Kalnay Family Arts
There were many talented members of the Kálnay family. In Budapest Boriska Kalnay was a locally renowned painter and designer of ex libris before she and her son were tragically murdered by Hungarian Fascists in 1944. Her story is the subject of my next book, The Lost Paintings of Budapest: A Woman’s Art, Erasure, and the Hungarian Holocaust.
In Argentina Ferko’s brothers Andras and György Kalnay were known as Andrés and Jorge. They were renowned architects who designed many important buildings such as the Cervecerìa Munich which is a government building today.
Ferko, Architect.
Ferko learned to design houses from his brothers during his many visits to Argentina. After WWII he moved to Valle de Bravo Mexico for almost two decades where he designed over 25 houses.
Ferko, Gourmand
Ferko was a remarkable chef who cultivated and prepared many of the ingredients for his delectable meals: home-grown grapes and vegetables, smoked meats and home-baked bread. He designed bread ovens and bread pans and published articles about cooking in House Beautiful Magazine.
Ferko, Children’s Book Author
In spite of his many careers and accomplishments Ferko is best remembered for the children’s books he wrote while living in Mexico. Most prominent was Chúcaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa which he wrote in 1958. His Hungarian collaborator Julian deMiskey was the illustrator.