Rosta Pospisil – artist, jester and poet

Rostislav "Rosta" Pospisil

Thanks the heaven for GPS! When we were setting up my appointment, Rosta told me that the village is rather hard to find, but once there it will be easy to locate him because the road ends there and there is nothing beyond. Also, the little settlement has only twelve dwellings, so at the end it shouldn't be difficult. Meghan and I got into our rental, popped up my iPad with the navigation program and started our trip to Knezevisko.  We started on a Czech freeway, soon changed to a highway and after about forty miles we had to switch to some county roads. Roads that were getting narrower, and one had to hope that a local milk man doesn't show up behind the next curve.

Music Into Heart

No kidding, Knezevisko, is up in the rolling hills of the Czecho-Moravian highlands and the final three miles were a narrow unpaved road good for two bicycles but almost too narrow for our little Seat Leon.  As we were rounding another bend right before the village's first house, a local youngster decided to rev his engine (maybe) trying to escape the quiet life of the place. We stopped about four feet from each other, both surprised to see the opposite vehicle.

Rosta was standing in front of his house in a heavy blue sweater and (as seemingly always) smoking a good cigar. He bears a strong resemblance to Ernest Hemingway, so the cigar is an important part of his presence. He welcomed my daughter Meghan and me to his endearing little country house, which is also his working sanctuary.

 

Before we started to talk art, especially his art, he insisted that we must try the goulash he had been preparing for us since last night.  (My wife Beth and both daughters Meghan and Sasha have been enthusiastic goulash aficionados ever since we started to travel to my old country after the Velvet Revolution.)  Both, Meghan and I agreed that Rosta’s goulash is the best of all the meals we tried on our trip this time.  Coffee was the old fashioned kind – two teaspoons of coffee grinds poured over boiling water.  Not so good for a coffee purist like me and the majority of Czechs do not drink it this way anymore. And, of course, a little taste of a single malt from Islay, famous for it peaty character (you either love it or hate it – I am not an admirer).

Then, the tour of his atelier started.  The whole second floor is dedicated to Rosta’s workshop.  His oil paintings are everywhere.  Mostly vivid colors, strong brush strokes with sudden focus on detail.  His gentle humor with a nostalgic twist can be seen everywhere in every painting, color drawing or graphic.  Lately, Rosta has started to make more serigraphs, clearly enjoying the technique.  He is getting ready for his big exhibit in November in Brno and works feverishly to have everything ready for the opening.

Going through his huge collection I fully understand why he has so many collectors and followers – if you want to break your everyday routine, your daily worries and demands, you need to have the opportunity to look at one of his works to lift your spirits and smile with him.

To illustrate his whimsical (some may call it childlike) approach to life here is the story I love:

During the hottest days of last summer Rosta invited about twenty friends to his country house to help him to inaugurate his new swimming pool.  Some of them even brought in their swim suits.

  

I’m certainly very happy that I was able to bring back 14 of his newest serigraphs and one color drawing.  Maybe, next time, I can bring some oil painting(s).

You may see some of Rosta’s art in Filigree store on 12262 Ventura Blvd.