It is probably unnecessary to remind most of you that Unijazz has been a continuation of the original Jazz Section since 1987. That is why we have decided to make efforts to protect the public space on Kačerovo, the place where the Jazz Section was located. At present, a procedure is underway to permit the development of the "Krčská zahrada Residence", but this development would encroach on a public green space of significant cultural and historical value.
Since 1976, it has housed the JS office, reading room, lecture hall and exhibition space, and has been the venue for a number of independent cultural events. Over the years, the "Little House", as we used to call the JS headquarters, became a place where visitors from all over the country headed. It functioned as an informal, and not reluctantly carried by the state authorities, centre of wider independent cultural exchange, distribution of samizdat and meeting of people from all corners of the federal republic allied to these interests. Much to the dissatisfaction of the communist establishment, in 1978 the Jazz Section became part of the International Jazz Federation of the Unesco Music Council, giving its activities an international dimension with a firm anchorage in the world cultural community. Among other things, this is why the idea of establishing a small park on the neglected hillside below Domeček was conceived to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II and the founding of the United Nations. The UN administration even gave permission for a memorial to commemorate these anniversaries. The Jazz Section purchased trees and shrubs, which were planted by members of the Association on the anniversary days of May 1985 in vacant lots along Ke krčské slope and on the adjacent hillside. This area now includes dozens of trees and an avenue. Many of them were planted during visits to Czechoslovakia by prominent personalities who supported local independent cultural activities and thus symbolically confirmed this support. Kurt Vonnegut was the first to plant a tree in this avenue, and John Updike and the philosopher Gordon Skilling, among others, also have trees here.
The trees planted 40 years ago have grown up and the resulting park, although now somewhat neglected, represents a link between a strong local identity and cultural and historical events. We feel that to jeopardise this tangible part of local history would not only be a tangible loss to Prague 4, but would represent a gross insensitivity to cultural heritage. The petition is addressed to the Prague City Council, because the matter goes beyond the local dimension of the Prague 4 Municipal District, which is familiar with the matter and receptive to our concern.
It would be great if the park could be completely revitalized and restored to the extent of the original planting, including the avenue. We would be glad if you would support us in our efforts and add your signature to the petition. After all, the "Little House" was the forerunner of the Reading Room, where you will find the signature sheets.
Here is the complete text PETITION
Thank you for your signature.
Chescha Hunyat
Stars past and present
In February, the Reading Room was a mix of anxious writers, a sailor, five bands and climate-engaged youth. The diversity that Čítárna can bring to the Prague cultural scene was again on full display and we will continue in a similar style in March. Twice, we will be hosting the big stars of the contemporary cultural space and social networks - psychotherapist Honza Vojtko will launch his audiobook Relationships and Traps alongside Ester Geislerová, and the populariser of literature Karolína Zoe Meixnerová, together with Marek Blažíček, will perform a theatrical discussion about the great writers of the last century, namely Egon Bondy and Honza Krejcarová. Pavel Skála and Olin Nejezchleba will also take us into the history of the Czech underground in the first of a series of three evenings in which we will remember the band Marsyas in music and words. In addition, we will again discuss environmental issues, this time with Michal Hořejší, author of the book The Politics of the Forest, and at the end of the month we will be part of the legendary Žižkov Night, when Mucha or Kittchen will play.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been going on for almost a year. On this sad occasion, in cooperation with KineDok and Czech Radio, we are adding a public discussion "The next Hlavák station: a year of the invasion of Ukraine." Listening to the audio documentary ČRo Příští stanice Hlavák (The Next Station Hlavák), which deals with the situation at the Main Station immediately after the outbreak of war and the mass exodus of Ukrainian women from their country, will be complemented by a debate with the documentary's author team, its protagonists and other invited guests.
Another of the evenings at Krenovka dedicated to the fascinating people around us took place in the completely full Reading Room of the Unijazz. Those who arrived were faced with a barrage of humorous chatter from the indomitable traveller and sailor Rudy Krautschneider, who told in his own way about his experiences not only of sailing but also of travelling on several continents.
Rudolf Krautschneider was born in the war year 1942 and started travelling under the communist regime in a time that did not favour individual tourism. In more than 40 years, he has travelled about half a million kilometres at sea, but on his journeys he has devoted much time and attention to the people around him, about whom he can tell stories in a charming, almost chatty way.
There are several surprises waiting for you in our February programme. Let's take a look at them!
