Capillary Smile.

White. Black. Red.

Uldis Camans. Paintings

2009. May-June

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Captivating Atmosphere. Latvian contemporary art

2009. April

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Followers. Contemporary Latvian painting.

2009. March

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Abstract Vision. Contemporary Latvian painting.

2009.  February

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Paintings. Contemporary Latvian painting.

2009.  January

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Touchdown. Contemporary Latvian painting.

2008. December

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Creative communication

2008. October - November

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Jekabpils Plain Air 2008

       August the 25^th was the opening date of the exhibition Jekabpils Plain Air 2008 in the Art Gallery Mans’s with the presence of a large number of visitors, mass media representatives and guests. Ten artists, half of them representing the new generation, created more than 50 works in seven days. The organizer of the Plain Air — town council of Jekabpils — did not promote a strict demand for the painters to stick to one specific genre but allowed them their artistic  freedom. The river Daugava and old historical buildings were the main objects of inspiration for the landscapes of Roberts Muzis, Jazeps Pigoznis, Neonilla Medvedeva, Zane Balode, Karina Rungenfelde. Tatjana Krivenkova got inspiration for her abstract paintings from Struve’s park and its point of meridian. Dace Lapina has stuck to her favourite genre of still lives and chosen the panorama of the town for the background. Janis Purcens has tried to catch a glimpse of Jekabpils both from down to up as well as from the fly of a bird; the result of which is a very expressive image of the town. Not stepping back from her favourite monochromatic colour gamut Patricija Brekte has created very interesting paintings. There is contrast between her paintings and those of Anita Meldere’s expressive colour spots inspired by the mystery of the town. Also the rector of the Academy of Art Aleksejs Naumovs found a possibility to visit Jekabpils for a day and paint a painting, what you can also see in the exhibition. To make the exhibition more colourful the artists had painted several paintings already before.  

   During the press conference the old master Jazeps Pigoznis complimented the format of the Plain Air where the old generation artists could work together with the young ones. That makes the old guys to pull their socks up and gives a good chance to the youngsters to learn from the experienced.  

   During the opening of the exhibition the town mayor Leonids Salcevics  expressed his appreciation for the many surprisingly interesting and professional pieces of art created during the  Plain Air.  

   Many thanks were expressed to the town council- the organizer of the Plain Air, Valda Priekule- public relation specialist, Uldis Camanis- director of the Art Gallery Mans’s. It was pointed out by the participants of the Plain Air that they had spent the time of the Plain Air under perfect conditions allowing them to work and relax. Uldis Camanis mentioned that, the ten participants of the Plain Air were not simply artists but real stars as painters as well as personalities.  

   V. Priekule evaluated the Plain Air as successful. The local government will own 10 paintings, one from each painter (it was mentioned in the mutual agreement signed before) but possibly even more because some of the artists have expressed their wish to present to the local government all their works painted during the Jēkabpils Plain Air. It is already known that some of the paintings will go to Jēkabpils Art School and Agro- Business College for their help in organizing the Plain Air.

V. Priekule emphasized that there is a plan to make Plain Airs annual events and give the possibility also to the local artists and art school students to be involved.

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007.  July - September

The great summer exhibition 2008

Contemporary Latvian painting

All summer the Gallery Mans’s offers its visitors the annual Great Summer Exhibition which takes place the 17^th time this year. It is already a tradition that many famous artists make paintings especially for this exhibition. The news for this summer in Jekabpils are –the new paintings of Maija Tabaka, Jazeps Pigoznis, Inta and Karlis Dobraji, Ritums Ivanovs, Franceska Kirke, four paintings of Uldis Camanis and others.

In the exhibition you can see paintings of the senior generation, though the majority of works are by the new painters many of whom are the students of the Academy of Art  or the recent graduators of it, such as  — Sanita Fridenberga, Janis Dukats, Neonilla Medvedeva (just got the grant of SEB bank), Laura Vecmane, Zane Baloda, Reiņis Liepa, Beata, Eva Vevere, Kristine Urbanovica, Zane Luse, Kaspars Perskis, Karlis Vitols and others.

