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The Lithuanian Art Museum GDL Rulers Palace Interior and Exposition Department The Lithuanian Art Museum, in collaboration with European cultural institutions and diplomatic missions operating in Lithuania, has hammered out and implements the programme of presentation of palaces of the rulers of European states. It consists of meetings and scientific disscussion with executives, experts and researchers from museums and other institutions given to preservation of cultural heritage situated in residences of European historical rulers. The programme introduces the reconstruction of GDL rulers’ palace project organisers, researchers, interior and exposition programme creators to historical functioning, restauration, interior and exterior recreation, creation of theme expositions and temporary exhibitons, educational programmes, visitor reception and representative statal receptions, cultural and musical projects organisation, of marketing at home and abroad and other similar examples of European practice in regal and other representational residences.
Contact: dr. Vydas Dolinskas Lithuanian Art Museum 4 Didžioji str., 01126 Vilnius. Tel./fax (+370) 5 2124258; (+370) 615 21939. E-mail: vydas@ldm.lt Aldona RUSECKAITĖ Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum This publication presents the investment project „The Reconstruction of the building of the Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum“. Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum is situated in Kaunas, in the late baroque (roccoco) palace at the Municipal square. The palace was built using three derelict XVI c. buildings by Simonas Sirutis, the ex clerk of the Kaunas castle court, who in 1742 was appointed the viceroy of Kaunas by King Augustus. In 1909 the palace was bought by the rector of the Kaunas theological seminary, poet Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis, who also lived in the 8 rooms of the second floor. In 1922 he donated the palace to the Seminary. Maironis is a literature classic, one of the greatest Lithuanian poets. Maironis palace- an entire three decades long history of Kaunas and also of Lithuanian cultural history. In 1936, four years after the poets death, Maironis museum was opened in his apartments. From 1965 on, the Lithuanian literature museum was enlarged to include the whole building. In the reconstruction project of the building of the Sirutis-Maironis palace a third floor is mentioned. Of interest is a fact that Maironis himself had the idea of the third floor equiped with living rooms. A draft of the project, named “A Plan of the Attic”, where Maironis by has hand marked rooms, kitchens, corridors... The goal of museologists – to make the third floor a modern collection depository.
Contact: Aldona Ruseckaitė Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum 13 Rotušės Sq, LT-44279, Kaunas Tel./fax: +370 37 207477. E-mail: jmaironis@takas.lt Virginija ŠIUKŠČIENĖ ,,Aušros“ museum in Šiauliai The clacissicist ensemble of the Pakruojis estate is one of the five most valuable and the biggest (area 49 ha, 43 out of 48 buildings remain intact) out of estates remaining in Lithuania. The estate and the town were first mentioned in 1531. The establisher and the first owner of the estate was the steward of Rietavas M. Vakavičius. At the end of the XVIII c. Pakruojis estate went to the German barons Ropps. The estate was ruled by several Ropp generations: Theodore (1783-1852), Hermann (1810-1890), Leon (1860-1940), Julius (1910-1944). The main accent of the ensemble – an ornate two storey palace with a portico and dorenian columns, pilasters, capitels, archs and vases at the balcony corners. An architectural, historical and culture heritage object, valuable in every sense, is now in a dreadful condition. From 1988 the estate palace and the park belong to the Šiauliai ,,Aušros“ Museum, other buildings – to the Pakruojis municipality. Šiauliai ,,Aušros“ museum does not have the means to maintain the palace, it just secures its existence. Pakruojis municipality does not invest in or manage the palace because they are not its property. In 2004 the ministry of culture has transferred the building to the Pakruojis municipality, which was the only one without a land museum as yet. The municipality has worked out an investment project, according to which the estate together with the land museum are set to become a tourist, conference, leisure and craft center.
Contact: Virginija Šiukščienė “Aušros” Museum in Šiauliai 89 Vytauto str., LT-77155, Šiauliai Tel.: (+370) 41 524390; fax: (+370) 41 526933. E-mail: ausros.muz@takas.lt
Cooperation
Daiva STEPONAVIČIENĖ Castle Research Center „Lietuvos pilys“ The beginning of the reconstruction of the Vilnius Lower Castle makes one wonder about its possible cultural use – theatrical, concert, leisure activities. In the author‘s view, renewal of the Vilnius Lower Castle cultural – musical heritage must be in tune with cultural phenommena that once took place there. During the reign of King Zigmantas III Vaza (1587 – 1632) and his son Vladislavas Vaza (1632 – 1648) a theatre was situated there. In the middle of the XVII c. Vilnius’ stage has seen mature, well developed typical genre operas with recitals, arias, choirs and balets: Vladislovas Vaza held a 30 man strong opera singer company, 20 balet dancers, a 10 actor theatre and an orchestra of 40 musicians. The author of the publication, predicting the cultural life of the reconstructed Royal Palace, advises us to use on hand experience as when in the ruins of the Lower Castle, adapted to concerts and plays during the archaelogial research, even before the beginning of reconstruction, the openning concerts of the “Banchetto Musicale“ festivals, musicals, baroque opera, historical dramas were held. The ruins of the Lower Castle served as a unique, priceless, live decoration. The ruins have seen Justinas Marcinkevičius „Mindaugas“ (1994 m.) and Juozas Grušas „Barbora Radvilaitė“ (1995 m.) archetype protagonists walk alive...
