Category Archives: Philadelphia Museum of Art

This

Revanti, 2003 (negative); 2015 (print). Gauri Gill, Indian, born 1970. Inkjet print, Image: 62 13/16 × 42 inches

Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India

December 2015 – April 3, 2016

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is presenting the work of four contemporary photographers whose visions of India blend keen social observation with emotional insight, beauty, and imagination. Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India focuses on Gauri Gill, Sunil Gupta, Max Pinckers, and Pamela Singh. This exhibition features sensitive portraits and self-portraits; landscape photographs dealing with identity, family history, and the notion of a homeland; and a unique body of work mixing a documentary inquiry into love with the fantasy and spectacle of Bollywood film—all on view for the first time in Philadelphia. The artists share a cosmopolitan approach to the world, picturing India from multifaceted perspectives that often blur such categories as “insider” and “outsider.” They are also united by a creative approach to the documentary capacities of the photographic medium.

Sunita, Sita, and Nirmala, 2003. Gauri Gill, Indian, born 1970. Inkjet print, Sheet: 28 × 42 inches

Gauri Gill is represented by images from her Balika Mela series, in which she combines traditions of popular and fine-art portraiture with an awareness of photography’s historical role in ethnographic documentation and exotic stereotyping. Asked to “do something with photography” at a fair for girls in rural Rajasthan, the artist set up a makeshift studio and invited fair-goers to have their portraits made. The subjects of Gill’s photographs mix improvised demonstrations of personality and friendship with gestures and poses drawn from local visual culture and popular media. Above all, the girls embrace the unusual opportunity to decide how they will be seen—not only within their own communities, but also by audiences beyond.

Untitled, 20062011 (negative); 2015 (print). Sunil Gupta, Canadian (born India), active London and Delhi, born 1953. Inkjet print, Image: 17 7/8 × 22 inches

Sunil Gupta is an artist-activist. Since the 1970s, he has explored the politics and experience of gay life in terms of his own identity as an HIV-positive Indian man living and working between Canada, the US, England, and India. He is represented by unflinching images from the beginning of his career, including the 1976 Christopher Street series shot in New York’s West Village, to an ongoing series, originating in 2006, dealing with Gupta’s contradictory emotions around his family’s ancestral village and the death of his father.

Treasure Map 006, 19941995 (negative); 2015 (print and painting). Pamela Singh, Indian, born 1962. Inkjet print, hand painted, Image: 5 1/4 × 8 inches

Pamela Singh turned to photography as an expressive medium after many years as a photojournalist. Featuring her own body in photographs of the social landscape of the Old City of Jaipur, she imbues the images with psychic depth, placing her cosmopolitanism in dialogue with nostalgia for community. These works raise questions about what it means to look and to be looked at across social boundaries. Singh’s use of paint to embellish the surface of her images also connects them with traditions of Indian miniature painting, as well as with the historical practice of painting on photographs. In the Tantric Self-Portrait series, her application of gold, vermillion, and mud further invests the photographs with personal spiritual meaning.

The Lorry Driver, 19941995 (negative); 2014 (print). Pamela Singh, Indian, born 1962. Gelatin silver print, Image: 6 × 9 inches

Zindagi, 2014. Max Pinckers, Belgian, born 1988. Inkjet print, Sheet: 42 15/16 × 52 3/8 inches

Max Pinckers, who was raised primarily in South and Southeast Asia, is represented by a body of work titled Will They Sing Like Raindrops or Leave Me Thirsty (2014). The project weaves photojournalistic images with staged scenes that draw on the romantic plots and glitzy look of Bollywood films, magazine and newspaper clippings, and photographs of ephemeral sculptures created in the streets of Mumbai. It also documents love and marriage in India and explores the ways in which photographs can tell the truth about complex subject matter. Using the photobook as a primary format, Pinckers weaves these pictures into a loose narrative that becomes a tapestry of facts and perceptions.

Paper Planes, 2014. Max Pinckers, Belgian, born 1988. Inkjet print, Sheet: 21 1/4 × 26 inches

Nathaniel M. Stein, the Museum’s Horace W. Goldsmith Curatorial Fellow in Photography, stated: “Like many contemporary photographers, the artists featured in this exhibition use the documentary capacities of the medium imaginatively. They pose questions about identity, self-representation, and truth. They also explore the role of photographic images in modern society, and they envision social experiences such as desire, dislocation, and love. In doing so, these photographers are connecting a culturally specific engagement with India to themes and strategies that are central to contemporary artists across the globe.”

