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         How sounds the land of Latvia or sounds of the land of Latvia in Alūksne?
       Land or ground is one of the most important symbols of Latvia. It helps by fertility, blessing and preserving of memories. Before going far away it is important for Latvian to take a handful of soil of Latvia... How sounds land of Latvia in Alūksne? In this summer it will be explored by society “Siguldas Mākslu serpentīns” (Serpentine of Arts of Sigulda) and artist of new mediums Zanda Puče implementing project “Latvijas zemes skaņas. Alūksne” (Sounds of the Land of Latvia. Alūksne.). Exhibition in Alūksne Art School is planned for period from October 14 to November 10.
During implementation process of the project it is envisaged to include all three dimensions: past-present-future. It will be unique story about time and people, development of technologies, values - mutual interaction of the land and people. It will be told using multimedia contemporary technologies and stories of local Alūksne people of different generations. Zanda Puče: “I hope that art and dialogue with the people will help to see new contexts and strengthen feelings of identity and belonging.”
       Within the project it is planned to record sounds of the ground in places suggested by Alūksne inhabitants using self-created but simple technology and to create serial of graphical photograms as supplement to the memory stories of the inhabitants making them from images of the spectrum of ground sounds. Several information channels will be used - audio, photo, video and graphics. In Alūksne it is planned to develop walking route from the chosen places in collaboration with experts of local sectors as well as organize creative master classes for introducing different graphical techniques and country sounds recording process.
       In 2016 the artist implemented similar project - “Ex-libri art voyage” in Sigulda region library exhibition hall which included recording of ground sounds and vibrations in Sigulda landscapes places pictured in works by artists. Zanda Puče: “Art works often works as peculiar road signs. Since old days majestic sceneries of Sigulda - panoramic landscapes, picturesque valley of Gauja with romantic castle ruins - have been source of creative inspiration for artists, art amateurs, travellers - scientists and writers. Sketches, drawings, paintings, watercolour paintings, graphics have become the best witnesses of the history of that time. During time technical abilities of the people have improved and now everyone can save their travelling memories in photos. The region of Alūksne is close to me and I want to get know it even more! The sounds of the country in Alūksne are important to me because my great-great-grandfather Juhans Jurss (1847-1957, in Tomska) was a craftsman, master of boats and the house built by him in the district of Alsviķi was called “Atmiņas” (Memories). So “Atmiņas” (Memories) have inspired new projects of memories; see more at www.zandapuce.lv
In May 24 at 11:00 in Alūksne meeting with artist Zanda Puče took place in the library of Alūksne region, but in Alūksne Art School at 16:00 there was the first master workshop during which new artists were introduced with the results of the project “EX-libri art voyage Sigulda”, technology for recording sounds of the ground and acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills in graphical techniques – linocut and print of acetone. Participants of the master workshop created their own design of envelope for some places of Alūksne.
         Project is supported by: Vidzeme planning region, National Culture Capital Fund, Alūksne Art School.
Project was implemented with funds assigned by “Latvijas valsts mežu atbalstīto Vidzemes kultūras programmas 2017” (Vidzeme Culture Programme 2017 Supported by National Forests of Latvia).

        This year on April 25 the group of teachers of the Alūksne Art School went to visit their colleagues in Gulbene, get know their experience in Gulbene Art School and submit creative works of the students of Alūksne Art School for taking part in the International Visual Art Competition “Klusā daba ar zilo šķīvi” (Still Life with Blue Plate).
        Sandra Dikmane, directress of Gulbene Art School, and Mairita Ķuze, deputy directress in methodological work, kindly introduced to the rooms and workshops of the school and learning process of their education institution. We got know the experience of our colleagues from Gulbene by developing final works of Professional Introduction Educational Programme “Visual-plastic Art” for the school's graduates. Also we were introduced to the specifics of the works of neighbour school by working with different projects (calendars of the school) and acquiring new techniques (aerography). During common conversations we agreed on creative future plans — common courses.
         Visit of the Gulbene Art School was finished in the museum where we had opportunity to get know the room of the artists from Gulbene region where works of artists-people of the district Jūlijs Madernieks, Leo Svemps, Jānis Brekte a.o. were exposed. Also the pedagogues of our school had an opportunity to watch animation films about artists of their region Voldemārs Irbe, Jūlijs Madernieks and Gulbene town made by students of the Gulbene Art School.

