Sacral Returns at the KCCC Art Yard: Graphic Art Workshops and Corsican Songs

In the Art Yard of the KCCC (Bažnyčių St. 4, Klaipėda), an open graphic art workshop “Now Art. Reborn” will take place on 17-21 August, 2020, at 12:00 – 18:00. The concert “La Campagna” by the vocal group from Vilnius, the Choir of The Divine Mercy Shrine (GŠ Ensemble), will take place on 20 August at 17:30. On the programme: Corsican folk songs.

Free-entrance events are a part of the 15th anniversary cycle of events “Supernova” of Klaipeda Culture Communication Centre (KCCC).

The Art Yard is reborn after renovations, quarantine and is inviting residents and guests of Klaipėda to open graphic art workshops, featuring  professional artists Evaldas Mikalauskis, Živilė Minkutė, Linas Spurga, Jonas Vaikšnoras, Žaneta Jasaitytė-Bessonova and Toma Šlimaitė-Bubelaudė, to explore the alchemy of print and to learn how and why art is created.

You are welcomed to learn about the graphic art techniques, from classical to experimental, usage of them in everyday life, to create and collaborate, to see creative experiments of professional artists and to create your own graphic print together with them at any time convenient for you – whether for a few hours or a few days. The works created at the open workshops are going to be shipped by a special KCCC’s anniversary mail. Participants of the Art Week around will have a chance to take a tour around the Exhibition Hall. Come and leave your print in the Art Yard!

On the occasion of the 15th anniversary of KCCC, the graphic art workshop “Now Art. Reborn” is becoming a recurring creative ritual. This is because the KCCC’s first graphic art project “Now Art Now Future,” held in 2005-2008, was multidimensional. In the context of Lithuanian art of that time, it was special for a variety of events (art initiatives, auctions, broadcasts from parallel exhibitions), as well as for internationalization and cooperation with urban communities, socially excluded groups, and collaborative works.

Ignas Kazakevičius, the project initiator and art expert, when asked why the graphic art was chosen both then and now, said, “We like the graphics. It is everywhere. Apparently, it’s the most popular, the most common field of art (from street art to design and advertising). The graphics embraces everything – from a stain on a shirt, an inscription on a cup to a designer label, calligraphy and graffiti by an unknown artist. Graphic elements are used by painters, sculptors, textile artists and photographers.”

Liana Ruokytė-Jonsson, the cultural attaché of the Republic of Lithuania to the Kingdom of Sweden, helped the project to enter the international areas. The custody of the cultural diplomat became crucial to the newly established Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre. When asked to recall why the KCCC project had attracted her attention, L. Ruokytė-Jonsson emphasised innovation and energy, “When I see creative and inventive people in work, I try to help them in every way. KCCC projects have been extremely successful in both Denmark and Sweden. Once you have completed one successful project, you want to continue working with that institution, that centre, or those people. Since our mission stays the same: we want to create and communicate values, to stimulate debates. That is our common goal. From the very first days, the KCCC team has convinced me that it is very strong, energetic, constantly transforming, and extremely fast at making overtures, which is important and advantageous not only in the local but in the international context, too. In this respect, Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre’s team is very lively and mobile, it raises relevant questions and talks about what is important today.”

On the initiative of Liana Ruokytė-Jonsson, who again won the competition of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania to work as a cultural attaché in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland this year, a concert by the Choir of The Divine Mercy Shrine (GŠ Ensemble) will take place in the Art Yard of the KCCC on 20 August, at 17:30, with Corsican folk songs on the programme. This time, the cultural diplomat is going to play her unusual role and to perform a few songs together with her fellow vocalists of the GŠ Ensemble.

“I look at my participation in the concert with caution. Let’s see how much time for rehearsal I’ll have. But if all goes well, I will perform a few songs. Singing is no alien to me – it travels with me. I just don’t do it professionally,” says Liana Ruokytė-Jonsson.

In order to learn polyphonic Corsican folk songs, the vocal group GŠ Ensemble, which performs ancient sacred music, travells to the French island, which has preserved the living liturgical tradition of chanting.

“We have been singing Corsican folk songs for six years now. In fact, the group was born after the trip to Corsica,” says Tautvydas Mažeika, a member of GŠ Ensemble. “Corsican chanting is specific due to voice placing, a kind of a semi-throaty voice, pretty much “rustic.” That’s why we also have named our concert “La Campagna,” which means “village” in French. You can often hear this word in Corsican songs. The old chanting traditions are very much cherished on that island. We frequently go to creative workshops and learn to sing together with Corsicans,” tells T. Mažeika.

Guests of the concert “La Campagna” will have the opportunity not only to feel the beauty of these melodies, but also to hear stories about Corsica, the tricks of singing techniques, history and more. The concert programme will be performed by: Gabija Adamonytė (conductor), Milda Adamonytė, Laurynas Adamonis, Tautvydas Mažeika and Liana Ruokytė-Jonsson.

KCCC Art Yard (Bažnyčių St. 4, Klaipėda).

On 17-21 August, at 12:00 – 18:00, open graphic art workshop “Now Art. Reborn.” Featuring artists: Evaldas Mikalauskis, Živilė Minkutė, Linas Spurga, Jonas Vaikšnoras, Žaneta Jasaitytė-Bessonova, Toma Šlimaitė-Bubelienė.

On 20 August, at 17:30, the concert “La Campagna” by the vocal group from Vilnius, the Choir of The Divine Mercy Shrine (GŠ Ensemble). On the programme: Corsican folk songs.

Events are free of charge.

More information about the daily activities of the creative workshops  – on KCCC Facebook account.