Contact: Daiva Steponavičienė Castle Research Centre „Lietuvos pilys“ 4 Katedros Sq, LT-01100, Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 262 99 88, fax (+370) 5 212 00 49. E-mail: info@lietuvospilys.lt Jolanta SKURDAUSKIENĖ Samogitian Art Museum On 2004 September 11, in the Samogitian Art Museum the 155th birth anniversary of the Plungė Estate owner, a known end of XIX c. – beginning of XX c. culture and art patron, Duke Mykolas Oginskis was celebrated. This year the Plungė Estate Palace turns 125 and it is 10 years from the establishment there of the Samogitian Art Museum. On this occasion the conference “Duke Mykolas Oginskis. Work and Historic Heritage“, an exibition, and a concert took place. The Samogitian Art Museum is situated in one of the most colourful and best preserved XIX c. Estate ensembles in Lithuania, whose master was a distinguished personage in the cultural and public life of the time, Duke Mykolas Oginskis. It was the second time a conference on behalf of the Plungė Estate history was organised. In 1999 the conference was dedicated to the examination of Oginskiai and Plungė estate masters family history, this year – Duke M.Oginskis personality, a review of his cultural and public work and to assessing the spiritual and material heritage he left behind.
Contact: Jolanta Skurdauskienė Samogitian Art Museum 1 Parko str., LT-90117, Plungė Tel./fax: (+370) 448 52492. E-mail: zd.muziejus@takas.lt Margarita TARAŠKUTĖ Šiauliai „Aušros“ Museum Exhibition and Customer Service Department In 2004 July – August Ch. Frenkel Palace Summmer Festival took place. The organisers – Šiauliai City Municipality, Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra, Šiauliai Cultural Center and “Aušros“ Museum created a 4 concert cycle, devoted to the 15 anniversary of the establishment of the Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra. Ch. Frenkel palace in Šiauliai – a culture monument, an example of the beginning of XX c. art nouveau, the only one in Šiauliai and only one of a few in Lithuania. An expositition entitled “A Provincial Estate” was opened there, complete with make-believe estate interior, demonstrating the life of the nobility, their everyday lives, their cultural and art needs. During the festival A. Vivaldi and P. Tchaikovsky “Seasons“ (played by Šiauliai Chamber Orchestra and a guest from Germany Leonid Dorfman), W. A. Mozart, N. Paganini, R. Strauss, J. S. Bach (soloists Asta Krikščiūnaitė and Dalius Samėnas (Lithuania) were played. All of this was complemented by the Queen of Art – the Muse of Poetry (played by Šiauliai Drama Theatre actress Olita Dautartaitė). In 2005 the second Ch. Frenkel Palace Festival will take place – it will be bigger with new and interesting interpretations.
Contact: Margarita Taraškutė „Aušros“ Museum in Šiauliai 89 Vytauto str., LT-77155, Šiauliai Tel.: (+370) 41 524392. E-mail: muzreklama@splius.lt Vida KANAPKIENĖ Municipality Museums Directors Association, Kretinga Museum The publication presents the programme “Lithuanian Estates – Fulcra of Professional Culture” prepared in 2003 by the Municipality Museums Directors Association. The programme is dedicated to the dissemination of of information about the life of Lithuanian nobility, their part in Lithuanian culture, education. Famous actors and soloists from Kaunas State Drama and Musical Theatres were invited to particpate in the project. They were gathered under the supervision of Virginija Kochanskytė. It is a long lasting project which through J.K. Chodkevičius, Tiškevičius, M. Oginskis and other Lithuanian noblemen and their work introduces the public to traditions of the past and cultural heritage. The first project of this programme – an estate theatre play “The Moon with the Stars are here to Stay” from the life history of count Tiškevičiai family. The history of count Tiškevičiai life is enlivened by Adomas Mickevičius and other poet verse, excerpts from their life, joyous and sad songs, duets, dances, drama scenes. Exceptionally charming are the costumes and scenography, in the Kretinga and Palanga estate palaces, exactly like those of count Tiškevičiai time.