About the artists

Gauri Gill (b. 1970, Chandigarh, India) is based in New Delhi. She received a BFA in Applied Art at the Delhi College of Art, New Delhi; and a BFA in Photography at the Parsons School of Design, New York; and an MFA in Art at Stanford University in California. In addition to maintaining a robust international exhibition schedule, she works extensively with local communities in India, using photography as a means to effect social change. Gill is a coeditor (with Sunil Gupta and Radhika Singh) of the Delhi-based photography journal, Camerawork. In 2011 she was awarded the Grange Prize, Canada’s foremost award for photography.

Sunil Gupta (Canadian, b. 1953, New Delhi, India) is among India’s best-known living photographers. He is an artist, writer, activist, and curator who lives and works in London and Delhi. Gupta’s work has been presented in over ninety international solo and group exhibitions. Educated at Concordia University, Montreal; The New School for Social Research, New York; and the Royal College of Art, London, his publications include three monographs Pictures From Here (2003), Wish You Were Here: Memories of a Gay Life (2008), and Queer: Sunil Gupta (2011).

Max Pinckers (b. 1988, Brussels, Belgium) received his BA and MFA in photography from the School of Arts at University College, Ghent, where he is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in the fine arts. Based in Brussels, Pinckers was raised in Indonesia, Australia, Belgium, India, and Singapore and has worked extensively in Thailand, India, and Africa. In 2015 he was selected as a Nominee Member of Magnum Photos. His publications include The Fourth Wall (2012) and Will They Sing Like Raindrops or Leave Me Thirsty (2014). Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India is his first exhibition in an American museum.

Pamela Singh (b. 1962, New Delhi, India) trained at the Parsons School of Design, New York; the American College, Paris; and the International Center for Photography, New York. During the 1990s Singh worked as a photojournalist in communities, disaster areas, and conflict zones around the world, publishing in venues such as Newsweek, Paris Match, The Sunday Times (London), and The Washington Post. In 1997 her work was included in the major touring exhibition India: A Celebration of Independence, 1947–1997, organized by Aperture and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. By 2000 Singh shifted her attention away from photojournalism and has since exhibited internationally.

Curator

Nathaniel M. Stein, Horace W. Goldsmith Curatorial Fellow in Photography

Location

Julien Levy Gallery, Perelman Building

Exhibition hours

Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Social Media

Facebook and Twitter: philamuseum; Tumblr: philamuseum; YouTube: PhilaArtMuseum; Instagram: @philamuseum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is Philadelphia’s art museum. We are a landmark building. A world-renowned collection. A place that welcomes everyone. We bring the arts to life, inspiring visitors—through scholarly study and creative play—to discover the spirit of imagination that lies in everyone. We connect people with the arts in rich and varied ways, making the experience of the Museum surprising, lively, and always memorable. We are committed to inviting visitors to see the world—and themselves—anew through the beauty and expressive power of the arts.

Thank you to The Philadelphia Museum of Art for the content of this post.

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India

Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is presenting an exhibition of rare and masterful drawings created in the workshops of royal Indian courts over the course of four centuries. Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection features a wide range of sketches, preparatory studies, and compositional drawings that vividly depict mythological themes, verdant landscapes and architectural settings, portraits of prominent rulers, and scenes from the lives of Indian nobility. The Museum acquired these important works in 2013, many as a gift, and is presenting the collection in this exhibition for the first time.

india3 Portrait of a Seated Ruler Dressed for Ritual Practice, c. 1740, India (Rajasthan, Kishangarh), Brush and black ink and watercolor over charcoal with corrections by the artist in white opaque watercolor on beige laid paper on decorative mount, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, 2013

While Indian paintings have long been sought after by museums and individual collectors, there has been only a limited interest in drawings. Yet drawings may be wonderful works of art in their own right, yielding a remarkable amount of information about workshop practices and artistic process. Conley Harris, a landscape painter, and the late Howard Truelove, an architectural designer, shared a passion for drawing. They began collecting Indian drawings after being inspired by their travels throughout that country. The collection they assembled over the course of more than a decade provides new insights into the artistic practices of the royal workshops that developed over generations, and offers fresh perspectives on Indian painting. Many of the works to which these collectors were drawn were created during the eighteenth century in the Hindu courts of western India and the Himalayan foothills, an area including the present-day states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu-Kashmir.

india2 A Prince and Courtiers in a Garden, c. 1720‑1730, India (Rajasthan, Jodhpur), Brush and brown ink, metallic gold and silver paints, and opaque watercolor over traces of charcoal on beige laid paper,The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, 2013

Timothy Rub, the George D. Widener Director and CEO, stated: “The ongoing development of the Museum’s collection has always represented our partnership with great collectors who have been as passionate as we are about sharing with everyone the finest works of art. In this regard we are especially fortunate to have acquired the marvelous collection assembled by Conley Harris and Howard Truelove, and we are enormously grateful to the collectors. This collection adds a new and important dimension to our holdings of Indian art, which is one of the most important in the country. It also enables us to bring to a broader audience this fascinating and delightful aspect of South Asia’s artistic heritage.”

