mary-masked

Blanka Matragi exhibit in Prague

Published: August 1st 2017, 11:59:01 pm

I never got a chance to write up this story from Prague, especially since it would be so image heavy and I think Patreon just recently made it possible to have more than one image in a post. I wish my photos were better, but I touched them up as best I could in lightroom.

It was two days after the election and I was still very depressed but I refused to let Trump ruin a vacation I'd wanted to take since college so I picked a neighborhood to explore and off I went. Originally, I just meant to check out the Municipal House for its amazing art nouveau architecture but I lucked out because it had this AMAZING fashion exhibit.

I walked in to the empty exhibit and they woman running it greeted me in Czech. I apologetically smiled and asked if she spoke English. She frowned a little and said, hopefully, "Sprechen Sie deutsch?" Which, sadly, is about the only German I know so I apologetically shook my head. I always feel terribly stupid in places where most people know more than one language. So, most other countries that I've traveled to.
She seemed disappointed but let me go on my way. After a few minutes she followed me to this photo

She managed to convey, in a mix of European languages, that this was inspired by orchids and the arms of an octopus. I guess I was sufficiently appreciative of this information because she attempted more communication. In a patchwork of language and hand gestures she asked where I was from. This was a question I am usually not eager to answer. People have an idea of what Californians are like, and I don't fit the assumptions that come along with that idea. The same goes for Marinites, if the people I'm talking to know anything about Marin. The same goes for Americans when one is traveling abroad. But it was especially hard just two days after America has done THE WORLD'S DUMBEST THING.
But there is a place that I'm ALWAYS happy to be associated with so I replied "I'm from New York."

The woman's face LIT UP and she searched her mind for the right words to say. Eventually she just went with "Ah! NEW YORK *enthusiastic thumbs up*" which was so kind and adoring, and so exactly what I needed to hear at a time when I was genuinely ashamed to admit to being an American. America may have been the worst, but New York was still enough to kindle joy in foreign faces. I was so touched I almost cried. And just writing about it still makes me tear up a little.

After a moment she pointed to the sign that said no photos were allowed. I deferentially assured her that I understood. Then she shook her head. She pointed to the sign and made a vague, large, gesture, then she pointed at me and nodded encouragingly. After a moment I realized that she was saying other people couldn't take pictures, but *I* could. Again, I was overcome with gratitude, said "danke" several times as emphatically as I could and proceeded to take these, admittedly not great, photos. 

These are all hand painted and dyed. I assume the beading and feathers are also done by hand.

This was a wedding dress for the bride of a sheik.

Utterly in awe and totally grateful, I happily bought the book. The lady was still so psyched to have someone there from New York she insisted on taking a photo with me and posting it on her FB page. It was really the best way I could have spent my morning.