Kim Kapera expected people who knew how close she was to her Polish grandparents to attend her community pierogi dinner, part of her 2026 artist residency at Akron’s Soul Train gallery.
What she didn’t expect: so many new faces, hailing from many different cultural backgrounds, sharing strong emotional responses to her exhibit.
Why? As a photographer, Kapera was accustomed to telling other peoples’ stories. This event, though, and its immersive multimedia installation, marked the first time she shared her story. No wonder Kapera was touched to be surrounded by so many new friends, many of whom discovered there’s a deep desire for conversation and connection about family history, culture and tradition.
“Magic happens when you mix good ingredients together!” said Kapera, whose residency ended on May 30.
At the heart of “The Lucky Ship,” the title of her installation, was Kapera’s journey through grief following the loss of her beloved grandparents, Zofia and Leszek Janczura. Rather than allowing family connections to fade, she embarked on a quest to preserve and reclaim them.
Through pierogis and the polka.
Comfort food and entertainment by Bellows & Backbeat may have brought everyone to Jilly’s Music Room, but this conversation centered around relationships — decades old and new. Diners were encouraged to sit at tables with strangers. Each table included a placard with conversation starters. This space gave Kapera a public setting to process grief, embrace memories and celebrate new connections.
Kapera’s grandmother was born and raised in Jodłownik, a small village in the eastern part of Poland, about 75 miles from Warsaw. Her grandfather grew up in Kraków, about 30 miles from Jodłownik. After immigrating to the United States, they made their way to Ohio: First in Parma and then Old Brooklyn before settling in Brunswick in 1982.
(Submitted photo)
Signal Akron: What stands out as the most surprising outcome of your research?
Kim Kapera: “Through sorting through my grandparents’ possessions, we discovered I had all of the documents needed to become a dual citizen. While returning my grandparents’ ashes to Poland in 2023, I submitted the extensive documentation required to prove my Polish ancestry by descent. It became a meaningful step toward reconciling a lifelong, often conflicted sense of belonging and reconnecting with my family’s history.”
SA: How did you process the collection of artifacts, memories, letters and memorabilia for the installation at Akron Soul Train?
KK: “In my search for dual citizenship documentation, I learned just how much my grandparents held onto — including every document related to their transatlantic trip on the MS Batory. It wasn’t just a collection of things; it was a legacy that was left behind.
“My grandfather had given me his Polish negatives many years back, but it wasn’t until 2023 that I digitized the negatives as part of my grieving process. It took some time to figure out how and where I could share the story, which by that point had started taking shape in my mind. By the time I was selected as an artist-in-residence at Akron Soul Train, I had a cohesive vision. The challenging part was curating the items into a visually compelling narrative since I had so much material to work with.”
Immersive Installation ignites memories
The Soul Train installation transforms the gallery into an intimate environment filled with family artifacts, photographs, mementos and historical documents. Kapera’s aunt, Martha Janczura, sorted through her grandparents’ belongings following their death in 2020. In the process of going through their home, Janczura discovered a wealth of well-preserved documents that detailed the arduous immigration process. With such a large Polish diaspora in Northeast Ohio, the family members felt their story would resonate here.
These artifacts tell a deeply personal story of memory, identity and the enduring ties that connect generations.
SA: At what time in your life did you begin to embrace the impact your grandparents had on your development, growth and artistic demeanor?
KK: “I credit my grandparents for my interest in foreign languages and cultures. I often spent the weekends at their house growing up, so I was exposed to Polish [culture] since childhood. That gave me an ear for languages, and exposure to Polish customs that were noticeably different from my American side of the family. That instilled a curiosity to understand other people and their backgrounds and eventually led me to explore my own heritage more deeply.”
SA: Who inspired your devotion to photographs?
KK: “My grandfather is the one who initially got me interested in photography, and an uncle gave me my first DSLR camera as a high school graduation present. I studied French and photojournalism at Ohio University, wanting to merge my love of photography with my desire to see the world. While taking a multimedia class during college, I photographed my grandparents on a trip home from Athens and recorded an audio interview with my grandmother. I knew one day I would want those memories, but it wasn’t until after their death that I started piecing components to the story together into a cohesive story.”
SA: What are your thoughts, impressions, lasting memories of the culmination of the installation and pierogi community dinner?
KK: “This was my first exhibit, so everything was a new experience. I came in with a clear vision, and pretty quickly learned the art process doesn’t thrive on precise plans, even though I do. The Akron Soul Train team was incredibly helpful and gave me great guidance that ultimately led to a multimedia installation and community pierogi dinner with polka.
“One of my main takeaways from this experience is how important it is to collaborate with others in order to bring something meaningful to life. I was a part of the spring Creatives-In-Residence program at Kent State University, and that’s where I made most of the pieces in my exhibit. I am grateful for the support from the Design Innovation crew, who helped me learn how to use all sorts of new technologies over the last few months.”
