B A LT I C J E W E L L E R Y N E W S
41 –2022
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TODAY LATVIAN JEWELLERY COMMUNITY IS A STRONGER FORCE
Interview with Ginta GRUBE LJAA Board Member
What is the mission of the Latvian Jewellery Art Association? Latvian Jewellery Art Association (LJAA) brings together professionals active in the field. The aim is to organize exhibitions and other events and promote Latvian jewellery art locally and internationally. Also focus on fundraising for jewellery related projects. The association gathers information and facilitates the exchange of experience among young and experienced jewellers. We wish to collaborate with educational institutions as well as other related organizations. How many members does this association have? Today there are 22 members in LJAA. To illustrate the diversity of members the youngest are in their 20’s and among the senior members are prominent Latvian jewellers of whom one recently celebrated his 70th anniversary. How was it established? What is the story behind? LJAA was established in February 2018 by jewellery artists Janis and Zane Vilki (husband and wife) and Valdis Broze (the first LJAA Board Members). ”Crucial
moment to establish an association was after the very successful exhibition SYNERGY. Contemporary Trends in Metal Art and Design at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in the end of 2017. The exhibition broke a 20-year hiatus since the previous exhibition of a similar scale. One of the goals of the association became to continue regular exhibiting,” remembers Zane Vilka. From August 4, 2020 the board is represented by Zane Vilka, Maris Sustins and me (Ginta Grube). What projects did Latvian Jewellery Art Association do? The first jointly organized art project was the exhibition A PRIORI in Latvia, Cesis Exhibition Hall (June 21 – July 27, 2019) with the support of the State Culture Capital Foundation (SCCF). The concepts a priori and a posteriori are philosophical terms used to distinguish two types of knowledge. A priori stands for the starting point of the LJAA thus the first exhibition gathered members regardless of previous experience. Some had a wealth of experience while others were fresh from school. Both experienced and well-known artists as well as young graduates joined together to show their latest works. LJAA second joint art project was the exhibition MARK in Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre (07 February – 12 April 2020). MARK was a keyword to each
LJAA group photo, from left – Zane Vilka, Darja Semjonova, Maija Vitola-Zitmane, Ilze Egle, Janis Brants, Una Mikuda, Paula Treimane, Anita Savicka, Guntis Laudres, Maris Aunins, Anna Fanigina, Andris Lauders, Rasma Puspure, Ginta Grube, Gints Strelis, Maris Sustins, Laura Selecka and Valdis Broze. Photographer – Kaspars Filips Dobrovolskis. Members absent in the photo – Jelizaveta Suska, Vladislavs Cistjakovs, Janis Vilks and Peteris Ripa
author’s individual interpretation of the well known painter Mark Rothko or his city of birth or the art centre itself as it is located in the historical artillery arsenal building of Daugavpils Fortress. Brooch was selected as a connecting type of jewellery that would bring it all together through its fundamental features. As Zane Vilka explains: “In jewellery arts, the brooch is traditionally compared to a miniature artwork or painting. (...) This jewellery item has an amazing capacity to highlight the individual traits of its wearer. Oftentimes, artists choose to make a brooch when they want to carry across a certain message that goes beyond functionality. To a jewellery artist, a brooch is what a blank canvas is to a painter. This complex set of ideas finds a brief and concise expression in the exhibition title: MARK. A mark, or a sign, is a loaded word with a substantial range of meaning in many languages. The exhibition title is a tribute to Mark Rothko, a vivid marker of his time, whose art is among our sources of inspiration.” The exhibition was closed ahead of time due to Covid-19 restrictions in
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