„LITHUANIAN MUSEUMS“ 2004' No 4
Abstracts
Problems, opinions
On Perspectives of Open Air Skansen Type Museums
Prof. Libertas KLIMKA
Vilnius Pedagogical University, Faculty of History
The publication discusses the relationship between the
visitor and the buildings and ethnographic culture items exhibited in
skansen type open-air museums. There is a call for discussion about
ethnographic museum development opportunities, new and attractive forms of
work. It is proposed to reestablish the life of a 19th century peasant or
an artisan so that the visitor could go back to the environment where the
symbols representing the nation were formed - folklore, folk art. The
skansens were first established in Lithuania in the interwar period.
Nowadays all regions of the country are represented at the Open-air museum
of Lithuania in Rumšiškės (established in 1966); there are samogitian
cottages at „Alka“ Museum in Telšiai, fisherman’s houses at Neringa
History and Sea Museum (in Nida and Kopgalis). In the Smilgiai ethnografic
cottage you are acquainted to the olden highlander „aukštaičiai“
lifestyle, at Pranas Dzūkas cottage - the „dzūkai“, in Skriaudžiai - with
„zanavykai“ traditional life, in Punskas - with Polish Lithuanians’.
Contact: Libertas
Klimka
Vilnius Pedagogical University, Faculty of History
39 Studentų str., LT-08105 Vilnius. Tel. (+370) 686 52800
E-mail: libertas.Klimka@omni.lt
Memorial Museums: from Klaipėda to Zarasai
Aldona RUSECKAITĖ
Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum
The publication is about the development of memorial
museums in Lithuania during the soviet times and the problems of their
development after the independence. A person to whom a museum is dedicated
must qualify to a certain criteria: be able to hold up against the
challenge of time, be charismatic, exceptionally interesting. The soviet
occupation poisoned this type of cultural activity as it was also used to
transmit soviet propaganda. Thats why a confusion ensued - memorial
museums of very soviet personalities were closed, and nowadays it is
impossible to open museums for people who were then pushed to the fringes
of cultural life - there are no means, no homes, no apartments, or
memorabilia. After all, in a museum, the collection of material items is
very important, since paper archives can only complement the collection,
but an authentic cultural information and mandatory emotional appeal to
the visitor will be missing.
In Lithuania memorial museums make up a good part of cultural heritage.
There are more than 60 of them, owned by state or municipal museums.
Memorial museums are dedicated to commemorate, preserve the work of
artists- musicians, painters, writers, also society and culture activists.
Contact: Aldona
Ruseckaitė
Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum
13 Rotušės sq., LT-44279, Kaunas.
Tel./fax: (+370) 37 20 74 77.
E-mail: maironis@hotmail.com,
aldonar@hotmail.com
Programs, Projects
Antanas
Gudaitis Art Gallery Under Way
Romualdas BUDRYS
Lithuanian Art Musuem
Publication presents the new National Lithuanian Art
Museum branch project- the founding of Lithuanian classic artist Antanas
Gudaitis (1904-1989) gallery and memorial studio in Vilnius, Gediminas
Avenue. The A.Gudaitis Art Gallery space will uncover itself to the eyes
of the visitor as modern exposition halls organically connected the
painters studio as a permanent memorial exposition of his art works, an
exhibition center, conference and education halls but also a
representative courtyard where concerts, culture evenings and art
festivals are being planned. A. Gudaitis gallery will become a new
multifunctional institution preserving and actualising the painters and
those of his contemporaries creative heritage and representing modern art
and music. The gallery exposition and exhibition space, the artist’s
memorial studio, and a cosy courtyard environment will span to over 1300
sq. m. - an impressive 20th century art and its education center that is
now being created.
Contact: Romualdas
Budrys
Lithuanian Art Museum
5 Bokšto str., LT-21126 Vilnius
Tel.: (+370) 5 2628030; fax (+370) 5 2126006.
E-mail: muziejus@ldm.lt
The
Project „Under the Sign of Cross“ - to Nurture and Safeguard
the Traditions of Cross Making
Nemira GUTAUTIENĖ
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
The Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania thought out and
implemented a project „Under the Sign of Cross“. The main goal of the
project is to keep the tradition of cross making alive by establishing a
cross making educational center and and a base for cross makers seminars
in the Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania. There is also a plan to enlarge the
current cross exposition with items that will reflect on ethnographic -
„aukštaitiškas“, „žemaitiškas“, „dzūkiškas“: and other familiar traits of
cross making. The traditional cultural environement and architecture,
details of everyday life and beautiful natural surroundings created at the
museum make for a better feel and understanding of traditional values.