Contact: Vida Kanapkienė Kretinga Museum 20 Vilniaus str., LT-97104, Kretinga Tel./fax: (+370) 445 77323. E-mail: kretingosmuziejus@takas.lt
Vytas RUTKAUSKAS Rietavo Oginskiai History of Culture Museum, Western Lithuania Estate Culture Association The Rietavas Oginskiai Culture History Museum was established in 2000, its main course of activity being the research of Lithuanian estate culture, amassing of exhibits concerning this. In 1872 Duke Bogdanas Oginskis established in Rietavas a musical school, which functioned well untill its patrons death in 1909. Later there was an eatery, from 1918 untill 1949 – Rietavas Gymnasium, later – a secondary school. In 1964 after building a new school complex, there remained a school dormitory for a few years, after that a kidergarten. Later still the building was left without a master, it started decaying. In 1988 the once Duke B.Oginskis Musical School building was taken over by the Ministry of Culture, it was renovated by the Monument Restoration Trust. The building was made a museum, author of the project – Klaipėda Monument Planning and Renovation Institute. In 1999 in the renovated building of B.Oginskis Musical School the Rietavas subsidiary of the Samogitian Art Museum was established. In 2000 June, Rietavas Municipality Council established an independent Oginskiai Culture History Museum. Duke Oginskiai park as a cultural heritage object is also preserved. Its area is 60 ha, it was created in 1848-1855 (architects K.F.Gypeld and F.Braun from Saxony and a Hungarian A. Ulrich). The park abounds with ponds and different plants. In 2004 June 3-5 a conference entitled “Park and Garden Way: Conservation, Reanimation, Cultural Tourism in Historic Parks” was held in Rietavas. One of the main purposes of the conference was to rally not only museologists, landscape specialists, tourism developers to the reanimation of estate and historic park heritage, but also all the Heads of the Municipalities of Western Lithuania. Under the initiative of Western Lithuania Estate Culture Association a cooperation agreement was signed.
Contact: Vytas Rutkauskas The Oginskiai Culture History Museum in Rietavas 4 L.Ivinskio str., LT-90018, Rietavas Tel. (+370) 448 68992; fax (+370) 448 68181. E-mail: rokimuziejus@delfi.lt Vida KANAPKIENĖ Kretinga Museum Kretinga estate gardens are situated in the north of the city at the confluence of Akmena and Dupultis. As early as in XVI c. – XVII c. it was surrounded by scarce vegetation which protected from fierce maritime winds, and provided shade during hot summer days. The park was initiated when the bishop of Vilnius I.J. Masalskis planted a fruit garden. Later masters of the estate, counts Zubovai established a landscape (English) park. In 1874 the estate was bought in an auction by count J. Tiškevičius. He reconstructed the estate palace, created the famous Winter garden, refurbished the park. There a few elements inherent to the French park were built: cascade ponds, a waterfall, arbours, fountaines, sculptures, geometric parterres. It was planned by the surveyor of the park Šostak, and created by a Czech gardener Haiduk. The park and and the nearby lying fruit garden were called the Summer garden. At the time the park was equalled to the most beutiful Lithuanian and Western European parks. Nowadays Kretinga estate park and the Winter garden at the palace are managed by here situated Kretinga Museum. In 1998 Kretinga Estate Park Friends Club was established, to look after and support the park as an important to the public science, art, culture, history and nature object. Feasts like the “Tree Feast”, educational programmes are organised at the park.
Contact: Vida Kanapkienė Kretinga Museum 20 Vilniaus str., LT-97104, Kretinga Tel./fax: (+370) 445 77323. E-mail: kretingosmuziejus@takas.l Antanas SEIBUTIS Biržai Land Museum „Sėla“ Historic Research Department In 2004 it will be 300 years, since the Swedish army, during the North war led by general A. Levenhaupt took over and destroyed the Duke Radvilas bastion. On September 4 Biržai museum in the Duke Radvilai castle organized a commemoration of these events, in order to remember old military traditions, demonstrate that they live and are carried on. Folklore groups “Siaudela“, “Žemyna“, orchestra “Garsas“, Soldiers from the training batallion at Rukla, Kaunas and Riga Military History Club members all participated at the event. To honour the dead soldiers, mass and service were held in catholic and evangelic reformist churches. The participants marched through the streets of the city in a celebratory parade, a staged battle for the Biržai castle bridge was held by Kaunas and Riga Military Clubs, songs wer sung and music was played. Museologists hope that similar events will help us learn about the now already distant part of our past.
Contact: Antanas Seibutis Biržai Area Museum „Sėla“ 3 J.Radvilos str., LT-41175, Biržai Tel./fax: (+370) 450 31883. E-mail: bkm_sela@is.lt Deividas MAKAVIČIUS, Renavas Palace Manager Mažeikiai Museum The Renavas palace ensemble was built in the second quarter of the XIX c. and is attributed to the Romantic period. It has been mentioned in written sources dating from the XVI c. Earlier this estate had been called Gaurų, but later when in the end of the XVII c. it was bought by Renne (Röne) family, it was started to call Renavas. From 1990 on in the restored Renavas estate palace Mažeikiai Museum operates a representational interior exposition, which introduces visitors to the Lithuanian estate culture. In front of the palace, on the other side of Varduva river, lies a landscape park. Every year Renavas unravels new mysteries not only of cultural but of natural heritage, thus creating new spheres for the museologists to act in. One of them – the mysteriuos night creatures- bats. Unique facts gathered about these flying mammals were presented at the IX European Bat Research Symposium at Le Havre (France), in a seminar at the Seili island (Finland), World Bat Research Congress in Mikolaiki (Poland) and elswhere. Close links to foreign coleagues were established. During the last few years Renavas estate and park have been visited by more than 40 scientists from Holland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia and other countries. Research material gathered at Renavas is used by EUROBATS organisation, when preparing bat preservation laws and recommendations.
