Chomutov, Czech Republic – October 16, 2025

On Tuesday, October 21 at 5:00 p.m., the Church of St. Catherine (Regional Museum in Chomutov) will open the international exhibition You May Dream in Chomutov, featuring artists from British Columbia, Canada.
Together with the parallel exhibition in Karl May’s birthplace, Hohenstein-Ernstthal (Germany), the project presents more than twenty artists who reflect on the Ore Mountains (Krušnohoří) region and on the literary imagination of Karl May, the legendary author of Winnetou.

Julie Oakes

“Karl May wrote about places he had never visited. More than a hundred years later, we have turned this principle around — Canadian artists have created their own visions of the Ore Mountains, a region they have never seen in person. The resulting works are diverse, strong, humorous, and touch upon many contemporary themes,”
said curator Tereza Koranda Dvořáková.

While the exhibition in Hohenstein-Ernstthal focuses primarily on paintings, the Chomutov exhibition features objects, prints, videos, and a sound installation.

Artist Julie Oakes created a Madonna for St. Catherine’s Church using her own make-up pads. Illustrator and filmmaker Raj Jain developed a work inspired by Jiří Hromada, an actor and activist from the nearby town of Jirkov, who dedicated his life to theatre, dubbing, and the successful effort to legalize registered partnerships in the Czech Republic.
The project also includes Indigenous artists such as Stephen Lytton, an actor and residential school survivor.

The opening event will be attended by a representative of the Canadian Embassy in Prague, the Regional Councillor for Culture, and Canadian filmmaker Bradley Norrish. In November, Raj Jain will personally visit Chomutov to present his work inspired by Jiří Hromada. The vernissage will also include a performance by students of the Kadaň Art School.

“The exhibitions are only the beginning. We are finalizing a film shot in British Columbia, unveiling a memorial plaque for Karl May at the former Scherber Hotel in Chomutov at the end of October, and preparing additional accompanying events. For next year, we are planning a Czech-German tour featuring three Indigenous artists from Canada,”
said project co-author Mirek Koranda.

The exhibition in Chomutov will remain open until December 14, mirroring the timeline of the Hohenstein-Ernstthal show. Both exhibitions are part of the international initiative Try Walking in May Shoes, a cultural program within the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.

Organizers and Partners

Redpond.cz • Ženský spolek, z. s. • Silberbüchse e. V. • Regional Museum in Chomutov • Municipality of Hohndorf • Atelierhaus Kühnhaide • Karl May Haus Hohenstein-Ernstthal • Lucatisk Print Studio

Supported by

Chemnitz 2025 – European Capital of Culture • Ústí Region • Czech-German Future Fund • Via Foundation • Redpond.cz • Martina Dryk Endowment Fund

Participating Artists (Chomutov and/or Hohenstein-Ernstthal)

Bree Apperley, Raj Jain, Ziyba Ibragimova, AJ Jaeger, Reg Kienast, Krystyna Laycraft, John Lawrence, Patrick Lundeen, Stephen Lytton, Julie Oakes, Delores Purdaby, Patricia Purdaby, Jacquie Sharpe, Patricia L. Smith, Cathy Stubbington, Kenten Thomas, Calvin White, Sarah Wiens, Deborah Wilson, Rosalind Williams, Isabelle Gervais, Angela Hansen, Destanne Norris, Bradley Norrish