Sophie Hodorowicz Knab

Spirit of Place: The Roadside Shrines of Poland Sophie Hodorowicz Knab

"They are
works of art that speak to the creative spirit that once stirred within a heart
to carve a statue, to gather stones to build a foundation, or gather words to
form a poem or mix colors for a painting; they are messages from the past
telling what at one time was important to this person, to this village, to a city
block."-from the author's Introduction

It is said
that every country has its own genus loci or "spirit of
place." Poland's distinct character can be found in the tens of thousands of roadside chapels, crosses and shrines that
dot both its cities and countryside. A thousand years of Christianity, and the
Polish Catholic tradition in particular, have left their mark on the country's
landscape. It is impossible not to notice the religious statues and little
chapels that seem to be everywhere. Enter a courtyard in Warsaw or Krakow and
discover a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary mounted on a pedestal with fresh
flowers at her feet. Drive through a small town, and you'll spy a niche under
the eaves of a home containing a figure of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or a
little wooden box on a tree holding a small image of Our Lady of
Czestochowa. All of them seem to blend harmoniously with the environment
and beautify it. What are these objects? What do they mean? How did
they come to be in this particular place? Why are they important?

Acclaimed
Polish-American author Sophie Hodorowicz Knab explores the origins and purposes
of these roadside shrines, examining the
different types of shrines and the significance of the various religious figures
represented in them to the people of Poland. Additional chapters are devoted to
the artists and sculptors who created the shrines, the role these local shrines
played in the annual holidays, customs and traditions of the community, and their role in everyday life as well as death. Color photographs throughout depict the artistry and local
setting of these shrines.

This exploration of Poland's
roadside shrines is a unique lens through which the reader can learn about
Polish history and culture. For anyone interested in Polish history, religious
traditions, art and ancestry, this book offers much to explore.