The first section of the exhibition features a group of finished drawings and explores the relationship between court artists and their royal patrons. A second focuses on the innovative workshop process, examining how artists developed and revised drawings through techniques such as white wash corrections, color notations, and pouncing. The drawings in this section highlight not only the artists’ adept handling of the medium, they will also testify to the collaboration of artists employed within a hierarchical workshop structure, demonstrating how skills were conveyed from master to apprentice. A third section, dedicated to the key moment when brush first meets paper, calls attention to the expressive power of the expert brushstroke. The fourth and final section of the exhibition invites visitors to respond to the works on display by creating their own drawings using workshop techniques.

india1 Raj Singh of Sawar with a Standing Courtier, c. 1710‑1720, India (Rajasthan, Sawar), Brush and black ink with white opaque watercolor on beige paper, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, 2013

The exhibition is organized by Ainsley M. Cameron, the Museum’s Ira Brind and Stacey Spector Assistant Curator of South Asian Art. She stated: “These works offer new ways of looking and thinking about Indian courtly drawing. People tend to approach the study of paintings or drawings from the perspective of the patron because so many of the artists’ names are unknown, but we are exploring the perspective of the artist, as maker—the gesture of an artist’s hand, the spontaneity of line, and the process through which ideas are born.”

Battle Scene with Demons, c. 1740, Attributed to Manaku of Guler, India (Himachal Pradesh, Guler), Brush and black ink over charcoal with pen and red ink ruled line around perimeter on beige paper, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund for Indian and Himalayan Art, 2013

Publication: Drawn from Courtly India: The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection

ISBN: 9780876332696

This volume presents the first in-depth survey of the Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian drawings (160 pps., 185 color illustrations; $35) and is co-published by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Yale University Press, supported by a grant from Conley Harris. Comprised largely of works from the royal courts of North India, the 65 drawings in this collection, recently acquired by the Museum, were created between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries and have never before been published. The majority of these drawings were preparatory models for the colorful paintings created by Indian court artists that have been widely collected and studied throughout the world. The major essay is written by Ainsley M. Cameron and uses the collection to survey the genre and explore the overarching themes of Indian drawing. Darielle Mason, the Stella Kramrisch Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art, introduces us to the collectors. In total, this catalogue highlights the assured draftsmanship of Indian artists, recognizes these drawings as consummate works of art in their own right, and celebrates the art of drawing.

A Nobleman and His Family in a Pavilion, c. 1790, India (Himachal Pradesh, Kangra), Brush and black and red inks, watercolor, and opaque watercolor with corrections by the artist in white opaque watercolor on beige paper, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund for Indian and Himalayan Art, 2013

Support

Support for this exhibition is provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts and The Robert Montgomery Scott Endowment for Exhibitions. The publication is also generously supported by Conley Harris.

About Conley Harris and Howard Truelove

Based in Boston, artist Conley Harris (born 1945) is a former faculty member of the department of art and art history at the University of New Hampshire. Harris is known for his lyrical landscapes of New England and the American West. Howard Truelove (1946–2012) was an architectural designer and vice president of design at the firm KlingStubbins in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His interior-design work ranged from public spaces in major office buildings to universities and museums. Harris often uses works in their collection as a source of inspiration, creating paintings that not only absorb motifs from South Asian and Persian miniature paintings, but also play with the idea of multiple layers, the palimpsest found in artists’ working sketches and so creatively reinterpreting the historical drawings for a new generation.

Men Falling from Their Rearing Horses, c. 1790, India (Himachal Pradesh, Guler), Brush and black ink over charcoal on beige laid paper, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Conley Harris and Howard Truelove Collection of Indian Drawings, purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund for Indian and Himalayan Art, 2013

Curator

Ainsley M. Cameron, The Ira Brind and Stacey Spector Assistant Curator of South Asian Art

Location

Special Exhibitions Gallery, first floor, Perelman Building

Exhibition hours

Tuesday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays until 8:45 p.m.

