Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia in which pessimism and negativity are absent.
1) Highly anticipated cave reopening
Demänovská Cave of Freedom is open again. It welcomes tourists with a new lighting system. (source: ŠOP SR)
After nearly a year of closure, the Demänovská Cave of Liberty (Demänovská Jaskyňa Slobody) in the Liptov region has reopened to the public, now featuring a new lighting system. The next phase of the project will focus on the Demänovská Cave of Peace, where debris from the 1980s needs to be removed.
In the recent reconstruction phase, the cave's lighting has been revamped with modern LED lamps, designed to save energy and reduce heat emissions within the cave while offering a refreshed view of its familiar spaces, as explained by Peter Gažík from the Slovak Caves Administration.
Read more in Slovak.
2) Sculpture By The Sea
The 'KUVYT' installation by Lubo Mikle, consisting of six containers, represents a star. (source: TASR/Dano Veselský )
Sculpture By The Sea, an arts festival held on the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk in Sydney, is celebrating 25 years.
This year, it features a striking creation by Slovak artist Lubo Mikle again, adding a touch of Slovak flair to the international list of artists. He has exhibited his art at the festival six times since 2015.
For example, the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, a permanent sculpture collection at Sculpture by the Sea between Sydney and Melbourne, includes Mikle's artwork and can be found near Adelong.
Lubo Mikle's A.I.B. installation for this year's Sculpture By The Sea festival in Australia. (source: Lubo Mikle/Sculpture By The Sea)
Lubo Mikle's artwork F.E.H. on display in Adelong, Australia. (source: Lubo Mikle/Fiona D’Alessandro)
Featuring 105 sculptures by 112 artists from 21 countries, this year's event is yet again a highlight of Sydney's calendar of events, attracting half a million visitors each year.
This year, it runs from October 20 to November 6.
Lubo Mikle's O.U.T. installation exhibited in Australia. (source: Lubo Mikle/Sculpture By The Sea)
P.S.: Mikle is also behind the 'KUVYT' installation (below) consisting of six containers. They represent a star. It was on display in Bratislava in 2021.
3) Let's jazz
Semi-finalists of jazz competition. (source: FB/Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz)
The 22-year-old Slovak pianist and composer, Alan Bartuš, stands out as a prominent talent not only in Slovakia but across the European jazz scene, taking part in prestigious international piano competitions. His exceptional talent catapulted him to the semi-finals of the world's most prestigious and challenging jazz competition, the "Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition" (previously known as the "Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition"). The contest will take place on October 14-15.
Sharing the stage with eight semi-finalists from the USA, one from Canada, and one from South Korea, Bartuš's remarkable journey adds a European touch to the competition that has propelled the careers of jazz greats like three-time Grammy Award-winning singer Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Each year, this renowned competition spotlights a different musical instrument, and this year's focus is on piano prodigies under 30.
Bartuš, who released two albums this year, wants to study at the Manhattan School of Music in NYC. Anyone can support his journey here.
Read more in English.
Here's more good news published by The Slovak Spectator:
A family tragedy hasn't stopped Malaysian artist Sharon Sen from the small things in Slovakia.
Rare Slovak Paradise locality with monastery being .
Many things about Slovakia drive her crazy. The Polish writer's plan is to stay here anyway.
Muránska Planina could become another dark park in Slovakia.
Východná Vysoká: 'Eternal Rain', alpine lakes and streams in the of the Tatras.
FUNNY MEME FOR THIS WEEK
Power Rangers
Translation: "SMER + HLAS + SNS". "Your plans to remain living in Slovakia". (source: zomri)
After Hlas decided to proceed with coalition negotiations involving Smer and SNS, the three parties, represented by Robert Fico (Smer), Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), and Andrej Danko (SNS), have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement outlines their commitment to form a coalition government together and includes an understanding of the distribution of positions and ministries.
While the three have a reason to celebrate, some others unhappy about this future government coalition have none.
You can send me your tips on positive news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: yehor.zhukov@spectator.sk. Thank you