According to the project, it is planned to refurbish the Pakapiai cottage,
where folk artist creative seminars, educational events for pupils, art
school students internships could be organised there.
Contact: Nemira
Gutautienė
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
6 S.Nėries str., Rumšiskės, LT-56336 Kaišiadorys region.
Tel. (+370) 346 47233, fax: (+370) 346 47120.
E-mail: direktorius@llbm.lt
Cooperation
At the
Base of Rambynas, Next to the Pond of Lithuanian Language
Eugenijus SKIPITIS
Museum Of Martynas Jankus
The publication presents the event „A Gathering at
Martynas Jankus in Bitėnai“. It is organised every year on September 7th
at the Martynas Jankus Museum, on the occasion of his birthday and in what
was once his cottage. Martynas Jankus (1858-1946) - Lithuania Minor
publisher, society activist, publicist, the signatory of the Tilsit
declaration (1918), the Lithuania Minor national movement activist and is
sometimes also called the patriarch of Lithuania Minor. Publishers,
historians, journalists, culturalists are invited to the event.
Conferences, seminars, exhibitions are organised by the museum in what was
the print-house (now rebuilt). The meeting of 2004 is dedicated to mark
the centenary of lifting of the ban on Lithuanian press in latin alphabet.
The theme of 2005 - „Museums and the Media. The Problems of Preservation
of Historic and Cultural Heritage“.
Contact: Eugenijus
Skipitis
Museum Of Martynas Jankus
Bitėnai village, LT-99265, Pagėgiai municipality.
Tel.: (+370) 441 42736.
E-mail: rambynas@takas.lt
Kazys
Šimonis Creative Heritage and the Nurturers
Of „Aukštaičiai“ Painting Heritage
Violeta ALEKNIENĖ
Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum
Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum has linked the ethnic
culture heritage with the artist Kazys Šimonis and his artistic creations.
The Aukštaitija region K.Šimonis folk and graphic art contest-exhibition
which was first organised five years ago by museologists, has become a
tradition. They happened in 1999, 2002, 2004. These cultural events make
for the preservation of the painters heritage, nurture the spiritual
values, reveal the folk artists creative individuality.
In 2004 for the first time the creative heritage exhibition brought from
the National M.K.Čiurlionis Art Museum
was put on show at the Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum.
Contact: Violeta
Aleknienė
Kupiškis Ethnographic Museum
2 Gedimino str., LT-40114 Kupiškis. Tel. (+370) 459 35439.
E-mail:
kupetmuz@post.omnitel.net
A Conference Dedicated to the Anniversary of
Upytė Land
Jūratė GAIDELIENĖ
Ethnographical Museum of Panevėžys
The publication presents the conference which was
organised in the summer of 2004 in Panevėžys, called „From the Past of
Panevėžys: Upytė Land Turns 750“. It was organised by the Ethnographical
Museum of Panevėžys together with the Lithuanian History Museum. The aim
of the conference- to have a new look into the history of the whole region
which was called Upytė land, to supply new historic research and
interpretations. Upytė land was first mentioned in written sources in 1254
when territory was being divided by the archbishop of Riga Albert and the
Master of Livonia Order, by marking the Žiemgala border, which touched
Upytė and Šiauliai lands. Upytė land occupied an important place in the
Lithuanian land confederation. It bordered with the territory of Livonia
order. In the middle of the 16th century Upytė held the current Panevėžys,
Pasvalys, Biržai regions and a part of Kėdainiai, Kupiškis and Pakruojas
regions. This territorial unit held a quite stable territory for a few
hundred years. Interestingly the modern Panevėžys country borders are
nearly identical with the 16th century Upytės land (except for the eastern
ones).
Contact: Jūratė
Gaidelienė
Ethnographical museum of Panevėžys
23 Vasario 16 str. LT-35185, Panevėžys
Tel.: (+370) 45 462331.
E-mail: panevmuziejus@takas.lt
Eugenijus and Leonardas Matuzevičiai Cottage
and „Krinčino verdenės“
Stasė ŠEŠTAKAUSKAITĖ
Pasvalys Land Museum,
Memorial Museum of Eugenijus and Leonardas Matuzevičiai
The publication presents the Matuzevičiai
cottage which is a branch of the Pasvalys Land Musem which is situated in
Pasvalys region, Krinčinas town. The
child-hood of poets Eugenijus and Leonardas Matuzevičiai
passed in this house with a tower, considered to be an architecture
monument. An exposition representing the creative life of two poet
brothers is on show.