Exhibition tour dates

Philadelphia Museum of Art, December 6, 2015–March 27, 2016

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, November 2016–March 2017

Social Media Facebook and Twitter: philamuseum; Tumblr: philamuseum; YouTube: PhilaArtMuseum; Instagram: @philamuseum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is Philadelphia’s art museum. We are a landmark building. A world-renowned collection. A place that welcomes everyone. We bring the arts to life, inspiring visitors—through scholarly study and creative play—to discover the spirit of imagination that lies in everyone. We connect people with the arts in rich and varied ways, making the experience of the Museum surprising, lively, and always memorable. We are committed to inviting visitors to see the world—and themselves—anew through the beauty and expressive power of the arts.

Thank you to The Philadelphia Museum of Art for the content of this post.

Read the press release for Picture This: Contemporary Photography and India at DoNArTNeWs

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Inside Out

Inside Out, Philadelphia Museum of Art,

Museum Masterpieces in Your Community

Written and photographed by Laura Storck

I spy art in unexpected places! That’s right — high-quality reproductions of famous art works have popped up in local communities as a part of the Inside Out program, a project sponsored by the Philadelphia Museum of Art through a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. In this program, the museum is sharing 61 framed replicas from its collection around the region. Brilliant!

Two Calla Lilies on Pink (1928), Georgia O’Keeffe, photographed by Laura Storck

What a great way to bring fine art outside of the confines of the gallery walls to the public realm. I felt absolutely ecstatic when I learned that 11 works would be sprinkled throughout my own backyard in Haddonfield, NJ. Not only does this allow for the convenience and easy accessibility to enjoy these works nearby, but I can savor them en plein air; I absolutely adore the organic context. public21 The Libraries Are Appreciated (1943) by Jacob Lawrence, photographed by Laura Storck

Since I spend the majority of my free time in Philly, this outdoor exhibit also allows me to rediscover, reconnect, and to appreciate this beautiful neighborhood and all it has to offer.

The Kiss (1916) by Constanin Brancusi, photographed by Laura Storck

I was able to locate and photograph the pieces in under an hour (by the way, I DO love a good scavenger hunt!). These alluring works are very carefully placed, and complement each spot very well. The art at each location conveyed a cosmic romanticism and palpable energy that forcefully pulled me in.

Tanis (1915) by Daniel Garber, photographed by Laura StorckPortrait of a Roman Lady (La Nanna, 1859) by Sir Frederic Leighton, photographed by Laura StorckPoplars on the Bank of the Epte River (1891) by Claude Monet, photographed by Laura Storck

Here is the list of all 11 replica art works that are currently on view at various locations in Haddonfield:

Rondel Depicting Holofernes’s Army Crossing the Euphrates River (1246-48), from France
Mont Sainte-Victoire (1902-4), by Paul Cezanne
The Libraries Are Appreciated (1943), by Jacob Lawrence
Dog Barking at the Moon (1926), by Joan Miro
Marine (about 1652-53), by Simon Jacobsz de Vlieger
Tanis (1915), by Daniel Garber
Two Calla Lilies on Pink (1928), by Georgia O’Keeffe
Portrait of a Roman Lady (La Nanna) (1859), by Sir Frederic Leighton
Pichincha (1867), by Frederic Edwin Church
The Kiss (1916), by Constantin Brancusi
Poplars on the Bank of the Epte River (1891), by Claude Monet

I was thrilled to see a photograph one of my favorite masterpieces of all time, Brancusi’s The Kiss, included in this outdoor exhibit. This piece is so simple yet it conveys such emotion, tenderness, and gentle eroticism that runs deep to the core. Personally, I am always swept away and overcome with emotion when this amazing sculpture finds my gaze.

public13 Pichincha (1867) by Frederic Edwin Church, photographed by Laura Storck

Mont Sainte-Victoire (1902-4) by Paul Cezanne, photographed by Laura StorckMarine (1652-3) by Simon Jacobsz de Vlieger, photographed by Laura Storck

Inside Out is being unveiled in two cycles between Summer and Autumn 2015. From mid-May until August, you may find art works in the following communities:

Haddonfield, Camden County, NJ
Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, Philadelphia, PA
East Passyunk, Philadelphia, PA
Media, Delaware County, PA
Newtown, Bucks County, PA

From mid-August through November, you may stroll through these neighborhoods to find the next wave of pop-up collections:

Fishtown, and Kensington, Philadelphia, PA
Ambler, Montgomery County, PA
Norristown, Montgomery County, PA
Wayne, Delaware County, PA
West Chester, Chester County, PA

This project does an amazing job of reaching out to make this fine art accessible to communities that are relatively geographically distant from the museum. I sincerely look forward to checking out the rest of the outdoor exhibits!

Go to www.philamuseum.org/insideout for maps and detailed information.

Included in this article are photographs of all but one of the Haddonfield art replicas on display. I’ll leave the challenge up to you to find it!

