Western SLOVAKIA
Figures and Episodes from the Old Testament is a temporary exhibition in the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) in Bratislava that introduces the Bible as an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists. Subtitled From Dürer to Chagall, the display presents 75 themes most frequently depicted in art and linked to the main events and heroes of the Old Testament. Artists featured include Albrecht Dürer and March Chagall, Slovak artists Ľudovít Fulla and Albín Brunovský, and lesser known names who depicted themes of The Creation, Adam and Eve, The Flood, The Judges, The Prophets and others. The better portion of the paintings, graphic works and sculptures come from the deposits of the Slovak National Gallery, while others were borrowed from other countrys' museums and galleries, as well as private collectors and the artists themselves. The exhibition takes place in the Esterházy Palace at Námestie Ľ. Štúra 4 until August 20. The gallery is open every day except Monday between 10:00 and 17:30. Tickets cost Sk80. For more information call 02/5443-4587.
photo: Courtesy of SNG
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: The Merchant of Venice - Czech and Slovak actors perform the play within the Summer Shakespeare Festivities.
Runs: Jul 2-4, starting at 20:30. Admission: Sk400, Sk450. Bratislava Castle. Tel: 02/5935-6650.
Bratislava
FESTIVAL: Guitar Festival of Johann Kaspar Mertz - The 31st year of the guitar music festival features Hungarian player Zsófia Boros, French player Judicael Perroy, Dutch player Marlon Titre and Malagian player Marco Socías.
Runs: Jun 25-30. Admission: Sk80, Sk100. Primate's Palace at Primaciálne námestie, and Pálffy Palace at Zámocká 47. Tel: 02/5935-6650.
Bratislava
HORSE RACE: Harness Racing - The 14th year of the competition takes place.
Starts: Jul 2 at 14:00. Admission: Sk40. Závodisko (Racecourse), Starohájska 29. Tel: 02/6241-1504.
Bratislava
EXHIBITION: Summer Saloon - Professional visual artists display glass works, paintings, drawings, graphic works and sculptures.
Open: Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-16:00 until July 29. Admission: free. Ardan Gallery, Dobrovičova 7. Tel: 0905/443-106.
Nové Mesto nad Váhom
FESTIVAL: Topvar Rock Fest - American band Korn was to headline the event, but expect other stars take the stage, such as Alice in Chains, Fun Lovin' Criminals, Babyshambles with Pete Doherty, Maximo Park and singer Skin.
Runs: Jun 30-July 2. Admission: Sk700 for one day, Sk1,260 for the whole festival at the door. Recreation area Zelená Voda. www.topvarrockfest.sk.
Skalica
FESTIVAL: Music Fest - The second year of the festival features Czech and Slovak musicians, including Peha, Zuzana Smatanová, Chinansky and Polemic, along with a fire and disco laser show.
Starts: Jul 1, 11:00. Admission: Sk390, Sk490. Franciscan garden. Tel: 034/6645-341.
Central SLOVAKIA
Kremnica
FESTIVAL: Battle for Kremnica Castle - Reconstruction of a historical event from 1433, or How Hussites Failed to Conquer the Kremnica Castle, accompanied by performances of historical fencing groups, music, marionettes and a fire show.
Runs: Jun 30-Jul 2, starting at 15:00. Admission: free. Kremnica sites. Tel: 045/6742-856.
Terchová
FESTIVAL: Days of Cyril and Methodius - The 17th year of the event celebrating the nation's important historical figures includes religious events and a concert by Czech and Slovak pop musicians Olympic, Zuzana Smatanová and Lucia Šoralová.
Runs: Jul 1-5. Admission: free (Sk250, Sk300 for the pop concert). Local amphitheatre. Tel: 041/5695-129, www.cmdni.sk.
Eastern SLOVAKIA
Yuri Dojc, a Canadian photographer of Slovak origin, exhibits his portraits of Slovak Jews who survived the hell of Nazi concentration camps and photos of old Jewish cemeteries and synagogues in Košice. The photographer has been working on the subject since the middle of the 1990s and debuted the results in Washington, DC in 2001. Dojc travelled through Slovakia several times during the project and also visited the family that saved his parents from the Nazis. "I first took these photographs accidentally. Later, after the death of my father, who wrote a book on Slovak Jews' history, I felt the duty to continue it," the professional photographer told TASR. Memories of the Holocaust run until July 2 in the Východoslovenská galéria (Eastern Slovak Gallery) on Hlavná 27. The gallery is open Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 13:00-17:30, and Sun 14:00-17:30. For more information call 055/6226-667.
photo: TASR
Poprad
LIVE MUSIC: Rulers of the Planet - The Irish band performs.
Starts: Jun 27 at 20:00. Admission: Sk20. Tatra Gallery, Elektráreň (Power Station), Hviezdoslavova 12. Tel: 052/772-2617.
Levoča
PILGRIMAGE: Levoča Pilgrimage - Hundreds of thousands of believers attend the traditional Catholic pilgrimage every year.
Starts: Jul 1-2. Admission: free. Mariánska hora. Tel: 053/451-3763.
Kežmarok
EXHIBITION: Tales of Fate - Katarína Vavrová exhibits her highly poetic, imaginative, dream-like and suggestive graphic works.
Open: Mon-Sun 10:00-19:00 until August 3. Admission: free. Galéria U sediaceho anjela, Starý trh 53. Tel: 052/4522-153.
