Edition 6

 

The primary goal of this educational and artistic project is to cultivate students’ cultural competencies, their ability to analyze Maria Jarema’s works of art, interpret them individually, and creatively reinterpret them.

 

The project coincides with the school’s efforts to name the High School of Fine Arts in Żory after Maria Jarema.

 

In 2024, a series of meetings was held to introduce students to the figure of Maria Jarema, her history, creative work, and artistic legacy. The students explored key aspects of Jarema’s work, including the artistic techniques she employed, the themes of her works, and the historical context in which they were created.

 

The project team took part in a study visit to Kraków following in the footsteps of Jarema: Cricoteka, the National Museum in Kraków, the Academy of Fine Arts, her apartment in Powiśle, monotype workshops on Lea Street, and the Artists’ House and Café on Łobzowska Street—the meeting place of the Kraków Group.

 

 

 

Study visit to Kraków by students from the LSP in Żory

 

 

 

 

Study visit to Kraków by students from the LSP in Żory

 

 

 

 

Study visit to Kraków by students from the LSP in Żory

 

 

 

 

A walk through the city streets, visiting special places connected with the life of Maria Jarema and the work of this exceptional artist, as well as a visit to the National Museum and the Gallery of Polish Art, where Jarema’s works are on display, served as inspiration for the young people - says dr Małgorzata Szram-Lipka, a teacher and artist co-leading the project.

 

 

 

The young people participated in monotype workshops at one of Kraków’s printmaking studios, LITOGRAF studio. The workshop was designed to introduce and explore the monotype technique and to facilitate the exchange of experiences - adds dr Małgorzata Szram-Lipka.

 

 

 

Monotype Workshop

 

 

 

 

Monotype Workshop

 

 

 

 

Monotype Workshop

 

 

 

 

 

Students’ Account of Their Study Trip to Kraków:

 

"Where Is Maria? In the Footsteps of Jaremianka

On November 19, 2024, students from the High School of Fine Arts in Żory set off for Kraków—a city of special significance because of its connection to the figure of Maria Jarema.

Following in her footsteps, we walked the streets she once walked and visited the places where she lived and created. During our walk, we had the opportunity to see, among other things, the sculpture “Hommage a Maria Jarema – Kraków Jaremiance” by Krzysztof M. Bednarski, the building of the former Esplanada, and the Artists’ House. From above the portal of a tenement house on Słowackiego Avenue, a sculpture of a woman’s head gazed down at us; Henryk Wiciński had created it in the likeness of the heroine of our trip.

Jarema was particularly fond of monotype, which was a breakthrough in her work. Thanks to the WENA Grant Program Competitions—organized by the Starak Family Foundation as part of the “Osobliwy przewodnik” project—we had the opportunity to explore its secrets. The workshops took place at Litograf Studio, one of Kraków’s graphic art studios.

We also visited the National Museum, whose collections include works by Jaremianka. The 20th + 21st Century Polish Art Gallery was the focus of our attention.

 

 

 

In 2025, students will create original works inspired by the art of Maria Jarema, participate in a meeting with her son, Aleksander Filipowicz, and set up a gallery for a professional exhibition of their work within the school.

 

 

The project team consists of 14 students from grades 2–4: Noemi Stasiewicz (2AP), Marta Sołtys (2AP), Emilia Dulniok (2AP), Julia Musioł (2AP), Maja Kruczek (3AP), Julia Strojny (3AP), Kajetan Śmietana (3AP), Antonina Bugla (3AP), Zofia Studnik 3AP, Julia Kurzawska 4AP, Natalia Nawrot 4AP, Anna Rubin Granek 4AP, Oliwia Dykowska 4AP, Magdalena Grzywok 4AP.

 

 

 

 

 

COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONTEST THEME: “A Map on a 1:1 Scale”

 

A Map—A Guide to the Life and Work of Maria Jaremianka

 

 

 

 

FINAL RESULT

 

An exhibition of monotypes inspired by the work of Maria Jarema.

 

 

 

On November 26, 2025, we took part in a grand school celebration! The High School of Fine Arts in Żory has its own patron—Maria Jarema!

 

The Starak Family Foundation / Spectra Edu is honored to have participated in this event, which coincided with the school’s 10th anniversary.

 

 

The implementation of the project titled “The Peculiar Guide” is part of the school’s history.

 

 

 

 

 

The main goal of the concept—to introduce young people to the life and work of Jaremianka through an in-depth exploration of the monotype technique she used—was realized in an exhibition of artistic ceramics and printmaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We congratulate the school on its excellent choice of Maria Jarema as the patron of the high school of fine arts, and we wish the students every success as they continue to draw inspiration from Jarema’s work, reinterpret it, and enjoy the freedom of creation!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTRUCTORS

 

dr Małgorzata Szram-Lipka, an art ceramics teacher and visual artist, combines ceramic materials with graphic structures. Her work is inspired by nature and humanity’s relationship with it. She reflects on humanity’s place in the world and in nature, and in this context, she seeks to explore the idea of global processes of which we are all a part. In 2023, she earned her Ph.D. in the fine arts. She inspires students to seek their own creative methods and to work with large-scale formats. She volunteers to lead art workshops for the city’s children and youth as part of “Art Break” and “Art Vacation.” She has led workshops in ceramic decal, linocut, and ceramic techniques. Her students’ works demonstrate a very high artistic level. She served as a thesis advisor at the High School of Fine Arts in Żory. Some of the works, presented at the 14th Biennial of Distinguished Thesis Works in 2019 and 2023 (16th Biennial) received an honorable mention. During the 2020–21 and 2021–22 school years, she served as the coordinator for projects submitted to the “Wena” Grant Program competitions.

 

 

 

Sandra Majecka, an art ceramics instructor, holds a master’s degree from the Department of Ceramics and Glass at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław, where she majored in Ceramic Art and Design. She focuses primarily on ceramic sculpture and painting. She is interested in the concept of change and transformation, which symbolizes a belief in the potential for change and development. Her creative process revolves around organic abstraction and biomorphism, and the final forms result from the translation of selected elements of the environment. Throughout the process, she places great importance on respect for the material and the processes that contribute to the creation of her sculptural objects. She is a multiple recipient of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship and the Scholarship of the Rector of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions. She has repeatedly taken part in plein-air workshops related to firing a Tongkama-type wood-fired kiln.