM AD DEUM conference

The Per Artem Ad Deum Conference is held on 13 June - this is the continuation of the Pontifical Council for Culture's idea to award the Medal. 

The Conference features the Medal laureates as keynote speakers - they substantially contribute to the to promotion of dialogue between the diversity of cultures in the contemporary world. Presentations at the conference will be delivered by Rev. Professor Michał Kazimierz Heller, Rev. Professor  Tomas Halik, Professor Leszek Mądzik and Claudia Henzler.  The debate is moderated by Mr Miłosz Horodyski - deputy director of TVP3 Kraków, a film and television producer, a painter.

An attractive church-focussed expo

There are also a number of art exhibitions included in this year's expo programme. The programme includes the  "Mother Teresa - the Saint from Skopje, Saint of the World" prepared on the occasion of Mother Teresa's canonization.  The exhibition was originally put on display on St. Peter Square, the display included Grzegorz Gałązka photographs taken during Mother Theresa's visit to Poland.  "Spirituality of the Place" is the title of another exhibition staged within the scope of SACROEXPO.   Leszek Mądzik's works are the fruit of the Artistic Stage of the Catholic University of Lublin journeys to Peru, Belgium, Italy, France, Mexico, Spain, Belarus, Ukraine and different corners of Poland.  The expo attracts visitors with other compelling events: the Per Artem Ad Deum Medal laureate - Claudia Henzler's photographs as well as "Our Mother" exhibition consisted of reproductions of little-known paintings and sculptures of Mary normally displayed in Italian and German churches and museums.

The exhibition will be graced with the presence of the highest Church dignitaries and clergy. Wojciech Cejrowski also promised to pay a visit.  The traveller will call in the expo centre on June 14. Cejrowski will sign books and talk about travels.

(BS)