In the first half of the month you can look forward to a great Prague band Miñtenkérwhich plays Jewish, Romani and other folk music. Our stage will belong to them on Thursday, February 9th from 20:00.
The old man and the sea, this is how Rudolf Krautschneider's lecture could be described. This an eighty-year-old adventurer he has sailed all the oceans, circumnavigated Antarctica, and even unwittingly participated in the Falklands War. He also built all the ships with his own hands. "I built my first boat when I was eight. I discovered a huge oak tree trunk and my friends and I hollowed a boat out of it. Unlike the stormy land, I find peace in my ocean voyages. The sea is not salty to me, but sweet with its distances. Cruises through the ocean's ice floes are beautiful. The fates of people at sea are both cruel and wonderful, I will tell you a lot about that," invites Rudolf to his lecture, which will take place on February 13 at 19:00 under the auspices of SUDOP Real.
We'll be pretty busy around the middle of the month. Argo Publishing has prepared a debate with authors Josef Pánek, Lukáš Palán and Mark Technik for 14 February. These three writers are united by the different forms of extreme existential experience they depict in their novels.
16.2. at 20:00 you can look forward to one of the musical highlights of the month, the band Our Dora's hands. They promise chansons for the third millennium with enigmatic lyrics about the state of the world, the process of love and the dark allure of extinction. Their melodies do not hide their captivation.
If you like slam poetry, you will find your own on 17.2. from 18:00 - and you will also support a good cause. The climate movement Fridays for Future has invited Czech slam poetry stars such as Suppertime, Honza Dibitanzl, Vasek from Aš and others.
At pub quiz you can look forward to Thursday 21.2.! We are very happy to be able to renew this tradition from the old Reading Room. 51 questions divided into ten topics, teamwork and abnormal prizes. Doping allowed within the scope of the drink menu. You can compete individually or in teams (five members maximum).
And we'll finish with punk double concert! The original Bures and Cheese Tones will play on Thursday 23.2. at 20:00.
So what are you going to do?
In addition to good beer, wine and food, in addition to concerts, author readings or interesting lectures, we renew our exhibition every month. Currently, you can see the works of Magdalena Kovářová and Ladislav Dvořák, an exhibition called Up and Down. Magdaléna Kolářová is exhibiting her hanging plastic prints - high relief. Ladislav Dvořák is showing his digital prints - cut-outs of landscapes on the border between drawing, photography and graphics. TŘI A KORDY - a free punk band that works with elements of chance - played at the opening. Everything that happens while playing was meant to happen - though unexpected, so welcome the magic of the moment.
On February 15 you can come to the opening of Hana Lundiak's Stinky 😇
The Reading Room will start the year 2023 in no other way than musically and literarily. This is exactly what the evening we are organizing in cooperation with Krenovou and now also with Prague City LibraryOn 9 January you will have the opportunity to meet, among others, the writer Štěpán Kučera, who, in addition to being the author of two books that have been nominated for the Magnesia Literatu, he also writes lyrics for musician Karel Pazdera, whom you will also be able to listen to during the evening.
At the end of the month, 27.1., don't miss the band Cuttlefish from the mountainsthat will bring us a whiff of Berlin's streets. Their music is based on improvisation, experimentation and elaboration of recurring motifs. And since many of us want to lose the Christmas goodies in January, they'll be playing Computer-controlled weight loss. Listening alone will not make you lose weight, but if you add dancing or at least a slight rocking of the knees, success is guaranteed.
In addition to the literary and musical evening and the Sepia, we are of course also planning a number of other events. Worth highlighting is the concert of the quartet Fahrzavö, two nights of free jam, or the launch of a new translation Deserted lands T.S. Eliot with the participation of the superstar of Czech English studies Martin Hilsky. In mid-January, we will also open a new exhibition of plastic prints and digital prints called Up and down. The full programme can be found here.
On Tuesday 20.12. evening Kristýna Větévka and Jakub Smola will perform their favourite pieces of folk and classical music. Start at 20:00!
Event: https://fb.me/e/5vFKJFgSv
The next day at 19:00 the concert hall will become a cinema for another screening of the 16mm film strip directed by Fila and Adam. Walt Disney, Jiří Brdečka, Charlie Chaplin and more!
Event: https://fb.me/e/3aBMigPgH
And the last event of 2022 will be an author's reading of the contemporary cursed poet, The Silence Poet. The evening will be a reflection on the many creative periods of the author's poetry, from the beginning to the future. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the Ether Collective. Thursday, December 22 at 8:00 pm.
Event: https://fb.me/e/23ZQTEmQh