Café Kiosk Carved from 300-Year-Old Oak Opens In Prague Today

The František Skála retrospective at Waldstein Riding School opened to great acclaim this spring. Now the sculptor, painter, musician, and children’s book author is taking his artistry to the public sphere.

Drawings for Prastánek, the artist’s latest creation, appear as if they were inspired by Middle Earth — a combination of towering gnarled branches and a thatched roof that would make Tolkien proud.

According to the National Gallery, it stands more than 6 meters high and was created by Skála from a 300-year-old oak tree. Coffeehouse impressario Ondřej Kobza will preside over the “Rugged Stand” opening ceremony, taking place from 6pm at Malostranské náměstí.

Says Skála of the project: “Prastánek is to serve as a meeting point, a center of unexpected interactions, a space of refreshments both physical and spiritual. It refers to city kiosks, trams, and stands but is an organically-handicraft object…bringing to the touristic plantation wild nature and flamboyant architecture.”

The unveilng is part of the annual Sculputre Line Festival which sees a number of contemporary sculptures from high-profile Czech and international artists pop up around Prague. The festival commenced on June 1 with works on display through September 30 (Prastánek will be open until September 3).

Illustration: NGprague.cz

Other highlights from this year’s festvial include a cyclone-shaped bronze by British artist Tony Cragg, which will be installed at Nám. Republiky from July 14, and a massive fiberglass octopus by Slovak artist Paluš Viktor, installed on the Vltava at Masarykovo nábřeží this week. See the full line-up and map of locations here.

Originally published at www.expats.cz.