Contact: Deividas Makavičius Mažeikiai Museum 9 V.Burbos str., LT-89218, Mažeikiai Tel.: (+370) 443 26037; fax: (+370) 443 25759. E-mail: taniabal@one.lt
New Museums and Expositions Roza BIELIAUSKIENĖ The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum In 2004 September 23 a new exposition called “The Lost World” was opened at the Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum department the Tolerance Centre. The Tolerance Centre, settled in the place of a pre-war Jewish theatre, started its activity in September 23, 2001 commemorating the 60th aniversary of the Vilnius ghetto. The building in Naugarduko street was transferred to The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum in 1989. The publication presents the history of the building, also a short summary of Lithuanian Jew artisan and professional painter works. Lithuanian Jew painting art evolved from traditionalist folk creations to professional art. We can see the evolution from the effect Vilnius and Kaunas Art Schools had on the forming of Jew painting, Lithuanian Jew emigree painters, Lithuanian Jew painting and the Holocaust, Jew painters in contemporary Lithuanian Art (1945 on).
Contact: Roza Bieliauskienė The Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum 12 Pamėnkalnio str., LT-01114, Vilnius. Tel.: (+370) 5 2620730, (+370) 5 2127083. E-mail: jmuzieum@delfi.lt Regina LOPIENĖ Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum The Small Radvilos Palace is situated in the heart of Vilnius Old Town, in front of St. Catherine’s Church. Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum which occupies the Palace, was reconstructed this summer – facade walls, cornice coating, window rims and plaster models were all restored. We find symbolic, that Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum is situated in one of the buildings that once belonged to Radvilos family, which from XVI c. nurtured love for theatre and music. Professional actor groups acted in Radvilos Estate Theatres in Biržai, Nesvyžius, Sluckas and elsewhere untill the end of the XVIII c. From 1795 in the Small Radvilos Palace the Public City Theatre operated. The Museum now has more than 1000 m2 of exhibition space. Theatre, music and cinema history relics, an exposition “From XIX – XX c. Theatre, Music and Cinema Collections” are put on display. An amphitheatre is being finished in the courtyard. Works will be carried on in the Small Radvilos Palace next year. Museologist await the reconstruction of the courtyard building reconstruction, where collection funds, a cinema and administrative space are planned.
Contact: Regina Lopienė Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum 41 Vilniaus str., LT-01119, Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 2608274; fax (+370) 5 2622406. E-mail: ltmkm@takas.lt Nika PUTEIKIENĖ Lithuanian Sea Museum In July, 2004 celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Lithuanian Sea Museum it opened the reconstructed and final part of the marine fauna exhibition “Tropical Fish. Rapacious and Dangerous Animals: Myths and Reality”. It finishes the renovation of the second floor exposition. The authors of the concept and scientific content – the Head of the Museum Marine Fauna Department Remigijus Dailidė and Doctor of Natural Science Algirdas Stankevičius. The architectural project of the exposition was created by the achitect group “Jungtinės pajėgos“, diorames, personifying the marine worlds were made by a sculptor Danielius Sodeika and a painter Arvydas Brazdžiūnas. This exposition is modern not only in Lithuanian but in a European museum context. Yearning for an impression, a mysterious atmosphere in the Museum space made the museologists create a scenography, a museum theatre not just a dull presentation of the subject. This was achieved with discarding the classical rational and cold interpretation of the theme and employing a special lighting regime, sound and light effects, computer graphics, even predator models to create a highly emotional perception of a mysterious and sometimes even dangerous tropical marine world. This “Tropical Theatre” was created by museologists, biologists and painters. The main visual accent – 35 natural size fish models were made by a leading European sculptor animalist Dirk Klasen.
Contact: Nika Puteikienė Lithuanian Sea Museum 3 Smiltynės r., LT-91001, Klaipėda Tel.: (+370) 46 490740; fax (+370) 46 490750. E-mail: ljm@juru.muziejus.lt Algis KAZULĖNAS Rokiškis Area Museum At the Rokiškis Land Museum, situated at the Count Tyzenhauzai-Pšezdzieckiai Estate Palace, a new Hunt Trophy exposition was opened as the city was about to celebrate its 505th anniversary. Hunting – the oldest business of mankind, secured people with food and clothes from time immemorial. Alas, as time went by the purpose of hunting changed. It now became a leisure pastime with a wide following. Rokiškis dwellers and especially nobility from the area loved hunting, decorated their palaces with exquisite hunt tophys. Now the visitors can see Tyzenhauzai bei Pšezdzieckiai trophys at the new exhibition. Apart from hunt trophys and photographs from the Rokiškis region estates – newly hunted boar, elk and muse horns, boar claws and wolf furs are presented.
Contact: Algis Kazulėnas Rokiškis Area Museum 5 Tyzenhauzų Ave, LT-42001, Rokiškis Tel.: (+370) 458 52261; fax: (+370) 458 52835. E-mail: rok.muziejus@is.lt Danutė ŽALPIENĖ Kelmės Area Museum The old Kelmė Estate Manor – a valuable monument of Lithuanian architecture and history. It is a rare in Lithuania baroque style provincial estate. From 1992 all buildings are occupied by the Kelmė Land Museum. Expositions span three buildings. In the Central Palace information on Kelmė Estate history, owners Gruževskiai family, Vladas Pūtvis-Putvinskis, the regional archaeological reaserch and findings, etnographic and Kelmė regional history is presented. Also, a unique in Lithuania exposition on Native American etnography and a German etnographer and writer Karl May. In the Estate Gate building Kelmė region estates exposition is situated. Visitors can visit the serf prison and see the instruments of physical punishment. Publication presents the now renewed expostion of Kelmė Estate history.