“Inside Out, May 15, 2015 – Mid-November 2015

Encounter high-quality replicas of artworks from the Museum’s collection in your neighborhood. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is sharing its art. This summer and fall, sixty high-quality replicas of Museum masterpieces will find their way into communities around the region. Each participating neighborhood will feature about ten artworks within a short distance of each other. Walk through the park, hop on a bike, or meander down Main Street through each exciting outdoor exhibition.Join your family and friends and encounter art in unexpected places. Picnic next to Claude Monet’s iconicJapanese Footbridge, stop to smell the flowers near Georgia O’Keeffe’s Calla Lilies, or shine a flashlight on Paul Gauguin’s Sacred Mountain during a midnight stroll. Never been to the Museum? Inside Out brings treasures from its collection to you. Pick a neighborhood, grab your friends and family, and explore.” – Philadelphia Museum of Art, Inside Out

Written and photographed by Laura Storck except where noted

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurastorck/

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Twitter: @Laura_Storck

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Lithuanian Festival 2013

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Lithuanian Embassy in the United States and the Lithuanian Honorary Consulate of Pennsylvania are pleased to announce a Lithuanian Festival of eventscelebrating the Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2013. In partnership with numerous Philadelphia organizations, fifteen events will give an unprecedented insight into Lithuania’s contemporary culture through its international award winners in art, design, jazz, photography, film, and cuisine; as well as world renowned scholars in politics, economics and history.

Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. Žygimantas Pavilionis noted, “Philadelphia has been kindly welcoming Lithuanians since the 19th century, and the current interest and enthusiasm is extraordinary. I am delighted that the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ is open to learning about our Baltic nation, and building bridges of insight and understanding in the world, celebrating that which is best in all people.”

This is the first Lithuanian Festival of this magnitude in Philadelphia, and is a keystone celebration of Lithuania’s EU presidency. All events are open to the public; for those events which require tickets or reservations, contacts are noted; events are listed below in chronologic order.

Living Foods Workshops

Location: Loreta’s Living Foods, 1291 Wisteria Dr., Malvern, PA. Time: Saturday, October 26, 2013, Noon-3 pm. Cost: $75 per person, reservations required, call 610-648.0241 or email lvainius@aol.com. See: www.loretaslivingfoods.com, www.livingann.com

The modern day living foods movement was founded by the late, Lithuanian born Ann Wigmore, who healed herself of cancer and countless others of myriad conditions by applying the Hippocratic maxim “Let food be your medicine.” Main Line resident Loreta Vainius studied with Ann Wigmore and many others, and is one of the foremost authorities today on the living foods lifestyle, which is growing in popularity all around the world. The medical and academic communities in Lithuania have embraced its concepts, constructed an Ann Wigmore memorial, and are integrating living foods into their research and commitment to creating the next paradigm of health care. At this workshop, participants will learn about organic raw, fermented and sprouted living foods, and learn how to sprout their own seeds at home, prepare energy soup, almond vegetable and herb pate, fruit “ice cream”, wheatgrass juice, and other healthy, revitalizing foods.

“Mugė” Lithuanian Community Fair

Location: Lithuanian Music Hall, 2715 East Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia Time: Saturday, November 2, Noon–9pm & Sunday, November 3, 2013, Noon–6pm Cost: Tickets can be purchased at the door, $5 adults and children under 12 free. See: www.lithuanianmha.org, for info call 215.739.4831

The annual “Mugė” Lithuanian Community Fair is organized by the Lithuanian American Community and features vendors selling handmade jewelry and ornaments, books, music and memorabilia; traditional Lithuanian savories and sweets including arguably the world’s best potato pancakes; Lithuanian folk and contemporary music, dancing, face-painting and games for children.

Lithuanian Inspired Dinner with Guest Chef Michael Laiskonis

Location: Sbraga, 440 S. Broad Street. Time: Wednesday, November 6; reservations accepted from 5pm–10pm. Cost: $75 per person for 5 course prix; reservations required, please call: 215.735.1913

Menu: Textures of Borscht Amuse Bouche; Herring with Smoked Potato, Pickled Parsnip and Carrot; Savory Lamb Dumpling “Cepelinai”; Roasted Duck with Chanterelle, Cabbage, and Fried Black Bread; Poppy Seed Beignet “Spurgos” with Huckleberry, Creme Fraiche Sorbet; Apple Confit with Rye Tuile, “Alus” Beer Ice Cream. See: www.sbraga.com, Facebook Michael Laiskonis.

