News

       From August 4 to September 15 of this year on business days from 10am-5pm in the exposition hall of Alūksne Art School is opened exposition of paintings “KLUSĀ DABA” (STILL LIFE) from the Museum of Association of Latvian Artists. During Alūksne Town Festivity on Saturday, August 5 the exhibition is going to be opened at 10:00-17:00 and on Sunday, August 6 at 10:00-14:00. Entrance fee for adults EUR 1.00, for students and seniors EUR 0.50.
     For the exposition of the Museum of the Association of Latvian Artists (LMS Museum) was chosen one genre – still life revealing development of artistic means from the end of 1950-ties to the end of 1980-ties. In the exhibition you can see still life works of great masters: Imants Vecozols, Jūlijs Viļumainis, Indulis Zariņš, Biruta Baumane etc., also important authors describing the scene of age: Vilis Dvielis, Mihails Korņeckis, Aija Zariņa, Nikolajs Breikšs etc., and works of authors rarely seen in exhibitions: Ingrīda Kalna, Marina Ainbindere etc.
     We can find beginnings of still life painting in the 17th century in Holland when new demands and new art expression appeared – paintings where their authors were trying to achieve the most characteristic image of very diverse items: splendid bunches of flowers, glass and silver vessels, hangings with a plate with bilberry cake or ham on them and almost mandatory there was a lemon. The development of the genre can also be seen in vanits where worldliness of worldly things were expressed by different symbols: skulls, sand clocks and candles reminding us of “Memento mori!”.
       In the Latvian art the genre of still life has appeared quite lately – during 20ties of the 20th century when picturing of objects was based on realistic understanding of the life, studying paintings of old masters as well as in stylization typical to the modern age.
In the paintings of this exposition coming from the collection of LMS Museum was accented active wish of artists to express themselves in still life genre from 1960ties to the end of 1980ties when had broad collection of LMS was established.
       After the World War 2 when in our art were actualized socialism workers, their heroic past and their bright future, the still life genre got “softened”. “Simple” items picturing was too small for soviet ideology to show importance of new life and artists got reproaches for their formalisms. During that period the meaning of formalism was conclusion that the most important thing in their works was form, but their content was diminished. Therefore these works were rarely exposed in the exhibitions. New period in the genre of still life emerged in 1970ties when professional interests of artists, their artistic searches and their success in composition, composed colours and character of dashes, especially of course in painting were revealed through such portrayal of objects.
        Content of the exhibition emphasized that still life of Latvian pictorial art is more self expression through expression typical to its age. During creation of still life any artist is alone, his thoughts are mostly wandering towards his expression of his artistic capabilities and exactly in this genre artists have expressed themselves most willingly, most often and most creative.
Text: art scientist Baiba Guste
Author of the exhibition idea: sculptor Igors Dobičins, president of society “Latvijas Mākslinieku savienība” (Association of Latvian artists).

           In Alūksne Art School on May 29-31 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Open Door Days event is organised. During the event on May 30 and 31 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm educational erudition game “Saliec gleznas!” (Compose Paintings!) is organised. Surprise prizes will be awarded to the most successful participants!

         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!