Contact: Danutė Žalpienė Kelmės Area Museum 5 Dvaro str., LT-86110, Kelmė Tel.: (+370) 427 61065; fax (+370) 427 61165. E-mail: kelmesmuziejus@delfi.lt
In the Exhibition Halls
On July 6, 2004 The Lithuanian Art Museum together with the Castle Research Center “Lietuvos pilys“ and the Royal Palace Support Fund, at the Applied Art Museum in the Old Arsenal Palace, opened the most important project of the Millenium programme – the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Royal Palace archaeological finds exhibition. More than 1000 showpieces are displayed – the most valuable, interesting and informative artefacts found by the Castle Research Center “Lietuvos pilys“ specialists performing archaelogical and architectural research at the Royal Palace ruins. These include marble, sandstone, granite architectural details, elements and fragments, ceramic, metallic, leather, wood, bone and other material articles. The oldest pieces date back to XIII c. the most recent are from the Vasa dynasty (XVII c.). It will proceed untill December 31, 2007 i.e. the opening of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Royal Palace. The exhibition will be renewed every year on the eve of the State Day including the most valuable items newly found or restored.
Prepared according to information supllied by dr. Vydas DOLINSKAS, Head of GDL Royal Palace Interior and Exposition Department at the Lithuanian Painting Museum
Contact: Vydas Dolinskas Lithuanian Art Museum 4 Didžioji str., 01126 Vilnius. Tel./fax: (+370) 5 2124258; (+370) 615 21939. E-mail: vydas@ldm.lt
In the summer of 2004 at the Palanga Amber Museum, situated at the Tiškevičiai Palace, an exhibition consisting of rare porcelain, glass and fan collections, together with portrait miniatures, small metal plastics, old graphics works and biedermeyer style furniture was put on show. The exposition reminds us of the old Lithuanian estate culture which loved luxury, beautiful things and had an insatiable thirst for everything in vogue at the European capitals. The exhibits were taken from the Lithuanian Art Museum Collections.
Prepared according to information supplied by Eglė Pinkutė and Gražina Gurnevičiūtė, Lithuanian Art Museum Contact: Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., 21126 Vilnius. Tel./fax (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt Margarita MATULYTĖ, Historian of Photography Lithuanian Art Museum In April 30, 2004 at the Vilnius Picture Gallery an exposition of Italian photographs “Salve, Italia“ was opened. This exhibition dedicated to the Membership of Lithuania in the European Union is one of three: this year “Salve, Italia“, in 2005 “Hola, Espańa!“, and in 2006 – „Bonjour, la France!“. After a century of oblivion photographs of the old Italy that were preserved in Lithuania are meant to be reborn at an important historic moment. The start of reaserch on beutiful but unknown material coincided with the beginning of work for Alessandra Bertini Malgarini, the new director of the Italian Institute of Culture. One of the first impressions of the capital she got visiting the vaults of the Historic Photography Collection at the Lithuanian Art Museum. The impressive collection of Italian photographs and its intriguing fate have asked for an exhibition. Italian photographs dating 1850–1900, which were brought from trips to the Apennine peninsula by Lithuanian aristocrats, art and culture people were put on display. Photos as a souvenir of travels, a source for Italian art and architectural studies were collected by Luciano Usembla, Cezorius Stanevičius, but indeed the greatest part of the collection belonged to Boleslovas Ruseckis (1824–1913). The painter felt a stong bond to Italy – he was born in Rome, visited it numerous times, continued his painting studies there.
Contact: Margarita Matulytė Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., LT-21126 Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt
The exhibition “Paintings of Nikolay and Svyatoslav Rearichs” was on display during the summer cultural season at the Lithuanian Art Museum, Klaipėda Picture Gallery (Liepų g. 33). The unique collection which was put on display was donated to Riga by artists themselves and is on show there from 1930. The works displayed were mostly crafted in India and represent the most important ideas of the artists creative world. Great help in organising the exhibition was given by the Lithuanian Embassy in Latvia and the Latvian State Art Museum. Displays of works by the Rerichs are well liked in Lithuania and have always commanded respect and admiration. So this presentation of works by Rerichs is an important event in Latvian and Lithuanian cultural collaboration, strengthening the cultural ties betwixt the Baltic States.
Text was prepared by Skaistis Mikulionis according to Ksenija Rudytė publications
Contact: Skaistis Mikulionis Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., 21126 Vilnius. Tel./fax (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt
In September 16, 2004 at the Lithuanian Art Museum Vilnius Picture Gallery an exhibition “The Old Vilnius University: Jewels of Science and Art” dedicated to the 425th anniversary of the Vilnius University was opened. The exhibition was placed at the Count Chodkevičiai Palace, which once belonged to the University. From 1994 Vilnius Picture Gallery is situated there. The known founders of the University, generous sponsors, patrons, rectors, distinguished professors and students, works of European magnitude by the University community, the distinctive intelectual and cultural tradition of the University and its effect on national culture are presented in the exhibition. The exhibition spanned the 1579-1832 Vilnius University – Jesuit Academy, Senior School of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Imperial University – life line.
