Inside the immigrant clock tower transformation with Slovak sculpture artist

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Visitors to BrewNost will see a sneak peek of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library’s transformed clock tower on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024.

The Prague-style astronomical clock, or orloj, includes 12 figurines symbolizing immigration that were installed this week, hand-carved by Slovak artist Andrej Haršány, of Borová, a village near Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Haršány, 40, is working with Czech clock specialists Vítězslav Špidlen, his son, Radim Špidlen, and Jiří Lev and Robert Holeček to put the finishing touches on the orloj before its dedication at noon Sept. 27. The milestone event will feature both Czech President Petr Pavel and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.

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Leading up to the dedication of the Buresh Immigration Tower, as the clock will be known for its lead donor, the late Ernie Buresh, the museum’s annual BrewNost fundraiser will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, where visitors will see a “soft opening” of the orloj.

The BrewNost beer festival, for ages 21 and older, features beverages, food, auctions and live entertainment. Tickets for the outdoor event, at 1400 Inspiration Place SW, are available at the gate for $75, or $50 for designated drivers.

The $1.6 million transformation will turn the clock tower, installed in 1995 along the historic Czech Village business district on 16th Avenue SW, into an “orloj” clock, modeled after the astronomical clock in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.

While the orloj will not be completely finished before BrewNost, most of the work will be done on the mechanics of the figurines and other elements of the clock tower, Haršány said.

The figurines, depicting immigrants such as a blacksmith, merchant, miner and others, will rotate on the hour to the music of Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana.

A sculpture of a Czech shepherd, an ancient sheep herding dog and watch dog, also known as a Bohemian shepherd, is also depicted in its own space on the south side of the tower.

“Its ancestor is the wolf, so it’s very wild and full of energy and very intelligent,” Haršány said, noting that the dog figurine was a special request from Buresh.

The white oak used for the sculptures was sourced from forests near where Haršány lives, he said, adding that many layers of special oils and paint will preserve the detailed figurines.

A Sokol gymnast, and two women wearing Moravian kroje, or ethnic dresses, also are among the immigrants represented. Sokol, a Czech-based social and gymnastics organization, includes a long-time unit in Cedar Rapids.

“The detail of the face is very important for me, because I can express the whole story about the figurines, about their work or play or pleasure,” said Haršány, whose art includes a variety of mediums. “It’s not just the person, it’s the whole story behind it.”

See more photos of the figurines

Haršány’s cousin, a board member of the museum, reached out and suggested he submit his portfolio to be considered for the project, which involved a collaboration with researchers and others at the museum, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Haršány spent four months crafting the figurines, each almost 4 feet tall.

“It was a pleasure and a big honor to be a part of this project,” he said. “I like the idea of the connection between two states and the heritage and tradition. I thought it was a great idea.”

See photos from the ground-breaking ceremony of the orloj and more photos of the transformation: