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Celebrating St. Paul Czech and Slovak immigrants and their families

The Community Gate Project was dedicated September 11, 2004 in the High Bridge Park North, St. Paul, Minnesota.

See also:  Building the puppets!

The West 7th/Fort Road Federation/District 9 Community Council and SOKOL Minnesota dedicated the sculpture commemorating the contributions of Czech and Slovak immigrants and their families in building neighborhoods and businesses in the West End of the City of St. Paul since the 1860's.

This environmentally-sensitive sculpture by artist Craig David incorporated historic, salvaged materials including a baptismal gate from St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church (their national church) and granite curb stones and pavers from St. Paul streets. 

The installation reflects and honors several themes:

Pylons/granite curb stones & pavers define the space and the park as a gateway to both the West End and of the transition to a better life

Nine-foot-square baptismal gate: reflect the role the church, St. Stanislaus Kostka, played in supporting their community

White finials:  The wings of the falcon represent the role that benevolent organizations and the C.S.P.S. Hall played in supporting their community.  SOKOL Minnesota preserves Czech and Slovak culture in the metropolitan area.  Sokol is the Czech word for falcon. This reference reflects the importance of music in the life of the Czech and Slovak people, as well as celebrating their premier composer.

The carvings on the white marble finials are figurative representations from Antonín Dvořák's opera Rusalka (and one of his best-known arias: "Mĕsičku na nebi hlubokém" (Silver Moon), her lament for a distant lover. 

Rusalka is the central figure in Dvořák's opera.  As a water-nymph, she leaves her underwater home through a witch's spell to live on land - but with tragic results.  The sculpture also references the nocturnal water faeries of Slavic folklore, appropriate for this prime Mississippi River vantage point. The detail at left references Rusalka's back with her voluptuous curves and long bond hair.

Rusalki are found throughout Slavik folklore.  They usually inhabit waterways, and at night wait nude in birch trees for their male suitors.  Their breasts are large framed by flowing blond hair, and if an unsuspecting male happens upon them, he would be drowned in the nearby water.  Other folk legends differed...

 

The birch forest, 
where rusalki waited 
for their male suitors.

The installation looking east,
to the River
Waiting for Rusalki?
Dedication
The dedication began at 11:15 a.m. with the presentation of the Czech, Slovak, and American flags and the giant puppets Jarda and Jirka (Judy and Jerry).

Construction of the puppets was an extended project of the Community Gate Project.  This collaboration brought together the neighborhood District Council "Federation" and SOKOL Minnesota, with SOKOL members providing the volunteer work.The puppets were dressed in Moravian kroj or costumes.

 
Elise Anderson, Ms. Czech-Slovak Minnesota and Lesley Wondra, her first princess, welcomed the 100 or so in attendance.  Laurie Witzkowski  followed with a desciption of how Jarda and Jirka came into this world:

from sculpting clay to paper mache, 
from painting to sewing.

Joyce Tesarek, President of SOKOL Minnesota, followed and capsalized the Czech-Slovak immigration and the history of the C.S.P.S. Hall.

The children's dance group, led by Louise Wessinger, entertained with four dances.

Following the short half-hour dedication, most of the assembled then paraded to the SOKOL/C.S.P.S. Hall for the 15th annual festval

New Prague, September 18, 2004

Here Jarda and Jirka pass by the Church of St. Wenceslaus in New Prague, Minnesota in the 20th annual Dozinky festival parade, Sepember 18, 2004.  Judging by the crowd reaction, they were the most popular unit in the parade!  Jarda and Jirkea will continue to take the name and honor of the Czech community, the West End and St. Paul to parades celebrating Czech and Slovak culture and immigration in the United States.

 

Installation

The gate was lowered into place with a pettibone.  The gate may weigh as much as 1000 pounds.

Granite curb stones, donated by the City of St. Paul's Department of Public Works, form the pylons and pillars of the installation.  They often weighed as much as 3000 pounds each.  Each has a four-foot footing of cement.

 

Artist Craig David often laboured alone throwing these weights around. At right, one accomplice, Don, stands behind bars.

The gate takes its place in the stone constellation
des objets d'art du parc.