Prepared according to information supplied by the Lithuanian Art Museum Public Realations Department
Contact: Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., 21126 Vilnius. Tel.: (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt
Dr. Neringa MARKAUSKAITĖ National Museum of Lithuania “The Cult of St. Casimire and Iconography in Lithuania” is a joint project by the National Museum of Lithuania and the Vilnius Diocese, devoted to the 400th anniversary of Casimire’s beatification in 1604. The first part of the exhibition was put on show June 6 – November 7, 2004. Part two – November 18 up untill the March 4, 2005. The exhibition deals with the dispersion and the development of St. Casimire’s cult and artistic iconography. Testaments of the saintly cult – valuable painting, graphic, sculpture, jewellery, textile items, papal documents. Also included in the exhibition, but less valuable artisticaly are church inventory or popular XIX-XX c. publications, prayer book pictures, photographs, coins, postal cards and stamps.
Contact: Neringa Markauskaitė National Museum of Lithuania 1 Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius. E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt; neringa.markauskaite@mail.lt
Laima BIALOPETRAVIČIENĖ Lithuanian Art Museum The Radvila’s Palace history is presented in the publication. It was built in XVII c. (architect Jan Ulrich), by the Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Voivode of Vilnius Jonušas Radvila (1612-1655). In 1990, an art gallery, a subsidiary of the Lithuanian Art Museum was opened in the Palace. From 1994 it was turned to a foreign art gallery, hosting XVI-XX c. Italian, French, Flemmish, Dutch, Spanish, German, Austrian, Polish and Russian paintings. In June – September, 2000 an exhibition “The Returned Emigree Paintings” was put on show at the Palace. The publication also deals with current tendences of exhibition management at the Radvila’s Palace – now mainly personal retrospectives of XX c. Lithuanian painters are exhibited. The purpose – to prepare for the permanent exibitions at the Lithuanian Art Museum, by gathering information on the works of individual personalities and the position they occupy in the Lithuanian art context. In 2004 the Radvila’s Palace hosted the retrospectives of the two most famous Lithuanian modernists of the XX c. – Viktoras Vizgirda and Antanas Gudaitis – dedicated to the centennary of these artists.
Contact: Laima Bialopetravičienė Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., LT-21126 Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt; laima.b@ldm.lt
Education
Indrė JOVAIŠAITĖ The Royal Palace Support Fund A project was carried out in 2004 by the Royal Palace Support Fund together with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Lithuanian Youth Tourism Center: an exhibition-contest of drawings and a creative summer camp – “I Live in the Royal Palace”. On July 5-9, 2004 in Vilnius, the final part of the project was carried out – the summer camp. 26 pupils from all parts of Lithuania for 5 days built the Royal Palace from 200 cardboard boxes. On July 9 children presented their work.
Contact: Indrė Jovaišaitė The Royal Palace Support Fund 2-13 S.Daukanto sq., LT-01122, Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 2614063; fax (+370) 5 2125767. E-mail: fondas@lvr.lt Laura STALNIONYTĖ, project manager This publication deals with the Lithuanian Etnocosmology Museum, Vilnius University and Molėtai Land Museum programme 2003 – 2004 “Youth Culture Heritage Training Programme” project. Projects aimed at a complementary occupation and education of children are on the roll at the Lithuanian Etnocosmology Museum since 1997. The Molėtai Land Museum joined in 2000, in 2003 – Vilnius University and the Culture Heritage Academy. Schoolchildren that are interested in history, archaeology, the past of their country, that plan to study history in the university participate in the project. The main goals of the project are to give the children opportunity to take part in real archaeological research, deal with professionals, try out old technologies. In 2004, 43 schoolchildren from Molėtai, Utena, Panevėžys and Vilnius participated.
Contact: Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum Kulionys village, Čiulėnai, LT-33354, Moletai Region.
Lina KRIKŠČIOKAITYTĖ The Park of Europe On June 9-12, 2004 the Park of Europe gathered museum educators and painting teachers to an international workshop dedicated to the education of children, teenagers, seniors and the handicapped in the museums of the Baltic region. It was organised as a part of the Park of Europe project “The Baltic Sea Region Museum Cooperation: Tourism and Education”, which was awarded the EU PHARE 2001 “Cooperation Across the Border in the Baltic Sea Region Programme” competition. The purpose of the workshop – to foster the educational activity in the museums of the Baltic region, minding especially the hereby mentioned target groups.