             On Saturday, April 8, was opened joint exhibition “Acumirklis” (A Moment) by artists of the region of Vidzeme including creative works by 92 authors. The exhibition was opened in 3 places: In the Culture Centre of Alūksne, in Alūksne Museum and in Alūksne Art School.
You can visit the exhibition until May 21!

       In the evening of March 22, 2017 there was atmosphere of some excitement in the Art School. Students of form 5 welcomed their parents, teachers and schoolmates to their first serious test — presentation for projects of school's ending creative works, the same time also exam of composition.
         They were carefully preparing their presentations to tell their audience about their creative idea for school's ending works as attestation to acquired skills of independent creative work finishing septennial Professional Introduction Educational Programme “Visual-plastic Art”.
       Gustavs Stradiņš will realise his interest in life of aborigines, their understanding of the world and Art in his painting “Rītausma” (Dayspring).
         Kristiāna Freimane will show the phenomena of time irreversibility in graphical composition “Kaleidoskops” (Kaleidoscope) because time is like fragments of kaleidoscope that cannot be brought back to their initial state. Work will be made during process of understanding optical effects and composition structure of graphical work by Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher and getting under their influence .
         Egils Veinbergs presented idea of learning about himself by choosing genre of self-portrait.
       Agata Rāga in her diploma work will paint her feelings about the years spent in Alūksne Art School using works of artist Boriss Bērziņš as impulse source.
Anastasija Gaile will make a painting “Klusā daba” (Still Life) by studying and interpreting set-up and image of corporeity in still life paintings by Dutch old masters.
       Nikolajs Rakovs will paint composition “Pamests, bet ne aizmirsts” (Abandoned, but not forgotten) getting know bright works by painter Aleksejs Naumovs.
       Artūrs Krajevičs has chosen to show his attitude to beloved pet in painting “Klusā daba ar kaķi” (Still Life with a Cat) getting inspiration from creative works by Henri Matisse.
        After presentation prospective graduates were assessed by their pedagogues and got a plantlet of spring flower which they have to care until splendid blossoms, similarly to their creative idea they will have to care from idea to realisation in material.

         On March 17, 2017, the group of students and pedagogues went to Rīga to visit Open Day events and creative workshops in PIKC NMV Jānis Rozentāls Art School.
         We were kindly greeted by guides-students of the school and they were introducing us to the facilities and learning process of the school and answering to our questions about requirements of entrance examinations and others questions of interest. We could see displayed art works, observe drawing process of plaster head, works in the painting workshop and multi-media works created by students of the school as well as get know information about participation of Jānis Rozentāls School in Erasmus + learning mobility programme allowing students to get know art schools of other countries and gain new experience.
        Students of our school had an opportunity to try different techniques of graphics, screen printing, plaster casting, plotting and animation in creative workshops.
        Out next destination was the exhibition hall ”Arsenāls” (Arsenal) and its exhibition
“Hiperreālisms. Virziena variācijas Latvijā” (Hyperrealism. The variations of direction in Latvia). This project serves as opening for the programme devoted to the century of Republic of Latvia and it is organised by Latvian National Art Museum. In the exhibition are displayed works where coming in and development of hyperrealism in Latvian art for half a century (from 1967 to 2017) is revealed. Especially valuable was attending of the exhibition for the students of the 7th grade as they are going to get know the art directions of the 20th century art during their studies of art language.
        Then we went to the Latvian National Museum of Art. There we got know the constant exhibition and also the exhibition of the works by candidates to the Purvītis Prize 2017. This last exhibition consists of bright painting, graphics, sculptural, installations and video art works created by eight artists and collectives of authors proposed by independent experts to the fifth Purvītis Prize for the greatest performance in visual art in 2015 and 2016.
         At the end of the tour we visited the exhibition “Zīmējumi steigā” (Drawings in haste) by students of E. Geperts Academy of Art and Design (Wroclaw) in the exhibition hall of Art Academy of Latvia.