„Krinčino verdenės“, traditional
poetry festivals are held each year in the museum courtyard amidst the
shade of old black alders and memorial trees. They are held on June 20th,
on the day of death of Eugenijus Matuzevičius, when the white jasmine
blooms. A variety of known poets, writers, actors, fellow-countrymen,
litterateurs have visited the ten „Krinčino
verdenės“ poetry festivals.
Contact: Stasė
Šeštakauskaitė
Memorial Museum of Eugenijus and Leonardas Matuzevičiai
42 Žalgirio str., Krinčinas, LT-39464, Pasvalys region.
Tel.: (+370) 451 44226.
E-mail: muziejus@pasvalys.lt
A New CD was Released
Inga LEVICKAITĖ
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
In the summer of 2004 Estate Academy of Rumšiškes
Museum, Vytautas Magnus University, Laptev sea deportee association
„Lapteviečiai“ and the Open-Air Museum
Of Lithuania released a CD entitled „From Deportation to Europe“,
dedicated to mark the centenary of lifting of the ban on Lithuanian press
in latin alphabet and the Day of Europe. Themes presented in the CD:
„Lithuania and Europe: a Bit of History“, „Under the Power of Russian
Empire“, „For Faith and Freedom“, „Daraktoriai“, „Book Spreaders“,
„Temperance“, „Having Fought back the press“, „Independent Lithuania - a
Gulp of Fresh Air“, „Occupations Again“, „From Deportation to Freedom- the
Return to Europe“. Lithuanian resistance to the occupation of Russian
Empire and the Soviet Union was really a wish to keep the cultural and
economic ties with European culture. They were nurtured from the beginning
of Lithuanian statehood. Significant attention is given to the ban of
Lithuanian press and the resistance that ensued, the publishing of
Lithuanian literature and „Knygnesyste“, the enliveliment of cultural life
after lifting of the ban on press.
Contact: Inga
Levickaitė
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
6 S.Nėries str., Rumšiskės, LT-56336 Kaišiadorys region.
Tel. (+370) 346 47233, fax: (+370) 346 47120.
E-mail: direktorius@llbm.lt
A Monument Errected in Šiauliai to the Lawyer
Kazimieras Venclauskis
Irena NEKRAŠIENĖ
Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum History Department
The day of state restoration - February 16- was
memorable for Šiauliai. It was on that day that the Šiauliai „Aušra“
Museum solemnly unveiled a monument to the lawyer Kazimieras Venclauskis
in Venclauskiai house courtyard. Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum took on the
initiative to immortalize the memory of K. Venclauskis and build him a
monument 5 years ago- just before his 120th birth anniversary celebration.
In the historic memory of the current generation K. Venclauskis remains an
outstanding personality of the first half of the 20th century Lithuanian
history.
He was one of the best known Lithuanian national movement and later
Lithuanian state reestablishement activists. He was one of the most
notable social democratic personas, one of the most imortant society and
culture activists. In Šiauliai K. Venclauskis was famous for his culture
patronage. Nowadays Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum is situated in his home.
Contact: Irena
Nekrašienė
The Venclauskiai House,
The Art exposition of Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum
89 Vytauto str., LT-77155, Šiauliai.
Tel.: (+370) 41 524392.
E-mail: ausros.muz@takas.lt
Memorial Museums of Kaunas
Rūta SAMUOLYTĖ
Antanas Žmuidzinavičius Memorial
Museum
On 2003 October 9th - December 11th in Kaunas, a 30
academic hour introductory qualificational excursion cycle „Memorial
Museums of Kaunas“ was held. It was dedicated to the employees of the
memorial museums of the National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum. 17 museums
were visited during 9 days. The idea to organise such an excursion cycle
arose to the author of this article, she then worked at the A. ir P.
Galauniai memorial house. This house, as other memorial museums belonging
to the National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum: L. Truikys and M.
Rakauskaitė, J. Zikaras, A. Žmuidzinavičius all have a specific space,
where cultural events, exhibitions, afternoons, anniversaries and concerts
are held. The main aim of the excursions was to explore the other Kaunas
memorial museum activity, expositions, work plans and problems, to collect
ideas for improving our work. Introductory qualificational excursion cycle
„Memorial Museums of Kaunas“ created an opportunity to see behind the
scenes of our colegues work, talk about common problems and the ways to
overcome them, to feel the importance of the relationship between the
exhibit and the story, to read informational published material. That will
allow us manage our archive material more resposibly and more
professionally, uncover specific personality of the character through
expositions and events, search for modern exhibition possibilities and
increase the dispersion of information.
