Kim Kapera, an artist-in-residence at Akron’s Soul Train gallery, recently hosted a community pierogi dinner as part of her exhibit, ‘The Lucky Ship.’ The event was a culmination of her journey through grief following the loss of her Polish grandparents, Zofia and Leszek Janczura.

Exploring Heritage

Kapera’s exhibit transforms the gallery into an intimate environment filled with family artifacts, photographs, mementos, and historical documents. The installation tells a deeply personal story of memory, identity, and the enduring ties that connect generations.

Kapera’s grandmother was born and raised in Jodłownik, a small village in eastern Poland, while her grandfather grew up in Kraków. After immigrating to the United States, they settled in Ohio, first in Parma and then Old Brooklyn before moving to Brunswick in 1982.

The pierogi dinner, which featured polka music and entertainment by Bellows & Backbeat, encouraged attendees to sit at tables with strangers and engage in conversations about family history, culture, and tradition. Kapera was touched by the strong emotional responses to her exhibit and the connections she made with the attendees.

A Personal Journey

Kapera’s journey to explore her heritage began after her grandparents’ passing in 2020. She sorted through their belongings and discovered a wealth of well-preserved documents detailing their immigration process. This experience led her to apply for dual citizenship, which she saw as a meaningful step toward reconciling her sense of belonging and reconnecting with her family’s history.

Kapera credits her grandparents for her interest in foreign languages and cultures. She spent weekends at their house growing up, exposing her to Polish customs and instilling a curiosity to understand other people and their backgrounds.

Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.