Early Influences

Dagmar was born in Chicago in 1925, the eldest of Astrid and Frank Vodicka’s three children.  What I remember the most about visiting my grandparents was their “Log House” in Raphine, Virginia.  It was a rustic home FILLED with magic: paintings, murals, hand hooked rugs, chess sets, decorated window shutters, music, a scary kiln in the wood working shop and, best of all, the trash can outside their kitchen door painted with the warning “Abandon all hope, ye who Enter Here.”  Grandpa, trained as an electrical engineer in Prague was, in retirement, a world-ranked chess master who spoke five languages fluently, the theater critic for a local newspaper and a self taught ceramicist.

In addition to their shared love of ceramics, Grandma sewed, knit, painted and generally “created things” out of whatever was at hand.  They made many plates, mugs and bowls from the beautiful red clay earth they dug from around their property. Grandpa’s “Blue Ribbon” candlesticks still remain an art deco treasure enjoyed on our dining room table for special occasions.

My mother inherited her parents intelligence, wit and creativity in spades - as well as their frugal, “make do with what you have and enjoy it” attitude about art.