Contemporary Lithuanian Photography Lecture by Eglė Deltuvaitė

Location: The Print Center, 1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia. Time: Thursday, November 7, 6pm. Cost: Free and open to the public, but reservations can be made by contacting Eli VandenBerg at 215.735.6090 x1 or evandenberg@printcenter.org See: www.printcenter.org, www.photography.lt,

“Lithuanian Photography in the 20th & 21st Centuries”

Lithuania has a vibrant and flourishing photographic culture, which embodies the European sensibility of inclusiveness and experimentation. Contemporary Lithuanian photography reveals the influence of classic traditions that originated with the Lithuanian school of the 1960s, as well as elements of the “aesthetics of boredom” and social landscapes of the 1980s, to the recent hybrids of neo-conceptualism, documentary and staged photography.

Eglė Deltuvaitė is one of the foremost photography curators in Lithuania. In 2008, she received her Master’s Degree in UNESCO Cultural Management and Cultural Policy from Vilnius Art Academy in Lithuania. She has worked with the Union of Lithuanian Art Photographers and coordinated numerous international cultural programs. She is currently acting director of the International Cultural Programme Centre, and director of the non-profit organization for photography and publishing projects “Culture Menu”.

The Print Center, founded in 1915, supports printmaking and photography as vital contemporary arts through exhibitions and related educational programs, art sales and an award-winning public school arts education program. This is the first time this lecture on Lithuanian photography will be presented in the US.

An Evening of Lithuanian Fare with Michael Laiskonis

Location: COOK, 253 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia. Time: Thursday, November 7, 7pm. Cost: $145 per person (includes class, dinner and beverage pairings); reservations required and will be accepted online after October 4 at www.audreyclairecook.com or 215.735.COOK

Menu: Borscht, Traditional and “Deconstructed”; Herring with Smoked Potato, Pickled Parsnip and Carrot; Savory Lamb Dumpling “Cepelinai”; Poppy Seed Beignet “Spurgos” with Huckleberry, Crme Fraiche Sorbet. See: www.audreyclairecook.com, Facebook Michael Laiskonis

Michael Laiskonis is trained in classic culinary traditions and has won international accolades from Guide Michelin, the James Beard Foundation, Bon Appetit and the New York Times among some. Proudly, he also celebrates his Lithuanian heritage, having traversed the Baltic nation, and creatively incorporated its traditions and flavors into totally modern new recipes. Opened in 2011, COOK is Philadelphia’s first state-of-the-art, fully equipped kitchen-classroom where guests enjoy chef tastings, culinary demonstrations and cooking classes in a beautiful, intimate setting. With the help of partners, Philadelphia Magazine and Foobooz, COOK provides a platform for learning, experimentation, menu tastings and private dining events focused on celebrating the craft of cooking, drinking and gathering at the table – a space where everyone from the aspiring novice chef to the most decorated master of cuisine can come share their love and knowledge of food and drink.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show featuring Lithuanian Guest Artists

Location: The Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street. Time: Thursday, November 7, and Friday, November 8, 11am-9pm; Saturday, November 9, 10am-6pm; Sunday, November 10, 10am-5pm. Cost: Tickets in advance, online at www.pmacraftshow.org; and at the door $15 per person. See: www.pmacraftshow.org; for info call 215.684.7930

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is one of the largest and most highly regarded professional craft shows in the world. During the four day event, nearly 18,000 people attend. The annual show presents 195 of the finest American artists are selected from over 1200 applicants, and 23-26 artists are selected from one single country each year. Shining the spotlight on Lithuania during its current presidency of the European Union, 23 international award winning Lithuania artists will offer jewelry, ceramics, textile, glass, leather, furniture and paper. This is the first time a show of Lithuanian crafts and design of this scope has been presented in the United States.

LITHUANIAN ARTISTS:

CERAMICS — Daiva Ložytė (www.facebook.com/DaivaLozyteCeramics), Nomeda Marčėnaitė (www.nomedos.lt), Dainius Strazdas (www.pottery.lt), Rūta Šipalytė (www.sipalyte.blogspot.com)

TEXTILES – “Baltos Kandys“ or “White Moths” Artistic Group (www.baltoskandys.com), Danguolė Brogienė, Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė (www.severija.lt), Indra Dovydėnaitė (www.indradovydenaite.lt)

JEWELRY — Ugnė Blažytė and Danas Tamašauskas (www.ugneblazyte.com), Laura Dailidėnienė (www.daili.lt), Tadas Deksnys, Ingrida Didika (www.ingridadidika.com), Darijus Gerlikas (www.darijaus.com & www.cs-ad.co.uk), Sandra Malaškevičiūtė (www.spinkijewellery.com), Šarūnė Vaitkutė and Dainius Narkus (www.gauau.lt)

