Rzeszów now boasts a beautiful sculpture called the „Ladder to Heaven,” designed by the famous artist Józef Szajna. The unveiling ceremony began with a captivating performance near the University of Information Technology and Management. It featured exciting performances by the Warsaw Mime Center, the „Maska” Theater, and the Przedmieście Theater. The event wrapped up with fun workshops called „Young People Discover the Professor,” led by UITM lecturer Paulina Dębosz.
In his later years, Professor Józef Szajna taught theater and visual arts to students at UITM. The unveiling of the „Ladder to Heaven” also marked the start of the 11th Sources of Memory festival, a celebration of the artistic legacies of Szajna, Jerzy Grotowski, and Tadeusz Kantor. This festival, known as Szajna-Grotowski-Kantor, is a way to honor the rich cultural heritage of Rzeszów and the broader Podkarpacie region.
The artistic performance revolved around the theme of travel and constant movement, evoking associations with the transience and transience of human life. In a theatrical procession, actors commenced their journey from the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów on Sucharskiego Street, where Professor Szajna also conducted lectures and walked through Sybiraków Park and the interior of the Nowy Świat Gallery before concluding their journey at the Gallery’s parking lot, situated just opposite the captivating „Ladder to Heaven” sculpture.
The sculpture is located on the green belt that separates Krakowska Street, close to the Exaltation of the Cross church. Notably, this location was handpicked by Professor Józef Szajna himself many years ago. The „Ladder to Heaven” serves as a symbol of humanity’s relentless quest for the ultimate, where some ascend while others must descend. The pinnacle is out of reach for militarists, a sentiment eloquently expressed in a letter by the artist’s son, Łukasz Szajna, to the ceremony’s attendees. Moreover, Rzeszów’s Mayor, Konrad Fijołek, underscored that the city had honored a unique creative testament from one of its most distinguished artists on a global scale, Professor Józef Szajna.
The creation of this remarkable sculpture was financed by Rzeszow’s companies, including Elektromontaż Rzeszów, Inżynieria Rzeszów, Zakład Metalurgiczny „WSK Rzeszów,” Park Hotel, Besta, Reshal, Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Dróg i Mostów, Aluteam-Alumec, and Grupa Specjał. Krystyna Stachowska, the Vice-President of the City of Rzeszów, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to these dedicated entrepreneurs for their commitment and contributions to the cultural development of Rzeszów.
Following the sculpture’s unveiling, an engaging multimedia presentation, titled „Dialogue with Józef Szajna,” and a tribute to the professor were held at the IQ Club situated within the University of Information Technology and Management. Attendees at the event were treated to an inspiring exhibition showcasing works from the 1st Biennial. Józef Szajna. In addition to this, creative workshops titled „Young People Discover the Professor” were on offer, led by Paulina Dębosz.
The events that unfolded on Wednesday, including the unveiling of the „Ladder to Heaven,” marked the opening of the 11th edition of the Sources of Memory Festival, Szajna-Grotowski-Kantor. The core idea behind this is to remind people of a creative dialogue with the heritage left by three great theater artists closely connected with Rzeszów and Podkarpacie.
