Vlasta Polacek

July 1, 2019

Vlasta, age 94, lived her life to the fullest, she loved art in all forms and was always eager to try new techniques which she took on with such gusto as to totally immerse herself into the artwork itself. You can feel the emotion and enthusiasm in her finished pieces which resonate the life she willed into them! She loved sharing her etching techniques and mentored a number of artists who also came to love printmaking. It wasn't always easy for Vlasta to paint whenever she wanted to. While under communist oppression she was in her teens and forced to work in a factory that made ammunition, she instead made tiny figurines. She managed to turn incredibly dangerous life threatening situations into, what seemed to me, by just holding my hand and making me feel safe. She posessed the quality that cloaked me in love and out of harms way, as when we had to cross the border from Czechoslovakia into Vienna on foot in the winter. I don't remember being scared, just holding her hand on some kind of adventure. That bond of respect, pride and love was not only felt by me but by many people that came to know and love her over the years. When a group of artists and I started an artists co-op, Mom surprised us by purchasing a building to put the gallery into. That was 23 years ago and we are still carrying out her dream at the ARTISTS PALETTE. SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, MY MENTOR AND MY HERO! THANK YOU MOM! A Celebration of Vlasta's life will be at The Blue Bayou in Manitowish Waters on Sunday, August 4, 2019 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Please RSVP Val, 715-543-2728 if you can make it.