Contact: Lina Krikščiokaitytė Open Air Museum of the Centre of Europe Joneikiškių vill., LT-15148, Vilnius reg. Tel./fax: (+370) 5 2377077. E-mail: hq@europosparkas.lt
Birutė KAZLAUSKIENĖ National Museum of Lithuania, Public Realations Department The publication deals with the educational activity of the National Museum of Lithuania. The Museum offers cognitive and topical tours, tours – lections, a civic education programme “Cognition” is there for preschool and school children. After listening to history and etnography primer, they get the Museum Friend certificate which grants them and their family a whole year of access to the New and Old Arsenal expositions and exhibitions. Alternatively, they could get the Museum Buddy pass, which allows free visits of the Museum and its subsidiaries for two years. In the school year 2003-2004 there were 349 educational events, 8 thousand shoolchildren participated, 629 got the Museum Friend, 32 – Museum Buddy certificates. The Museum operates the young museologists school – “The School and the Museum” dedicated to the school museum supervisors and their helpers.
Contact: Birutė Kazlauskienė National Museum of Lithuania 1 Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius. E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt; edukacija@lnm.lt
Collections The Secret Of The Mirror Of 1697 Aldona SNITKUVIENĖ M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art The researcher of significant European nobles Tiškevičius (Tyszkiewicz) heritage reveals the fascinating history of an art piece from M. Tiškevičius collection. Stored at museum since 1918 the mirror primarily was donated to the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Augustus II, then belonged to his son King Augustus III. Purchased by M. Tiškevičius in the middle of 19th c. this mirror was used by Russian tsar Alexander II. All these personages are connected by passion for hunting. The canvas of artist A. Žametas with painted mirror gave the first inspiration of its’ provenance discovery.
Contact: Aldona Snitkuvienė M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art 55 V. Putvinskio str., LT-44248, Kaunas Tel.: (+370) 37 229475 Fax (+370) 37 222606. E-mail: MKC@takas.lt
Danutė MUKIENĖ Lithuanian Art Museum Center of Digital Publications, The Samogitian Culture Society Information Center The publication presents the Sofija TyzenhauzaitėŠuazelGufje (Choiseul Gouffier) book “Reminiscences“. It is a first time translation of the book „REMINISCENCES About Emperor Alexander I and About Emperor Napoleon I“ (published in Paris, 1862). The success of the project has made publishers glance through Lithuanian library and museum collections and archives, where the bulk of estate culture heritage is stored. “Reminiscences“ is the best known (in Lithuania) XIX c. Rokiškis estate owner Ignas Tyzenhauzas daughter, Plateliai estate owner Oktavijus Šuazelis wife Sofija Tyzenhauzaitė book. It is a work of fiction interesting, first of all, because of its culture heritage object status.
Contact: Danutė Mukienė The Samogitian Culture Society Information Center 22 Vilniaus str., LT01119, Vilnius Tel./Fax: (+370) 5 2619670. Email: samogit@delfi.lt
Adelija MEIZERAITIENĖ Jurbarkas Area History Museum The publication presents the exhibition of valuable photographs of dukes Vasilčikovs, who for 70 years (starting from 1845) ruled the estate, where the Jurbarkas Area History Museum is now situated. The photographs were given to the museum by the last ruler of the estate duke’s I.Vasilčikov daughter Tatjana Vasilčikova Metternich – Vinneburg, born in Jurbarkas in 1915, now living in Germany. Dukes Vasilčikovs occupy a special position in Jurbarkas regional history. For 70 years, 4 generations of dukes Vasilčikovs influenced the Jurbarkas political, economic and social development, city architecture, formed new traditions, cultural attitudes. During the reign of the Vasilčikovs – timber, agriculture, construction material, shipbuilding industries developed. The city grew, the citizen service complex was created. Orphanages and retirement homes were established, education and religious communities were cared after.
Contact: Adelija Meizeraitienė Jurbarkas Area History Museum 24 Vydūno str., LT-74001, Jurbarkas Tel.: (+370) 447 52710. E-mail: jkm@takas.lt Jūratė NEKRAŠIENĖ Kėdainiai Area Museum Estate treasures that survived the 1940 nationalisation in Kėdainiai region, are now stored and put on exhibition at the Kėdainiai Area Museum. The most valuable exhibit is the furniture in hunting style – “Horn furniture”, made in England and brought to the museum from Apytalaukis estate in 1947. It is a unique and largest horn piece collection in Lithuania. Much of it is made up from horns of Indian and American animals. The furniture that was made in England, was bought in Paris at the 1900 exhibition, were it won the gold medal, by count Zabiela and brought to Lithuania in three railway wagons. Only a third of the set remains to this day, parts of it were either burnt or stolen.
Contact: Jūratė Nekrašienė Kėdainiai Area Museum 19 Didžioji str., LT-57288, Kėdainiai Tel.: (+370) 347 51330. E-mail: muziejus@kedainiai.omnitel.net In the Workshops of the Restorers
Audronė PETROŠEVIČIŪTĖ, textile restorer Lithuanian Art Museum, Pranas Gudynas Restoration Centre A rug called “Treasures of Solomon” is being restored at the Pranas Gudynas Restoration Centre. In 1656 m. GDL chancellor Kazimieras Leonas Sapiega, a nobleman and a sponsor of the arts, bought 8 wall rugs depicting the Israeli kings Solomon and David. During those times, the Duchy tycoon collections consisted of textile series woven at the best European workshops, according to L.Kranach, P. P. Rubens, F.Sneiders, and other famous painters drawings. The series mentioned was created by the disciple of P. P. Rubens, A.van Dipenbek, who worked at the St.Lucas painter guild, and was woven at about 1640–1654 in Brussels, at the J.van Zeunen workshop. Three rugs from the series survive in Vilnius. In 1955–1957 two of them – “David and Batsheeba“ and ”The Blessing of the Temple“ – were restored at the Ermitage workshops in Leningrad (now Sankt Peterburg, Russia). Currently they are diplayed at the Old Arsenal in Vilnius. In 1989, specialists established that the rug (then called “Gifts”) stored at the Aplied Art Museum belongs also to the “History of David and Solomon”. Its the “Treasures of Solomon”. All the three suviving carpets of the series, will adorn the rebuilt Grand Duchy of Lithuania Royal Palace.
