Czech culture this week: Visit an electrifying show at 130-year-old Křižík Fountain

The new exhibition cycle Ways of Collecting presents various approaches to collecting by unveiling local and international private collections seldom available to the public, beginning with Midnight of Art, an exhibition dedicated to the collection of Karel Babíček (1956). Through Sept. 30 at Kunsthalle.

A new exhibition is at Artwall, an outdoor gallery space at nábřeží Kapitána Jaroše, until Aug. 8, Adam Tománek's Darkness Under the Sun shows pictures of the artist trying to fit himself into small areas of shade under the hot urban sun.

Czech photographer Josef Sudek staged glass works made after designs by Ladislav Sutnar, Ludvika Smrčková, and other designers all in keeping with Functionalist purity and the dictates of commercial advertising. His work is on display in Glass Labyrinths a newly opened exhibit at the Museum of Decorative Arts through October 16.

In honor of the upcoming Jan Hus Day, check out Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy which has been translated into English. The historical fantasy fiction books ("The Tower of Fools," "Warriors of God," and "Light Perpetual") by "The Witcher" author are set during the Hussite Wars and focus on a doctor/magician who becomes embroiled in intrigue.

The 2013 animated Czech film Husiti follows a pair of goofy characters who wander in and out of historical events in the Hussite era. It is streaming on Netflix with English subtitles.

See Top Gun: Maverick the way it should be seen: at a drive-in theater. The Tom Cruise action hit is at Autokino Strahov on July 6. There is also some seating for those without cars as well.

Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining is presented at Kasárna Karlín on July 7 at 9:30 pm, in cooperation with the American Center. Note that the European cut of the film is a bit shorter than the one released in the U.S.

Jim Jarmusch's weird crime opus Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai unspools at kino #Ledárny on July 8 at 9:30 pm.

Mark American Independence Day at Manifesto Anděl. On July 4 between 11 am and 9:30 pm there will be specials on burgers, hot dogs, fried Twinkies, and other American culinary delights. Live rock music can be heard in the afternoon and hip-hop in the evening. 

On Tuesday, July 5, RA Ramen will host a pop-up to support the NGO DEI organization which is a collective of Hong Kong expats in Prague. A limited number of vegan ramen will be available from 7 p.m. at the NGO DEI space.

For the Czech holidays of July 5 and 6, the government is letting the public tour Kramář Villa in Letná Park. Tours start at 9 am with the last one at 4 pm. The villa is the official seat of the prime minister and is used for meetings and special events. It is named for Karel Kramář, the first prime minister after Czechoslovak independence. 

Rocker Jack White comes to Forum Karlín on July 5 with his Supply Chain Issues tour. He have been playing about 20 songs per show, closing with the White Stripes’ hit “Seven Nation Army.” Photography is strictly forbidden, and smartphones will have to be stowed in special pouches. 

Jazz band Laco Deczi & New York Celula comes to Jazz Dock on July 5 and 6. Deczi, who has Slovak roots, has long been based in the U.S. He has been performing hard bop and jazz fusion for over half a century.

A free late afternoon concert by indie pop musician Anna Vaverková is part of the Check It series. People can bring their kids and pets to Výstaviště on July 7 at 5:30 pm and have a picnic.

Take a sip of the BLR Improv Comedy Brew! Local troupe Blood, Love and Rhetoric is at A Maze in Tchaiovna on July 7 with their freewheeling show.

Magical Fountain, at the 130-year-old Křižík Fountain in Výstaviště on July 8 and 9, goes back to the time of the industrial revolution and takes elements of the life of inventor František Křižík, who was behind the construction of the fountain and also helped to electrify Bohemia. The show uses new circus techniques, focusing on dance, acrobatics, and visual elements.