(Salmon Arm, June 19, 2025) More than 15 artists from British Columbia, Canada, will participate in the programme of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. As part of the Czech-German-Canadian initiative Try Walking in May Shoes, they will present their interpretations of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory/Erzgebirge)—a region where Karl Friedrich May, the famous author of North American adventure stories, once lived, despite never having visited North America before writing his works.

“Paintings, written texts, and short films will be part of autumn exhibitions on both the German and Czech sides of the Ore Mountains. I believe visitors will be surprised by the high artistic standard of the artists, most of whom are based in the Okanagan Lake region. The exhibitions will tell new stories of the Ore Mountains. It will be entertaining—and for Europeans, also an opportunity to learn more about the oppression of Canada’s Indigenous peoples and today’s Canadian society’s efforts to make amends for this difficult past,” said Tereza Koranda Dvořáková, curator from the co-organizing Zensky spolek.

Destanne Norris, Vernon

The opening of the first exhibition will take place on September 20 in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Karl May’s birthplace, in the premises of Silberbüchse e.V. and in the windows of local shops. Some works will also be displayed in the neighbouring village of Hohndorf. From October 21, another part of the exhibition will be hosted by St. Catherine’s Church in Chomutov and the local Galerie Město (www.gmesto.eu).

And it won’t stop at exhibitions.

“We are currently filming in British Columbia with the Czech-Canadian team for a film accompanying the exhibition. We are preparing theatre, dance, and music workshops inspired by the poetics of Karl May and the contemporary visions of Canadian artists. We are also preparing a ‘remake’ of the Chomutov flea market exhibition, which Karl May visited in 1897 during his stay—all in the spirit of our initiative’s mottos, You May Dream and May It Happen,” said Miroslav Koranda (Redpond.cz), co-author of the project and director. The full list of events and participating artists will be published on www.mymay.art during the summer.

Currently involved artists from British Columbia:

Bree Apperley, Kelowna – painting, installation, textile collage; Isabelle Gervais, Salmon Arm – painting, textile; Angela Hansen, Lake Country - encaustic, ceramic, Ziyba Ibragimova, Salmon Arm – documentary filmmaker (Who We Are); Aj Jaeger, Vernon - paintings, sculpture, mixed media, Raj Jain, Kelowna – watercolours, films on identity; Reg Kienast, Armstrong – abstract sculptures, literature; Patricia L. Smith, Salmon Arm – landscape, cultural heritage; John Lawrence, Vernon – painting, BC scene; Krystyna Laycraft, Armstrong – nature- and philosophy-inspired collages; Patrick Lundeen, Kelowna – humour, installation, performance; Stephen Lytton, Vancouver – actor, writer, activist (Nlaka’pamux); Destanne Norris, Vernon – landscape painting, water symbolism; Bradley Norrish, Sorrento – video, film inspired by Karl May; Julie Oakes, Vernon – painting, installation, founder of Headbones Gallery; Jacquie Sharpe, Salmon Arm – painting, leather goods; Cathy Stubbington, Enderby – puppetry, community theatre; Calvin White, Salmon Arm – poet, essayist, playwright; Sarah Wiens, Salmon Arm – light and colour installations; Deborah Wilson, Vernon – jade sculptures and jewellery. We are currently in talks with other, mainly Indigenous, artists.

Julie Oakes v Headbones Gallery

Project organizers and partners:
Redpond.cz, Ženský spolek, z. s. (Women’s Association), Silberbüchse e. V., Chomutov Regional Museum, Municipality of Hohndorf, Atelierhaus Kühnhaide, Karl May Haus Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Lucatisk printing house. Workshops will be led, among others, by the Klement Slavický Art School from Kadaň.

Project financial supporters:
European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, Ústecký Region, Czech-German Future Fund, Via Foundation, Redpond.cz, and supporters via the e-shop shop.mymay.art.

Support in Canada:
Calvin White, Reg Kienast, Ziyba Ibragimova, Destanne Norris, Jacquie Sharpe, Julie Oakes, Arts Council Enderby, and Arts Centre Salmon Arm. Negotiations are ongoing with the Canadian embassies in Prague and Berlin.

Contact:
Tereza Koranda Dvořáková, WhatsApp – +420 724 883 124, tel.: 236 888 2506
Mirek Koranda, WhatsApp – +420 739 320 640, tel.: 236 886 2824