Contact: Rūta
Samuolytė
Antanas Žmuidzinavičius Memorial Museum,
Branch of the M. K. Ciurlionis National Art Museum
64 Putvinskio str., LT-44211, Kaunas.
Tel.: (+370) 37 221587. E-mail: MKC@takas.lt
New Museums, Expositions
Kazys Varnelis Museum:
Between Tradition and Vanguard
Alma BRAZIŪNIENĖ
K. Varnelis Home-Museum
Kazys Varnelis House-Museum is situated in Vilnius,
Didžioji street, in one of the oldest concrete buildings of Rotušės square
- the Small Guild and Masalskis House. The museum collection is made up of
various compendiums: old graphics, paintings, sculptures, renaissance and
later epoque furniture, a collection of Eastern art, maps, all is put on
show in 36 halls. The exposition of this unique museum alludes to a living
house. In the small halls, full of gothic details, historic graphic and
Western European sculpture expostions are formed. They are complemented by
renaissance, baroque furniture ensembles and K.Varnelis abstracts. The
contrast of exposition tuning makes it unique. Kazys Varnelis Museum
(opened in 1998, from 2003 - a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum),
is not a memorial museum in a strict sense of the word - it is not
dedicated to the memory of a particular person. The only association with
memorial museums is the personalisation moment itself - it was created by
an individual as a personal museum. K. Varnelis (b. 1917) a painter, a
museologist, a collector and a bibliophille, is that actor, who models the
space of his museum, the relationship of expositions with each other and
the overall structure of the museum.
Contact: Alma
Braziūnienė
Kazys Varnelis House-Museum
26 Didžioji str., LT-01100, Vilnius
Tel.: (+370) 5 2791644; (+370) 687 13735.
E-mail: kvmuziejus@lnm.lt,
alma.braziuniene@tinklas.net
The Heart to Lithuania, the Roots to Suvalkija. A
New Exposition in Paežeriai
Aldona ŽEMAITYTĖ
The friendship that lasts for more than a decade
between the emigree painter from Chicago Magdalena Stankūnienė with the
Vilkaviškis region museologists has produced cosy offices, depositiories,
M.Stankūnienė memorial exposition, enriched with Vilkaviškis region
ethnographic items being built in the Paežeriai estate.
Works donated by the painter Magdalena Stankūnienė-Stankūnienė - graphic
works, paintings and reproductions, batiks are stored at numerous museums
but the most impressive collection is stored at the Vilkaviškis Land
Museum. Its collection consists of 5465 M. Stankūnienė legacy items, more
than 200 her works of art, in the library- 38 publications, Jonas
Gintautas Stankūnas documents, sister Salomėja textiles, sister Sofija
ceramics. In the future Vilkaviškis museologists care to find a place for
a room to exhibit selected M. Stankūnienė works of art: graphics,
textiles, paintings, batiks and other author pieces.
Contact: Aldona
Žemaitytė
Tel. (+370) 610 37 318. E-mail:
aldapet@takas.lt
A New Exposition for The
Writers’ Birthday
Vida ZASIENĖ
A.Baranauskas and A.Vienuolis-Žukauskas Memorial Museum
On 2004 April 7th, commemorating the 122th birthday of
writer A.Žukauskas-Vienuolis, a new exposition was opened in his house.
The new exposition is full of photos from different periods of the writers
life: travels, meetings, hobbies, confidants. Writers books, memorial
items are exhibited. In the spacious and light-filled exhibition space
museologists organise various cultural events, invite students to
educational programmes.
In 1922 writer Antanas Žukauskas-Vienuolis (1882-1957), having spent about
twenty years abroad, come back to his motherland and settled in Anykščiai.
In 1925, in Ažupiečiai, on the site of
the old poet A.Baranauskas cottage, he built his house where he lived
until his death in 1957. Now A. Žukauskas-Vienuolis Memorial house-museum
operates in this building.
Contact: Vida
Zasienė
Antanas Baranauskas and Antanas
Vienuolis-Žukauskas Memorial Museum
4 A. Vienuolio str., LT-29147, Anykščiai.
Tel.: (+370) 381 58015.
E-mail: a.vienuolis@delfi.lt
A New Exposition in the Bicycle Museum „Bicycle and
Lithuania“
Virginija ŠIUKŠČIENĖ, Algirdas ZAUKAS
Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum
The publication deals with the renewed exposition
„Bicycle and Lithuania“ at the Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum branch the Bicycle
museum. In the expo- 348 exhibits, including 79 bicycle and 3 velomobiles.
