Back Home: Polish Chicago opens today! Through the lens of Chicago’s Polish communities, the exhibition follows the journeys immigrants have taken to get to the city, explores the ways they have established themselves in its neighborhoods, and examines the duality of feeling a deep connection to two places at once.

Join us for a Family Day highlighting the contributions of Polish Chicagoans. Get to know local organizations run by Polish Chicagoans and learn how they shape their neighborhoods and address their community’s needs. Create art with artists inspired by Polish traditions and enjoy a musical performance by the Lira Ensemble.

We’ll also be collecting images for display in Back Home! In the exhibition, the “Portrait of a Community” interactive photo album features photographs from Polish Chicagoans. Bring your snapshots, either prints or on a mobile device, so you and your family can be represented in our digital community scrapbook (please note that not all submitted images may be displayed).

Included with general admission.

Schedule

10:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m. – Gallery Tours
2nd floor, meet outside the entrance of Back Home
Join CHM curatorial assistant Joanna Bak as she leads these tours of Back Home: Polish Chicago.

10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. – Wycinanki Paper Cutting Workshop
1st floor, Holleb Learning Center
Decorate your home with some wycinanki! Meet artist Grace Bazylewski at this all-ages paper cutting workshop where you can cut three wycinanki (“vee-chee-non-kee”) styles.

1:00 p.m. – Lira Ensemble
2nd floor, Morse Genius Chicago Room
The Lira Ensemble brings the best of Polish culture into American life as the nation’s only professional performing arts company specializing in Polish music, song, and dance. Enjoy a performance by their musical quartet.

11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. – Community Fair
2nd floor, Morse Genius Chicago Room
Visit with prominent organizations from Chicago’s Polish communities, learn about artists’ works, and enjoy music while viewing more photographs from the CHM collection.