On Wednesday, an exhibition of paintings by Jolanta Ajlikow-Czarnecka entitled "Reminiscences..." opened at the "Format" Gallery of the Municipal Public Library. The opening was an extraordinary celebration. The gallery could barely accommodate the huge number of guests who wished to honour Professor Ajlikow-Czarnecka on this special day. There were congratulations, good wishes, expressions of respect, admiration and gratitude, embraces, warm greetings, a sea of flowers, and a beautiful arrangement of culinary delights sponsored by her beloved student Tosia (Mrs Antonina Kopała-Wdowiak), owner of the "Oleńka" Restaurant.
Jolanta Ajlikow-Czarnecka is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. She studied under Wojciech Weiss, Adam Marczyński and Czesław Rzepiński at the Faculty of Painting, and under Witold Chomicz at the Faculty of Graphic Arts. After receiving her diploma, she began a new chapter of her life in Bolesławiec. She combines artistic work with teaching, achieving impressive educational results. For many years, she was associated with the I General Secondary School. She educated a whole generation of winners of Art Olympiads and Art Knowledge Competitions, who gained admission to selected universities throughout the country.
Despite her absorbing work with young people, Jolanta Ajlikow-Czarnecka simultaneously finds time for her own artistic work, seeking various forms of expression. She creates works inspired by nature: oil landscapes, pastels, expressive acrylic portraits, and collages made mainly of paper, constructed according to the principle of contrasts.
The artist has received numerous awards and distinctions from the education and culture authorities, including the prestigious Medal of the Commission of National Education and the Order of Polonia Restituta. Her works are held in the collections of the District Museum and BWA in Jelenia Góra, teacher training centres in Warsaw and across the country, as well as in private collections.
The exhibition can be viewed until the end of September. Admission is free.