The exhibition deals with the origins of bicycle history and its
development. Bicycles which were most popular in Lithuania until the WWII
- made in Germany, UK and elswhere are put on show. These are the themes
of the exhibition: „Liudas Alseika, the Organiser and Leader of the First
Intercontinental Bike Expedition Klaipėda-Vladivostok“, „The Big Millenium
Bicycle Peace Ride Around the World“, „The Bicycle is Invented. Ride
Orange!“, „Šiauliai Bicycle and and Engine Factory „Vairas“, „AB Baltik
Vairas“, „ Velomobiles“, „Can You Ride Safe?“, „Do You Know the Bicycle’s
Parts Lithuanian Names?“.
Contact: Virginija
Šiukščienė
Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum
89 Vytauto str., LT-77155, Šiauliai.
Tel.: (+370) 41 524392. E-mail:
ausros.muz@takas.lt
In the Exhibitions Halls
With Light to Light
Vingaudas BALTRUŠAITIS
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
The publication is about the exhibition „With Light to
Light“ which was put on show in 2003 - 2004 at the exhibition hall of the
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania. The exhibition of 2004 is dedicated to the
centenary of reinstatement of Lithuanian language. Both exhibitions show
the living room lightning instruments, starting with oldest to the most
modern. The importance of artificial light development in the quest for
light is emphasized. As the lightning got better there were more and more
literate people, luminaries.
Contact: Vingaudas
Baltrušaitis
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
6 S.Neries str., Rumšiskės, LT-56336 Kaišiadorys region.
Tel. (+370) 346 47233. Fax: (+370) 346 47120.
E-mail: direktorius@llbm.lt
A Gift to the City of Youth: New Discoveries
Violeta KRIŠTOPAITYTĖ
M. K. Čiurlionis
National Art Museum
The centenary of one of the greatest collectors in
Lithuanian culture history, patron of the arts Mykolas Žilinskas was
celebrated on 2004 September 29th. In Kaunas homage was paid by exhibiting
the newest research being done on the Mykolas Žilinskas collection. It is
impossible to honor a collector more than by deepening, correcting
information about the works he collected, acknowledging authorships and so
growing maturity and worth to his whole life’s work. Regarding the
intention of the exhibition, it was called „A Gift to the City of Youth:
New Discoveries“. As Soviets occupied Lithuania in 1940, M.Žilinskas
escaped to the West and settled in West Berlin, where he gathered a
massive collection of 16th-20th century paintings of which a greater part
was later donated to the M. K. Čiurlionis
National Art Museum. Honouring the exceptional influence he had on the
Lithuanian art collection, the gallery built in 1989 was named after him.
Contact: Violeta Krištopaitytė
M. K. Čiurlionis
National Art Museum
64 Putvinskio str., LT-44211, Kaunas.
Tel. (+370) 37 221587. E-mail: MKC@takas.lt
To Commemorate the Stage Alchemist’s Centenary
Radvilė RACĖNAITĖ,
M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum,
L. Truikys and M. Rakauskaitė Memorial Museum
Commemorating one of the most prominent Lithuanian
scenogaphs Liudas Truikys birth centenary, the M. K. Čiurlionis National
Art Museum in Kaunas has opened an exhibition dealing with his art and
personality „The Stage Alchemist“. On 2004 October 8th a conference was
also organised in the museum „Liudas Truikys - 100“, where known
Lithuanian art and theatre researchers, have discussed the life of the
artist, his work in a wider European cultural context, his friends shared
memories. The second jubilee exposition was opened at the same time at the
Lithuanian Theatre, Music and Cinema Museum in Vilnius. There, later works
of the artist were shown.
Contact: Radvilė
Racėnaitė
M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum
64 Putvinskio str., LT-44211, Kaunas.
Tel.: (+370) 37 221587. E-mail: MKC@takas.lt
An Exhibition to Commemorate the Famous
„Kanklės“
Player
Laura LUKENSKIENĖ
P. Stulga Lithuanian Folk Music Museum
At the P. Stulga Lithuanian Folk Music Museum on 2004
June 16th - October 30th an exposition dedicated to the memory of
„kanklės“-player Juozas Telešius (1913-2001) was put on show. Photographs
and documents about the „kanklės“-player, the music instruments he made
exposed a new attitude to „kanklės“. A folk artist, village luminary
Juozas Telešius got introduced to „kanklės“ at school. Inspired by the
beginning of the 20th century national revival he learned to play
„kanklės“ on his own, and cherished its music all his life.