GLASS — Viktoras Dailidėnas (www.dailidenas.lt), Remigijus Kriukas (www.glasremis.lt), Lina Austė (www.linaglass.com)

LEATHER — Virginija Giniotytė (www.virginiote.com), Dalia Marija Šaulauskaitė (www.dmsaul.com), Aušra Petroškienė

PAPER — Klaidas Navickas (www.klaidaspapercuts.lt)

FURNITURE — Indra Marcinkevičienė (www.interioraddictions.com)

Psilicone Theatre performs “Greenhouse Stories”

Location: Friends Select School, 17th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Time: Friday, November 8, 10:15am-11:15am. Cost: Free, special performance for Friends Select students; limited additional seating available, reservations required for all guest lynat@friends-select.org or call 215.561.5900. See: www.friends-select.org, www.aukse.lt

Psilicone Theatre’s actors are miniature puppets, made from silicone, animated by pressing them between clear plates in breakneck speed under a projector which magnifies the image onto a screen. They are mixed with drawings, texts, and liquid pigments to create rich visual effects. In “Greenhouse Stories” the artist Auksė Petrulienė worked with the Kaunas Botanical Gardens to create characters from molds of actual plants, telling a live, huge and colorful ecological tale of extinction and conservation, mystery and wonder. Friends Select School is a PK through 12, college preparatory Quaker school in Center City Philadelphia that fosters a diverse, globally-aware school culture and curriculum. Students learn in a safe, courteous community, so there’s space to explore new ideas fearlessly. Hands-on learning and adventures beyond the classroom—in art and science rooms, in the city of Philadelphia, and beyond—make learning an active, engaging experience. The mission is to cultivate curiosity and to prepare every student successfully for an engaging and fulfilling life.

“Lithuanian Crafts as an Expanded Field: Challenging Stereotypes” Lecture by Virginija Vitkiene

Location: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. Time: Friday, November 8, 6:30pm-7:15pm. Cost: Open only to members/supporters of the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art; to contribute $50 and become a member/supporter, and reserve a ticket please contact: youngfriends@philamuseum.org or call 215.684.7858 See:www.philamuseum.org/youngfriends

Virginia Vitkiene is an art critic and editor, curator, director of the Arts Centre at Vytautas Magnus University, and artistic director of the Kaunas Biennial international textile exhibition. Her lecture will offer an overview of current trends in Lithuanian craft and design, and provide a context for understanding the country’s unique artistic sensibility. The Young Friends is a dynamic group of art enthusiasts, committed to supporting the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Members enjoy a diverse schedule of programs including, engaging social events, educational lectures and tours, art-inspired excursions, and enrichment activities.

Don Russell aka “Joe Sixpack” leads a Handcrafted and Lithuanian Beer Tasting

Location: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 1101 Arch Street. Time: Friday, November 8, 7pm. Cost: $45 per person, includes admission to the Craft Show, advance reservations required, can be made online at www.pmacraftshow.org, or call 215.684.7930 See: www.pmacraftsow.org, www.joesixpack.net

Don Russell is an award-winning Philadelphia writer, and as “Joe Sixpack” is America’s bestknown beer journalist. He has traveled and discovered beers all around the world, including Lithuania. As founder and executive director of Philly Beer Week, he produces the largest beer celebration of its kind with over 1,000 events. The New York Times named Lithuania one of the top places to visit in 2013, all because of its beer.

Kestutis Vaiginis Quintet Lithuanian Jazz Concert

Location: The Philadelphia Museum of Art Grand Staircase, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Time: Friday, November 8, 5:45pm -6:45pm and 7:15pm-8:15pm. Cost: Free with museum admission (museum admission: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65+), $14 for students (with valid ID) and youth (ages 13-18), free for children ages 12 and under and members; you can purchase a ticket at the museum, or online www.philamuseum.org/artafter5/ or call 215.763.8100. See: www.philamuseum.org/artafter5/, www.kestutisvaiginis.com

Kestutis Vaiginis Quintet Musicians:

Kęstutis Vaiginis – saxophone

David Berkman – piano

Alex Sipiagin –trumpet

Ed Howard – bassist

McClenty D. Hunter Jr. – drums

Kęstutis Vaiginis is arguably one of the most talented jazz musicians of his generation, playing soprano and tenor saxophones as well as the flute. Recognized for his clear and controlled sound, lyricism and passion, he rapidly established his role in the contemporary international jazz scene, and performing with stars like Barbara Dennerlein, Daniel Messina, Hernan Romero, David Berkman, Randal Corsen, Bilal Karaman, Burak Bedikyan, Herbie Kopf, Joonas Haavisto, giving concerts all around the world, winning awards and applause. Kestutis Vaiginis is performing in the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s popular Art After 5 program, a unique evening of entertainment, light supper by Starr Events, and cocktails, turning the Grand Stair Hall into an intimate and extraordinary cabaret.

