The first memorial gathering of friends of painter Zdeněk Sýkora and admirers of his work took place on the banks of the Ohře (Eger) River in Počedělice last July. The meeting was primarily attended by people from Louny, the town where he was born and lived his entire life, but naturally also from Počedělice and karby villages, some coming on foot and others on bicycle, as well as a large group of friends from Prague and even a number of people from abroad. It was a sunny summer day, clouds floating overhead reflected in the calm river. There was an unusual silence, during which we could hear the birds sing; it was as if time had stood still.... Suddenly everyone could see through the painter’s eyes and became conscious of the scenic beauty of this site. For the first time they also saw a memorial panel here, which was the collaborative effort of Sýkora’s closest friends, Vladimír Hubička and Zdeněk Ziegler, and myself. The panel was unveiled at the service and donated to the village. Although the idea for a memorial gathering was originally conceived by a handful of people, it was made possible only through the kind support of village officials, especially the Mayor of Počedělice, Eva Smetanová, and assistance from members of the fire brigade, who worked with the Ohře river authority to landscape the river banks and prepare the entire event. Several companies sponsored the installation of the panel and nearby benches, especially Felux Vršovice, CHPS Chomutov, Zinkpower Roudnice and Václav Pastyřík cabinetmakers; the law offices of Jaroslav Trkovský kindly provided legal services to us free of charge. All the sponsors also participated in the Saturday celebration and were certainly rewarded by the enthusiastic reception the event enjoyed by the many who were present and the excellent reviews it received in the local media.

Following the official opening and short speeches, people did not disperse, but rather remained in Počedělice and enjoyed the festive atmosphere that summer afternoon. Some set out to look for motifs from Sýkora’s paintings on both sides of the river, while others engaged in sociable conversation out on the dam or on the village green, having few drinks and enjoying themselves. The concept for the meeting was fulfilled: the central theme was memories. Some recalled Zdeněk Sýkora as a colleague or teacher at the faculty, others as the head of the painting club, a friend from the sauna, ice hockey teammate or next-door neighbour, but mostly as a painter whom they saw out in the countryside with an easel and canvas. We parted ways late that afternoon, with some already voicing the wish to meet again at the same time next year.