ADRES
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Canada
From Editorial Board
Strumień is a magazine published annually in Western Canada to present works of Canadian-Polish contributors. We publish poetry, essays, reviews and artwork of local artists, whose common link is their Polish heritage. Strumień was published first time in 1999. So far there was 7 issues printed, the last one (no 7) in winter 2011.
Strumień is published predominantly in Polish language, but it also contains some articles and poetry in English. Prior to 1999, we felt that there was a lack of an effective mechanism to preserve and showcase works of authors whose common thread was their Polish heritage. Culture does not exist in a void. It comes from a need to describe contemporary world, but that description draws its vital strength from a treasure of one’s won cultural past. A closet of sort, containing full set of instruments necessary to operate in a world of cultural imagery. Since the late 1960, the Canadian society changed in profound ways. No longer Anglo-Saxon and French roots were the only and defining values or set of clues determining the Canadian experiences. The cultural awakening of other ethno-cultural parts of our national mosaic demanded different ways of approaching art. However, the official and established ways of doing so, were not prepared to embrace these changes. The establishment viewed the new means of
Strumień is published predominantly in Polish language, but it also contains some articles and poetry in English. Prior to 1999, we felt that there was a lack of an effective mechanism to preserve and showcase works of authors whose common thread was their Polish heritage. Culture does not exist in a void. It comes from a need to describe contemporary world, but that description draws its vital strength from a treasure of one’s won cultural past. A closet of sort, containing full set of instruments necessary to operate in a world of cultural imagery. Since the late 1960, the Canadian society changed in profound ways. No longer Anglo-Saxon and French roots were the only and defining values or set of clues determining the Canadian experiences. The cultural awakening of other ethno-cultural parts of our national mosaic demanded different ways of approaching art. However, the official and established ways of doing so, were not prepared to embrace these changes. The establishment viewed the new means of
creativity as fringe elements. Short lived experiment with state sponsored multiculturalism died a slow death due to the lack of funding and proper understanding of the value of those new means. Even public institutions, such as universities and colleges in their research of this subject showed an amazing lack of appropriate tools and understanding of these issues. Soon, the term ‘multiculturalism’ meant little more than a popular political slogan void of deeper meaning. Hence, Strumień was created.
The title name is not incidental, of course. Strumień means a ‘stream’ in English. And stream is not only a moving body of water, but also a way of transporting energy from point A to point B. Our magazine tries to facilitate such an exchange of tremendous energy and potential of the Polish heritage, as an example of old national and ethnic culture to shape and enrich new Canadian culture and identity. It also provides a reflection on the impact of living in a diasporas on the evolution of the transplanted cultural values. We do not purport to have the power to impact on these reciprocal influences. All we try is to preserve an important aspect of moment in time of cultural creativity, so others might build upon it. If we achieve a small part of it – our effort will be well worth it.
The title name is not incidental, of course. Strumień means a ‘stream’ in English. And stream is not only a moving body of water, but also a way of transporting energy from point A to point B. Our magazine tries to facilitate such an exchange of tremendous energy and potential of the Polish heritage, as an example of old national and ethnic culture to shape and enrich new Canadian culture and identity. It also provides a reflection on the impact of living in a diasporas on the evolution of the transplanted cultural values. We do not purport to have the power to impact on these reciprocal influences. All we try is to preserve an important aspect of moment in time of cultural creativity, so others might build upon it. If we achieve a small part of it – our effort will be well worth it.
Links to pages of authors who published in English language