Meet the Artists

Location: The Lithuanian Consulate, 410-412 S. 16th Street, Philadelphia. Time: Saturday, November 9, 7:30pm-10pm. Cost: $20 per person, advance reservations required and attendance is limited (no tickets sold at the door), please contact l.kucas@att.net or call 610.496.8146. See: www.pmacraftshow.org

The Lithuanian American Community of Philadelphia is pleased to welcome the acclaimed artists from Lithuania who are exhibiting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. These 23 artists serve as cultural ambassadors for their country, and are feted this evening for theirextraordinary dedication and achievements. The Lithuanian Consulate in Pennsylvania was established in 2010, by designation of the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Lithuanian Jewish Heritage Symposium

Location: National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East. Time: Sunday, November 10, Noon-5pm. Cost: Free and open to the public, reservations required and can be made by contacting rolandas.kacinskas@urm.lt or calling 202.234.5860 ext.118

This conference offers insights into Lithuanian Jewish culture, seeks to throw light on losses during World War II, and attempts to assess conditions for preserving and reviving Jewish heritage in today’s Lithuania and among Lithuanian Jews worldwide. This event is organized by the Lithuanian Embassy, the Israeli Consulate, the American Jewish Committee and the National Museum of American Jewish History. Speakers include: Lithuanian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Nerijus Germanas; Prof. Šarūnas Liekis of Vytautas Magnus University; Prof. Antony Polonsky of Brandeis University; Deputy Director of the Institute of Lithuanian History Darius Staliūnas; Prof. Eliyahu Stern of Yale University; Prof. Emeritus Saulius Sužiedelis of Millersville University; Associate Prof. Adam Teller of Brown University; and Antanas Zabulis, founder of The Northern Jerusalem Project.

Lithuanian Festival 2013 events are organized in celebration of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2013. Lithuanian Festival 2013 events have been organized by the Lithuanian Embassy in the United States, the Lithuanian Honorary Consul to Pennsylvania and the International Cultural Programme Center.

Lithuanian Festival 2013 events are made possible through the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, Enterprise Lithuania, the Maersk Line, Limited, the Bajorunas/Sarnoff Foundation, and Ikea. Special thanks to all of the partnering venues who are participating in Lithuanian Festival 2013 and without whose interest and collaborative spirit these events would not be possible: The American Jewish Committee, The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Birzu Alus, The Brothers Vilgalys Baltic-Style Spirits, The Consular Corps Association of Philadelphia, The Consulate General of Israel, COOK, Drexel University Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Exelon, Friends Select, Global Philadelphia, Independence Visitor Center, International House Philadelphia, Knight International LLC, The Lithuanian American Community, Philadelphia Chapter, Loreta’s Living Foods, The National Museum of American Jewish History, Parkway Realty Services, The Philadelphia Museum of Art Art After 5 Program, The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, The Print Center and Sbraga.

Background:

In 1429, Lithuania, then a Grand Duchy and the largest country in Europe, organized its first summit of European leaders. Lithuania’s current presidency of the Council of the European Union comes after centuries of strife and occupation. In 1990, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union, and in 1993, a partnership was established with the Pennsylvania National Guard as part of a federally mandated State Partnership Program.

Lithuania was invited to join the EU and NATO in 2002. For more info, please see www.eu2013.lt

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania boasts one of the largest Lithuanian diaspora groups in the world, second only to Illinois. Most Lithuanians came to the U.S. during various wars and occupations, as Honorary Consul Bard’s own parents did in 1949. Bard’s first trip to Lithuania was in 1988, when she led a group of US culinary journalists and chefs through the Soviet Union; restaurateur activist Judy Wicks documented the event and restaurant exchange with Lithuania’s Stikliai Hotel in a chapter of her book, “White Dog CafŽ Cookbook: Multicultural Recipes and Tales of Adventure from Philadelphia’s Revolutionary Restaurant.” Bard was named Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2010.

For further information contact: Evaldas Stankevičius. Cultural Attache, Lithuanian Embassy in Washington, DC. culture.us@urm.lt. T: 202-234-5860 ext. 113

Krista Butvydas Bard, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, krista@honoraryconsul.lt, kbard@kristabard.com, 215.735.7110

More information at Lithuanian Festival 2013

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