{"id":23908,"date":"2025-04-29T16:55:44","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T13:55:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lndm.devmerit.com\/vytauto-kasiulio-dailes-muziejus\/parodos\/open-waters-the-emigre-art-collection-of-leonardas-andriekus-and-the-franciscan-brothers\/"},"modified":"2025-04-29T16:55:44","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T13:55:44","slug":"open-waters-the-emigre-art-collection-of-leonardas-andriekus-and-the-franciscan-brothers","status":"publish","type":"paroda","link":"https:\/\/lndm.devmerit.com\/en\/vytautas-kasiulis-museum-of-art\/exhibitions\/open-waters-the-emigre-art-collection-of-leonardas-andriekus-and-the-franciscan-brothers\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Waters. The \u00c9migr\u00e9 Art Collection of Leonardas Andriekus and the Franciscan Brothers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The title of this exhibition is borrowed from a collection of poetry released by Leonardas Kazimieras Andriekus in 1955, with which he made his debut in the United States. Open Waters serves as a metaphor for freedom and the unbridled spread of creativity; it is also a voicing of the unplanned and painful separation from one\u2019s Homeland, of a future marked by uncertainty and anxiety. We have taken it so as to summarise the Franciscan brothers\u2019 cultural activities in diaspora, in gathering Lithuanians together in a foreign land. By coming together to help Lithuanian artists, the Franciscans made a significant contribution to the fostering of art in emigration: they ran the Lithuanian press, built new churches, opened schools, and decorated churches, offices and residential spaces with professional works of art.<\/p>\n

A particularly significant contribution is associated with Andriekus\u2019 initiative to collect works by diaspora artists. He met with many of these artists personally while working at the Aidai office. The most prominent writers, artists and scientists concentrated there, and so he began collecting. The gifted paintings aroused in him the need to foster and accumulate beauty. According to the eminent diaspora writer, publisher and art critic, Paulius Jurkus, he did this to \u201cpreserve these artworks for the future, and when circumstances would allow, to bring them back to Lithuania as an example of Lithuanian emigrants\u2019 efforts under difficult conditions\u201d. The collection amassed by the Franciscan brothers was meant to compensate for the losses of professional religious art in Lithuania. It sought to provide continuity of Lithuanian art traditions, the spread of sacred art beyond the Atlantic, and to promote expression within the generation of active, modern young artists. The rich collection of Lithuanian diaspora art and works from the Far East and African nations amassed in Lithuanian Franciscan centres in Kennebunkport, Toronto, Brooklyn and elsewhere did return to Lithuania, and is today scattered throughout various Franciscan monasteries in Vilnius, Kretinga, \u0160iauliai District and Klaip\u0117da.<\/p>\n

The core of the collection consists of works by Adomas Galdikas, Viktoras Vizgirda, Telesforas Valius, Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas, Paulius Augius and Vytautas Ignas. However, Andriekus noted that \u201cwhen collecting their works, tried to preserve the beauty of the Lithuanian spirit, while also encouraging cultural dialogue and bonds between different traditions\u201d. Aside from recognised classics, pedagogues and graduates of the Kaunas Art School, the collection also features other artists: there are works by Petras Rim\u0161a, Pranas Dom\u0161aitis, Albinas Elskus, Petras Kiaul\u0117nas, Kazimieras \u017doromskis, Pranas Lap\u0117, Arbit Blatas, Juozas Bagdonas, Antanas Kairys, Alfonsas Dargis, Vladas \u017dilius and Romas Viesulas. The Franciscans were likewise observant of the distinctive contribution of female artists in diaspora art life. The works of sculptor and painter Elena Kepalait\u0117, painters Elena Urbaityt\u0117 and Vida Kri\u0161tolaityt\u0117, textile artist Janina Monkut\u0117-Marks, and graphic artists Nijol\u0117 Vedegyt\u0117-Palubinskien\u0117 and Magdalena Stank\u016bnien\u0117 all hold an important place in this collection. The tandem of Vytautas and Aleksandra Ka\u0161uba is also highly valued.<\/p>\n

One hundred selected works from the collection are featured in the exhibition, all of them being shown to the public for the first time. Viewers will no doubt be surprised by these works by famous authors reflecting a broad stylistic spectrum. The collection is represented by both sacred and secular art, and a variety of art streams ranging from the conservative and realistic, to examples of expressionism, fauvism, abstract expressionism and op art.<\/p>\n

According to Sigitas Benediktas Jur\u010dys OFM, \u201cL. Andriekus\u2019 art collection will help us once again understand the origins of our nation\u2019s culture and artists\u2019 contribution to Lithuania\u2019s and diaspora\u2019s cultural heritage. The life of our Franciscan brother Andriekus became for many of us a Gallery of Light \u2013 an art space and a living example of the Franciscan spirit and cultural dialogue, inviting us to discover beauty as a wellspring of healing and communality\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rasa Adomaitien\u0117, Ilona Ma\u017eeikien\u0117, Birut\u0117 Pank\u016bnait\u0117<\/em><\/p>\n

Curators: Rasa Adomaitien\u0117, Ilona Ma\u017eeikien\u0117, Birut\u0117 Pank\u016bnait\u0117<\/p>\n

Consultant: Father Julius Sasnauskas OFM<\/p>\n

Architect: Aust\u0117 K\u016blie\u0161i\u016bt\u0117-\u0160emet\u0117<\/p>\n

Designer: Jurgis Gri\u0161kevi\u010dius<\/p>\n

Restorers: Lina Ona Adomaityt\u0117, Rasa Bieliauskait\u0117\u2013Mikolaitien\u0117, Jurgita Bla\u017eyt\u0117\u2013Denapien\u0117, Rimvydas Derkintis, Dalia Jonynait\u0117, R\u016bta Kasiulyt\u0117, Linas Luko\u0161evi\u010dius, Daiva Petrauskait\u0117, Janita Petrauskien\u0117, Egl\u0117 Pi\u0161\u010dikait\u0117, Ryt\u0117 \u0160imait\u0117, Algis Vaneikis, Paulius Zov\u0117<\/p>\n

Project Developers: Vytautas Kasiulis Art Museum of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, Order of Friars Minor, St. Casimir Province of Lithuania<\/p>\n

Partner: Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature<\/p>\n

Media Partner: Bernardinai.lt<\/p>\n

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