INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY ART 5TH EDITION

The 5th edition of the Centre for Contemporary Art's International Art Collection will feature works from over 90 artists, including over 30 from abroad, incorporating different media such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, installations, video, recordings of art happenings and public projects. The exhibition will provide a sort of retrospective for the Centre, which has accumulated one of the best collections of modern art in Poland over its 20 years, reflecting the metamorphosis of the country through art. The works presented span the era from the early 1960s until the present decade, and feature both prominent Polish artists as well as those they drew inspiration from. The exhibition opens at the end of March and runs through the 6th of September.

when - Until 6th September
where - Centre for Contemporary Art, Al. Ujazdowskie 6
more info - click here

EXHIBITION: INVASION OF SOUND

In the world of contemporary and avant-garde music, the line between sound and art has been consistently hard to define. Visual and performance artists are often simultaneously avant-garde musicians and vice versa. It is in this vital development in 20th century art that Zacheta is interested, culminating in their "Invasion of Sound" exhibition starting April 2nd. World-renowned artists from all backgrounds will be showing their work from Miroslaw Balka to Jeremy Deller and Christian Marclay.

when - until August 2nd
where - Zacheta National Gallery of Art, pl. Malachowskiego 3
more info - click here

EXHIBITION: JADWIGA MAZIARSKA

Abstract painter and sculptor Jadwiga Maziarska (1913 - 2003) is the focus of this new exhibition at Warsaw's Contemporary Art Centre. As part of the Krakow School associated with Tadeusz Kantor, she was most active through the 40s to 90s. Her abstract images are composed of oil on canvas and occasionally a more unusual material such as wax or wood. Drop by the opening on June 22nd at 6pm.

when - 22nd June to 9th August
where - Centre for Contemporary Art, Al. Ujazdowskie 6
more info - click here

Exhibition: Celebration of Baroque

Leave it to the "Polish Versailles" to deliver one of the most impressive collections of Polish Baroque art, open throughout the summer. The focus is not only on the beautifully crafted works of decorative art but the affluent figures that sponsored their creation. Patrons from the King Jan III Sobieski to the shady character known as Cardinal Michal Stefan Radziejowski were major figures and their approach to art at the time is a significant focus point of the exhibition. Located in the palace's orangery.

when - until 15th September
where - Wilanow Palace Museum, ul. Stanislawa Kostki Potockiego 10/16
more info - click here

WARSAW SUMMER JAZZ DAYS

July means Jazz in Warsaw and the beginning of the month marks the start of the city's legendary Summer Jazz Days. Opening the festival on July 1st is the Wadada Leo Smith Golden Quintet with Shannon Jackson, the World Saxophone Quartet, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Fans of the late, great Nina Simone will be thrilled at the lineup of of the next concert on the 2nd including Angelique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Lizz Wright and Lisa Celeste Stroud performing "Sing the Truth - The music of Nina Simone". Another highlight of the festival is the Zorn Fest on July 3rd, celebrating the music of the hugely influential avant-garde composer and saxophonist John Zorn who will also perform on this day with his Zorn Quartet. As is tradition, a few concerts will be held in the Congress Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science (tickets 80 to 180 zloty), with at least one mass event open to the public at the Plac Zamkowy in the Old Town.

when - 1st to 8th July
where - Around Warsaw
more info - click here

This Month at Opera Club

Weekends at Opera club are far from standard, not only because every special event is accompanied by both a DJ and a live instrumentalist. In particular, July's Fridays are set for a great line-up with the University of Sound series featuring A.Rec or Grzegorz Rytka on sax. The 10th will see DJ Malakai on the decks, the 17th DJ Scraby, and the 31st DJs Amaletto and DJ Milky. Check out their website below for more details.

when - throughout July
where - Opera Club, Plac Teatralny 1
more info - click here

Exhibition: Constantin Brancusi

Influential Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi was also fond of photography, and up until his death in 1957 he managed to capture over 1000 frames of his own works. His sculptures were some of the first examples of modernist attempts in three dimensions, and are still highly prized. His Madame L.R. sculpture was sold for a staggering 29.185 million euro setting a new record earlier this year. Just don't call his works abstract - Brancusi will consider you an "idiot"!

when - 19th June to 2nd August
where - Krolikarnia, ul. Pulawska 113a
more info - click here

Exhibition: All and Now

Culture may be slowing down in other parts of Warsaw, but the Ujazdowski castle's Contemporary Museum is running at full speed. This summer you can check out the All and Now exhibition which is part of the International Festival of Caucusus Cultures, TransCaucasus 2009. The exhibition will feature video, paintings, installations, and photographs by artists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Stop by the opening at 7pm on June 28th for a performance by Natalia Mali, an artist from Dagestan who will perform "Russian Lesson or SLOVO".

when - 28th June to 9th August
where - Ujazdowski Castle, ul. Jazdów 2
more info - click here

This Month at Jadlodajnia Filozoficzna

Warsaw has so much nightlife going on, it's sometimes hard to sift through the junk and get to what's really going on in the Polish music scene. At Jadlodajnia Filozoficzna however, you'll always find DJs and bands on the pulse of the city's underground new music scene. July will feature a slew of great Polish bands, such as indie-alternative rock groups Powieki, Wnetrza, and The Washing Machine. For a more experimental night, check out the Burned Out Festival which will feature industrial electronica from across Europe. Also don't forget that every weekend you can stop by for a night of indie-dance music, where the young and hip of Poland's capital city come to dance the night away. Click on the link below for more information!

when - Throughout July
where - Jadlodajnia Filozoficzna, Dobra 33/35
more info - click here

CONCERT: MORRISSEY

Poetic vocalist and former Smiths frontman Morrissey will be passing through town this month in support of his latest effort, "Years of Refusal". Consistently memorable - certainly enough to have his fans foaming at the mouth - the Morrissey experience is worth a go at least once in your life. Check him out live at Palladium on July 7th. Tickets 189 to 220 zloty.

when - 7th July
where - Palladium, Złota 9
more info - click here

FESTIVAL OF ROSES

It may be the smallest botanical garden in Poland, but it's also one of the oldest at over 200 years. Warsaw University's Botanical Garden will be hosting its annual Rose Festival for lovers of this quintessential symbol of beauty and romance this July. Those looking for even more entertainment of the blooming variety are also encouraged to check out another gorgeous botanical garden in Warsaw above the University Library. The main Festival of Roses botanical garden is open until 8pm daily from June to August.

when - 11th-12th July
where - Botanical Garden, Al. Ujazdowskie 4
more info - click here

Concert: David Byrne

David Byrne has certainly been keeping himself busy since the demise of the Talking Heads in 1991. The youngins that might not remember the seminal new wave group will no doubt recognize Byrne's voice from X-Press 2's 2002 chart hit "Lazy", or even his more recent work with other popular groups like N.A.S.A. or the Dirty Projectors. Recently he went back in the studio with Brian Eno and emerged with "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" in 2008. A living legend! Advance tickets 132 złoty.

when - 13th July
where - Stodola, ul. Batorego 10
more info - click here

CONCERT: BRITNEY SPEARS

American pop sweetheart and international media obsession Britney Spears will be bringing her Circus tour to Warsaw this July. Spears will be performing from her repertoire of pop hits all the way from 1998's classic "Baby One More Time" to last year's "Womanizer". Check the woman in all her (usually lip-syncing) glory at Sluzewiec with tickets from 120 to 400 zloty.

when - 24th July
where - Sluzewiec, Pulawska 266
more info - click here