Generations of Latvian Artists in North America: Similarities and Differences
Presentation Type
Presentation
Location
Richmond Center for Visual Arts - Room 2008
Start Date
24-3-2018 2:00 PM
End Date
24-3-2018 3:00 PM
Event Date
2018
Description
The period from the middle of the 20th century to the present day has been marked by several generations of Latvian artists in North America. The generation of artists that were already established in Latvia, such as Augusts Annus, Ludolfs Liberts, Sigismunds Vidbergs, and Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis were forced to flee Latvia during World War II. Their art mostly continued Latvian painting traditions. The next generation began their work in exile - Romans Staprāns, Sigurds Vīdzirkste, Edvīns Strautmanis, Visvaldis Rienholds, Vija Celmins, Daina Dagnija, and others. They were inspired by new ways of expression and art techniques in the art world of the US and Canada. Looking at the work of the third generation of Latvian artists, we have to conclude that there are artists, such as Rita Grendze, Krista Svalbonas, Gints Grinbergs, and Krista Vārsbergs, who consciously create projects with cultural-historical themes rooted directly in their Latvian identity. However, there are also many for whom this inherited cultural impression is less important and is perhaps unconscious. Of course, as in all generations, there are artists who do not fit our stereotypes.
Generations of Latvian Artists in North America: Similarities and Differences
Richmond Center for Visual Arts - Room 2008
The period from the middle of the 20th century to the present day has been marked by several generations of Latvian artists in North America. The generation of artists that were already established in Latvia, such as Augusts Annus, Ludolfs Liberts, Sigismunds Vidbergs, and Janis Ferdinands Tidemanis were forced to flee Latvia during World War II. Their art mostly continued Latvian painting traditions. The next generation began their work in exile - Romans Staprāns, Sigurds Vīdzirkste, Edvīns Strautmanis, Visvaldis Rienholds, Vija Celmins, Daina Dagnija, and others. They were inspired by new ways of expression and art techniques in the art world of the US and Canada. Looking at the work of the third generation of Latvian artists, we have to conclude that there are artists, such as Rita Grendze, Krista Svalbonas, Gints Grinbergs, and Krista Vārsbergs, who consciously create projects with cultural-historical themes rooted directly in their Latvian identity. However, there are also many for whom this inherited cultural impression is less important and is perhaps unconscious. Of course, as in all generations, there are artists who do not fit our stereotypes.
Comments
Linda Treija is an artist living in Houston, Texas, the art editor of "Jaunā Gaita" (a Latvian literary and arts magazine published since 1955), and president of the American Latvian Artists' Association. She spends her summers teaching art at the Latvian Center in Three Rivers, MI.