The do-it-yourself musician created the „kanklės“ and individual playing
technique. Because of his life long practise and experimenting with
„kanklės“, he is interesting to modern „kanklės“ players, those spreading
Lithuanian national music. The backbone of the exhibition was made by
seven „kanklės“ made by J. Telešius, stored at various museums and the
family of the master.
Contact: Laura
Lukenskienė
P. Stulga Lithuanian Folk Music Museum
12 L. Zamenhofo str., LT-3000 Kaunas.
Tel.: (+370) 37 206820.
E-mail: kaunomuzik.muz@takas.lt
Lithuanian
Folk Reed Music Instruments
Information of LNM
The publication deals with exhibition by the Lithuanian
National Museum and Lithuanian Folk Culture Center entitled „Lithuanian
Folk Reed Music Instruments“ which was opened on 2004 September 8th. It
was dedicated to the 7th international instrumental folklore festival
„Griežynė“. The idea of the exhibition - to show the variety of lithuanian
reed instruments from museum items to newly made. Lithuanian folk music
instruments, the context of their production and existence, the music
played by them is a valuable and multifaceted part of Lithuanian culture
heritage. Their archaeology, naming and ethnomusical research testament to
a close relation between baltic tribe genesis and their inhabited
territories. It is especially true when talking about reed instruments,
held by scientists as some of the most archaic. Created according to
information supplied by the Lithuanian National Museum.
Contact: Lithuanian
National Museum
1 Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius.
Tel. (+370) 5 262774. Fax: (+370) 5 2611023.
E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt
Keys from the Mnemonic Safe
Jonas ZIEMELIS
Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum
The publication deals with the signature exhibtion
which took place in Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum.
In the collection of a long time teacher, ethnographer Jonas Krivickas -
signatures of famous Lithuanian writers and poets on their books. That is
J. Marcinkevičius, J. Grušas, J. Paukštelis, A. Baltakis and others
signatures and inscriptions. Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum put on show
signatures from famous Lithuanian personalities J. Rimkus, K. Venclauskis,
Vl. Putvinskis, A. Žmuidzinavičius and others. In Lithuania signatures are
gathered by the Central Literature and Art Archive, Lithuanian Language
and Literature Institute, Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum, National
M.Mažvydas library, Vilnius University library. Various size and worth
collections are held by individual collectors.
Contact: Jonas
Ziemelis
Šiauliai „Aušra“ Museum
89 Vytauto str., LT-77155, Šiauliai.
Tel. (+370) 41 524392.
E-mail: ausros.muz@takas.lt
Education
The Seaside Ethnographic farmstead of fishermans is
Open for New Initiatives
Dainius ELERTAS
Lithuanian Sea Museum
In the seaside Ethnographic farmstead of fishermans,
which belongs to the Lithuanian Sea Museum, a 19th-20th century sea
fishing in Lithuania exposition is on show, educational events are
organised. A museologist transfoms into the fishermans „daughter“ to tell
pupils about the fishermans family, everyday life and craft secrets. The
cottage is open to a wide range of initiatives. In 2000-2001 on the field
next to the cottage, a process of building a traditional ship „kurėnas“
was recreated. Historic military enactements of 1807-1812 events which
took place in 2002 and 2004 near the cottage also attracted museum
visitors attention. Frequent guests at the cottage are the participants of
the international folklore festivals „Vėlungis“ and „Parbėk laiveli“.
Almost periodically Midsummer day are here celebrated by the folklore
ensemble „Kuršių ainiai“. Ever more frequently the cottage becomes the
place for various gatherings and festivities.
Contact: Dainius
Elertas
Lithuanian Sea Museum
3 Smiltynė Highway, LT-93100, Klaipėda.
Tel.: (+370) 46 470940. Fax: (+370) 46 490750.
E-mail: ljm@muziejus.lt
Artists
were at Work in the Ethnografic Cottage
Jonas VAIŠKŪNAS
Molėtai Land Museum
This publication deals with the joint creative
symposium by the Lithuanian artists association Kaunas division and
Molėtai Land Museum named „Other Time“ which took place on 2004 July
26th-30th at the ethnographic farmstead situated in Kulionys village.
Participants: pupils from Molėtai r. Bijutiškis main school, Vilnius
J.Vienožinskis art school Naujoji Vilnia branch, Kaunas J.Jablonskis
gymnasium and Kaunas colegium technology and design department students.
