to 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/ScFE7zetVjI/AAAAAAAACyM/NkjtiM_913M/s320/divas+statue.jpg” border=”0″ />When my husband WG & I stumbled into Miro’s gallery in the charming Bohemian village of Cesky Krumlov, he stood like a Czech god with the sun shining only on him as tourists and customers circled in the shadows. As we studied the sculptures, something about Miro’s work niggled and wiggled in the recesses of our minds, reminding us of another artist whose work we had fallen for while visiting Toronto nearly 10 years prior for my 25th birthday. For years we had regretted not purchasing that piece that haunted us. From time to time WG would comment, “Remember that artist in Toronto?” and I would nod claiming this piece was “the one that got away – our great travel-shopping regret.”
to 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/ScFE8imnNHI/AAAAAAAACyk/lOBKcQ4uL8o/s320/miro+pozar+3.jpg” border=”0″ />
Crowds stumbled in and out of the gallery and when the tourists thinned, Miro sat on the step next to us and started talking, sharing his life story as we shared ours. He told how before the fall of communism he’d been granted a visa to live in the USA and Canada. He spoke of the cold Toronto winters of where his work had been exhibited and WG’s eyes caught mine as we read one another’s mind – “Could Miro Pozar be the artist that got away? Whose work we’d coveted for so many years?”to 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/ScFE8od-0mI/AAAAAAAACys/kUWsAlvlOV0/s320/miro+pozar+4.jpg” border=”0″ />We’ll never know. Much like reading a book and remembering the main character’s name, but not the author’s, WG & I had over the years forgotten the name of that Toronto-based-artist while the art lived on in our memories. Whether Miro was the mystery artist might have been serendipitous, but it was oddly a moot point in the purchase decision, for upon seeing his chiseled work it was a foregone conclusion that we’d return home to Holland with something from his atelier. We wouldn’t pass a second chance with “coup de foudre” – he wouldn’t be another artist whose work we’d regret letting “get away”.
Miro, upon seeing our joy at his work, offered us a discount for paying in Euros instead of the local currency and smiled as he said, “You are young. The young, they never buy art. It is always the old who buy art. They, of course, can better afford it, but I make art for the young, for the future, not for the past.” He attached the bust we’d chosen to a rolling cart, giving us a stand upon which to display it as a gift with the purchase. As we chatted, he offered to roll the statue to our car which it turned out was parked opposite his atelier and warehouse.
As we drove away, WG released his grip on the steering wheel and reached over to rub my neck, “Do you feel we bought a piece of history?” he asked and with a nod and graze of his leg, I smiled “Perhaps even a piece of our own history” as I thought of that trip to Toronto years prior when we were young and didn’t buy art.
to 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center” alt=”” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kcTb8DnPVW4/ScFFDG0x9rI/AAAAAAAACy8/_ol6sVayPcs/s320/The+Antiques+Diva+and+Miro+Pozar.jpg” border=”0″ />Photo: Miro Pozar – Sculptor – and The Antiques Diva™ along with the statue we purchased
Sarah Sophia,
You never cease to amaze me!! And how horrible for you to have frost bite again!!! I do hope you heal soon!
Miss Kris,
Merci Bien for your lovely comment!
Cheers!
The Antiques Diva (TM)
Miro,
Thanks for your lovely email regarding the blog post – I’m your greatest fan! I’ll look forward to seeing you again on my next trip to Cesky Krumlov… and I love the idea of your new art gallery/wine cafe!
Until next time,
Toma, aka The Antiques Diva (TM)
La Reine,
That’s a good idea! In fact, several readers have emailed asking to see pics of the new Berlin apartment so I’ll need to do a blog post on this sometime soon! We bought the stone statue of a woman’s torso seen in the last photo between Miro and me.
Now AD, we need a photo of your new Miro on display in your new Berlin home!
Derniers jours de l’exposition Florence Metgé à l’ I D S6 rue Beauregard – 75002 Paris M° : Sentier ou Bonne Nouvelle
Ouvert tous les jours (sauf samedi et dimanche)de 10h à 17h (interphone)
L’exposition se termine le 4 avril 2009
Daer Toma
Thank you for lovely pages about me,and for the addvertisement of my
art for american citizens.We had opened
new artcafé gallery with selection of great wines in “Český
Krumlov “.We have also net pages ” http://www.artcafe.estranky.cz “
It would be nice,to see you here again.
Best Regards ,
Miro Požar
PS. Why not present ” Miro Požar art ” live in US? 🙂
Hi Toma!
Congratulations on your wonderful FIND & BEAUTIFUL statue. Truly a lovely story! I love your photo of the statue, the talented artist, Miro and you, truly a day you will never forget. I love it!!!
Hello Toma!
What a wonderful trip you have had! And I love the sculptures!!! But also the pictures from your trip look wonderful – and so warm! it’s just sooo cold here in Denmak, I’ve got frostbites again, which is really frustrating, but also really stupid of me… I have to admid that!
Re your questions:
– The refugee’s camp was on danish soil, we just hyad all the rape and torture-victims…
– I have written a lot of books, but all most all of them in German (I know: a stupid idea!) and now I need to translate them. I have one book ready in English (Independent learning in Practice), but it’s not printed yet. Should be out this year though.
– You are welcome to mail me your art at:
lifestylers@mail.dk
I would love to look at it!
One more thing: I have written a blog-post today, which i would like as many people as possible to read, in order to warn them, that this sort of thing won’t happen to them as well:
http://ahealthierwayofliving.blogspot.com/2009/03/chiropractic-as-questionable-method.html
love, Sarah Sofia
Victorian Cobweb…
Now that, my friend, is a great idea for a book! And you’ve already titled it for me – “Travels and Treasures”!
Best,
The Antiques Diva(TM)
Thanks Cheryl! We fell in love with Miro’s work and when The Swiss Miss asked for details on Cesky Krumlov I couldn’t help but to give more info on one of my favorite artists!
Karen, I agree… somehow, the chance at a serendiptious second meeting enchanted us even more!
Oh, Toma! You HAD to buy a piece of Miro’s work! To think that this might have been “the” same artist from Tornonto! How so serendipitous! Your treasure is beautiful, the story is unforgettable. You need to write a book of your travels and treasures!
What a beautiful story! The story somehow makes his work more beautiful, if that is even possible.
What a fantastic experience for you! And, he’s an excellent artist! Thanks for sharing your experience.