Contact: Audronė Petroševičiūtė P. Gudynas Restoration Centre of Museum Treasures 8 Rūdninkų str., LT-01135, Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 261 98 54 Fax (+ 370) 5 261 79 41. E-mail: restcentras@takas.lt
Abroad
In the autumn of 2003 the systemic research and storing of analogic material by the Great Duchy of Lithuania Royal Palace researchers, the rebuilding project, interior and exposition programme developers was started. It was made up of five adequate routes – the Middle Europe, Italy, South Poland and Ucraine, North Poland and Germany. During the first expedition on September 29 – October 8, 2003 the main royal and nobility residences in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic were visited. On June 2-16, 2004 the second expedition covered royal residences in Lombardy, Tuscany, Marche, Lazio, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria. The most eye catching Renaissance and early baroque Italian palaces, functional schemes of the building layouts, traditions of interior decor, palace rebuilding and restoration techniques and adaptation to modern cultural functions are presented.
Contact: Romualdas Budrys, Vydas Dolinskas Lithuanian Art Museum 5 Bokšto str., LT-21126 Vilnius Tel.: (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006. E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt
The publication sheds light on the Warsaw Royal Palace Numismatics Office history and present. Expositions and valuable gifts by donors are discussed, efforts by museologists to recreate the lost Polish cultural and history treasures, including – the Stanislav August collection, which was stored at the Warsaw Royal Palace untill the end of XVIII c. The collection was stored at the Royal library. It included a painting and a drawing collection, a library consiting of 15000 volumes, minerology and astronomy cabinets, a sculpture gallery and an antiquity collection. In the long run, the library became an open to the public museum. The numismatics collection compiled by Stanislav August was started from scratch. This was because collections of earlier rulers were lost during the wars of the XVII c. or were exported abroad after the death of kings. Unfortunately, the Stanislav August collection also did not survive to our days. It was “reborn” in 1990ies at the Royal Palace as the Polish state collection, continuing the history and art nurturing traditions of the country.
Contact: Dalia Grimalauskaitė National Museum of Lithuania 1
Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius. E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt ; numizmatika@lnm.lt
AnniversariesAloyzas KAŽDAILIS Lithuanian Sea Museum On the 25th anniversary of the Museum, the author of the publication, one of the founding fathers of the Lithuanian Sea Museum, its long time director and historian Aloyzas Každailis recounts his recollections about the reconstruction of the Kopgalis castle and its becoming a museum. The Lithuanian Sea Museum is situated at the northenmost point of the Curonian spit – Kopgalis. It is surrounded by water on three sides. In the second half of the XIX c., a littoral defense castle was built in Kopgalis. During the Second World War, the castle was partly demolished and has long been unused. After rebuilding and restoring the castle, main expositions of the Lithuanian Sea Museum were placed there in 1979. In the central redoubt aquariums containg Lithuanian fresh water, Baltic and tropical sea fish, an exposition of prepared sea fauna were put on show. In the outside pools – penguins, Baltic seals, North sea lions have been placed. In the casemates under the castle walls in the old gunpowder depositories a Lithuanian navigation history is exhibited. On the bulwarks, insted of the canons, an anchor collection can be seen. In the old Kopgalis fisherman village an etnographic seaside fisherman’s cottage has been built, and next to it, fishing ships – pioneers of industrial fishing in Lithuania are on display. A delphinarium was opened in 1994.
Contact: Aloyzas Každailis Lithuanian Sea Museum 3 Smiltynės r., LT-91001, Klaipėda Tel.: (+370) 46 49740; fax: (+370) 46 490750. E-mail: ljm@juru.muziejus.lt Giedrė KAZONIENĖ The Clock Museum The publication presents the establishing and a two decades long activity of the Clock Museum. The Museum was established in Klaipėda in July 27, 1984 in a renovated XIX c. building close to Danė river, in the neighbourhood where merchants’ country residences once abounded. The building was rebuilt a number of times. In the beginning of the XX c. – Žemės Bank, during the Soviet times – the Pioneer house was situated there. The Clock Museum has amassed clocks since 1984 – there are 1709 items in the main collection and 12554 auxilliary scientific material items. The exposition placed on the two floors of the museum, demonstrates the vastness of clock variety, methodically unravels the history and the evolution of time measuring equipment from old to current.
Contact: Giedrė Kazonienė Clock Museum 12 Liepu str., LT-92145, Klaipėda | ||||||
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