The patron of the event - The Lithuanian National UNESCO comission. The
participants of the symposium listened to lectures on baltic art and
symbols, in the olden heavenly object lookout stationn could find out how
our ancestors watched the sky and counted the time, how they understood
the world and the our place in it.
At the ethnographic farmstead they learned linen carving techniques,
strived to express the ancient baltic world-view through their art work.
On July 30th on the occasion of the symposium closing, an exhibition of
the participants works - „Lost in Another Time“ was put on show.
Contact: Jonas
Vaiškūnas
Ethnographic Farmstead and Observation
Post of Heavenly Body
Kulionys, P. D. 51, LT-33354, Molėtai Region.
Tel.: (+370) 682 14559.
E-mail:
j.vaiskunas@moletai.omnitel.net
Collections
Unknown Artists’ Petras Rauduvė Paintings
Antanas SEIBUTIS
Biržai Land Museum „Sėla“, Historical Investigations Department
The work of a museologist is fascinating since you
study the history of your country, deepen your knowledge, find out
interesting sometimes unexpected facts. The quest for uncovering history
presents us with new facts, findings, a new outlook to famous art, science
and literature personality lifes and histories. The author of this text
had to reacquaint himself with a fellow-countryman, famous painters’
Petras Rauduvė works. Biržai Land Museum collections were enlarged by two
previously unknown works by this author. From 1940 Petras Rauduvė took
part in numerous exhibitions, created lots of book illustrations,
engravings, ex-libris, posters. P.Rauduvė illustrated books by
L.Žitkevičius, Vytė Nemunėlis (B.Brazdžionis), P.Cvirka, L.Dovydėnas,
J.Janonis, A.Venclova, A.Baranauskas, E.Mieželaitis, E.Matuzevičius,
S.Nėris, P.Širvys, S.Žlibinas. P. Rauduvė died in Vilnius in 1994.
Contact: Antanas
Seibutis
Biržai Land Museum „Sėla“
3 J. Radvilos str., LT-41175, Biržai
Tel./fax: (+370) 450 31883.
E-mail: bkm_sela@is.lt
Photographers Chaimas Kaplanskis Creative
Heritage at the „Alka“ Museum
Marija PETRAUSKIENĖ
Žemaičiai Museum „Alka“, Photography Department
In 2004 „Alka“ Museum carried out a project „Chaimas
Kaplanskis - the Most Notable End of 19th- Beginning of 20th Century
Telšiai Photographer“. It was dedicated to the arrange and present the
creative heritage, stored in the museum collections. An exhibition of Ch.
Kaplanas work was organised at the museum, a CD was released. The thing
that pushed to undertake such a project was that in 1999 during the
reconstruction of the museum a huge treasure of glass negatives was found.
The negatives were hidden during the war by the director of the museum
Pranas Genys. The negative collection is a unique artistic legacy of
interwar Telšių photographers.
A part of it is made up by Ch. Kaplanskis work representing life and
people of Telšiai, its Jewish community. The negatives are very old and
they will not last for long, so these important to our history and culture
images were saved by writing them to a CD, containing 249 images.
Contact: Marina
Petrauskienė
Žemaičiai Museum „Alka“
31 Muziejaus str., LT-87357, Telšiai
Tel.: (+370) 444 70282.
E-mail: alka@andernetas.lt
Fello - Countrymans’
Gifts to the Joniškis Museum
Daliutė PETRULIENĖ
Joniškis Museum of History and Culture
Every year the funds Joniškis Museum of History and
Culture are enlarged by new exhibits. A part of them are
fellow-countrymans’ presents. In 2003-2004 Povilas Mataitis gave the
museum exhibits connected to his Lithuanian folklore theatre activity,
some personal belongings. P. Matulis - pedagogue, the Lithuanian folklore
theatre founder and director, choryphaeus, folklore whizz, a member of
Lithuanian Musician and Theatre Associations, a cherisher of folk culture.
Knowing well the country’s history, folklore, mythology, the common
culture heritage, he has created a synthesis of folklore and modern art
and carried out an original idea - he created the folklore theater genre.
Contact: Daliutė
Petrulienė
Joniškis Museum of History and Culture
14 Žemaičių str., LT-84143, Joniškis.
Tel.: (+370) 426-52492; fax (+370) 426-53475.
E-mail: muziejus@joniskis.lt
In the Workshops of
Restorers
Wooden Architecture:
Preservation and Development Opportunities
Dr. Rasa BERTAŠIŪTĖ
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
The fate of wooden architecture heritage in Lithuania
is disappearing fast and depends mostly on the outlook and understanding
of society as a whole, since the value of heritage can be grasped only if
there is enough understanding of it. Since museums are a medium between
past and present, people and exhibits, they are directly responsible for
the transmission of information which is stored in things. Secrets are
lost together with buildings which are restored improperly. At the
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania the greatest collection of wooden buildings
in Lithuania is gathered. Today it is especially important to preserve not
only the buildings-exhibits but the wooden architecture heritage as a
living tradition. An idea is developed to create a wooden architecture
information and restoration center. A project is on its way which will
help nurture intercultural understanding, to try to understand and value
own culture, to show the advantages of traditional architecture. We
believe that the heritage of wooden architecture can be reborn for a new
life.
Contact: Dr. Rasa
Bertašiūtė
Open-Air Museum Of Lithuania
6 S.Neries str., Rumšiskės, LT-56336 Kaišiadorys region.
Tel. (+370) 346 47233. Fax: (+370) 346 47120.
E-mail: direktorius@llbm.lt
Abroad
An Exhibition in Vienna
Skaidrė URBONIENĖ
Lithuanian National Museum, Department of Ethnic Culture
On 2004 April 21th - September 26th in Vienna, Austria
at the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore an exhibition entitled „15+10:
European Identities“ was put on show. The goal of the exhibition - project
was to acquaint the Austrian visitor with new members of the European
Union by a symbolic object that would represent their identity. Lithuania
was represented by the Lithuanian Naitonal Museum with a famous
blacksmiths’ Vytautas Jarutis iron memorial monument top/cross. An
exhibition of this artist was organised in 2002 at the National Museum, a
catalogue was also produced. V. Jarutis creates the memorial monument tops
according to traditional small architecture monument tops, thus continuing
the ancient blacksmith and crossmaking traditions. The top sent to Vienna
was made in 2000 (size - 125 x 92 cm).
Contact: Skaidrė
Urbonienė
Lithuanian National Museum
1 Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius.
Tel.: (+370) 5 262774; (+370) 5 2626808.
Fax: (+370) 5 2611023.
E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt
Money and War: the 6th
Numismatic Conference in Suprasal
Eduardas REMECAS
Lithuanian National Museum Numismatics Department
On 2004 September 9th-11th in Bialystok and Suprasal (Poland) the now
traditional 6th interanational scientific numismatics conference was
organised. In this biannally organised conference gather scientists,
museologists and collectors from Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Lithuania,
Slovakia and Ukraine. The main organizers of the event are the Polish
Numismatics Association and the Bialystok War Museum and the organizing of
the second conference was also aided by the Bialystok Upper Economics
School. As with every conference, this had a theme as well, this time -
„Money and War“. Lithuania was represented by the Cultural Heritage Center
arhaelogist numismatic Eugenijus Ivanauskas, Lithuanian National Museum
numismatic Eduardas Remecas, the head of the same museum Numismatics
Department Dalia Grimalauskaitė and National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum
numismatic Stanislovas Sajauskas.
Contact: Eduardas Remecas
Lithuanian National Museum
1 Arsenalo str., LT-01100, Vilnius.
Tel.: (+370) 5 262774; fax: (+370) 5 2611023.
E-mail: muziejus@lnm.lt,
numizmatika@lnm.lt
Pranas Domšaitis
Works of Art in Germany
Kristina JOKUBAVIČIENĖ
Lithuanian Art Museum, Pranas Domsaitis Gallery
The Lithuanian Art Museum has taken over the unique
collection of the famous expressionist Pranas Domašaitis, which was
donated to Lithuania by the Lithuanians Fund (USA). The Museum has opened
a constant exhibition at the Klaipėda Picture Gallery, where the work of
the painter is thouroughly presented. In the spring of 2004 P.Domšaitis
exhibition was organised in Germany, where in the beginning of the 20th
century the painter has came to be considered an established
expressionist, but was ousted from museums by the nazis as a creator of so
called „degraded art“. After almost a century, the work of P.Domšaitis has
come back to Dusseldorf. The exhibition was presented to the German public
by the art critic and also director of the Lithuanian Art Museum Klaipėda
Picture Gallery and P.Domšaitis Center of Culture Kristina Jokubavičienė.
The exhibition was arranged by the „Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus.
Deutsch-osteuropäische Forum“.
Contact: Kristina
Jokubavičienė
Pranas Domšaitis Gallery
33 Liepų str., LT-92145, Klaipėda.
Tel./fax (+370) 46 410416.
E-mail: kpgdomsaitis@takas.lt