Kristians Brekte is as always provocatively direct   At this point Otto Zitmanis is very similar to him. Recently he has become popular with his cover design of the last music album of the band Prata Vetra. (Brain Storm). This exhibition like many previous ones exhibits still lives by Imants Vecozols, flowers by Inta Celmina, compositions in the style of cubism by Janis Zemitis, abstract paintings by Tatjana Krivenkova, the bright summer colours by Ilze Avotina and the philosophical  mood by Laima Eglīte.  Genre of landscape is represented by Olita Gulbe, Juris and Andrejs Germani, Aleksejs Naumovs and Roberts Muzis. Your eye will be definitely caught by the rich in characters and colourful paintings by Agija Audere. Several artists —  Karina Rugenfelda, Liena Baklane, Franceska Kirke — have chosen Eastern motives but Karlis Dobrajs exhibits several paintings devoted to Biblical topics. It is worth mentioning again that the Art Gallery Mans’s in Jekabpils is the only place in Latvia outside Riga where you can see such a large variety and number of paintings.

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2008.g. April - May

Sunny station - Marocco

The Art Gallery Mans’s offers a new exhibition called The Sunny Station Marocco, where 7 artists -Jazeps Pigoznis, Edmunds Lucis, Dace Saulite, Aija Balina, Karlis Silins, Andris Vitols and Sarmite Caune-in 150 paintings share their impressions about this exotic country. The paintings were made in 2007 and the end of February and March of 2008 both in Plain Air as well as when coming back home. Early spring was chosen because it is the time of Maroccan spring when orchards are in blossom and it is not too hot yet. The painters were staying in the town Marakesh and the town, its people, market scenes, beautiful nature and mountains are the main topics of the paintings. Some of the paintings had been exhibited before but Jekabpils is the first place where so many of them can be seen together. The painters visited the exhibition and kindly shared their experience and impressions about Marocco, what for us is mainly the place where tangerines come from labeled with the black rhombic label- Marocco.

Asked why there are no bright colours in the paintings J.Pigoznis explained that Marocco is not a tropical country but one on the edge of Sahara desert.

For the painter E.Lucis the fact that Marocco is the place, where two cultures-Arabic and Berberian co-exists, seemed the most fascinating. He has noticed a lot of common in Berberian ornaments and the Latvian Lielvarde’s belt. Local people were kind and unobtrusive maybe because of the fact that the king of Marocco is a great art lover. But the king’s wife is a very good economist so there are satellite aerials, computers and Internet access even in the most remote places of Marocco. It is impossible to evaluate their living standard because their values and feeling of life is very different from ours. For example, if a man has become rich he/she installs a free water tap for a poor.

The painters also tried to explain the local people, that the large number of storks seen all around in Marocco actually is migratory birds, who returns in their native land Latvia in spring.  They found it hard to believe.

All artists were unanimous that this summer definitely was not the last one when they visited Marocco.

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2008.g. January - March

Inverted enjoyment

The exhibition "Overturned joy "has already been exposed in the gallery Manss for some time. Among well- known and new artists the abstract, geometric and coloured works of Tatjana Krivenkova are beeing dominated in this exhibition.Her quotation " Art - who needs it? It is like flowers - they are neither edible nor useful for survival but everybody needs them" could be a motto of this exhibition. The viewers do not need to look for the conception of the collection but to enjoy the result of the creation.There are paintings of famous painters like Aleksejs Naumovs, Janis Osis, Inta Dobraja, Roberts Muzis, Helena Heinriksone, Janis Zemitis as well as paintings of new generation of artists such as Eva Vevere, Inese Sudane, Janis Dukats, Diana Adamaite, Laura Vecmane, Inguna Liepa, Neonilla Medvedeva, Anda Lace.
The selection of the paintings of new artists was at the same time in two galleries - in Arsenals in Riga for the exhibition Snacks Balls and in this gallery.
There are no dark paintings and common impression is sunny and optimistic, possibly because of warm winter or expectation of the spring. The exhibition lasts till the middle of April.

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2007. November - 2008. January

Mark Rothko

40 posters by Rotko are exhibited at the gallery. Due to the permission of the artist’s legatees, these posters were brought to the gallery from the Museum of local history in Daugavpils.The works were painted in different stages of artist’s creation – from 20ies and 30ies until his death. There is a wide offer of the works – landscapes, portraits, sketches of the frescos, abstract paintings, which are the most popular works in the world. The exhibited works are not the original paintings but high quality posters on canvas and other materials. However, the posters do not have artist’s strokes of the brush, the viewers have an emotional experience. 

   One of the preeminent artists of his generation, Mark Rothko is closely identified with the New York School, a circle of painters that emerged during the 1940s as a new collective voice in American art. During a career that spanned five decades, he created a new and impassioned form of abstract painting. Rothko's work is characterized by rigorous attention to formal elements such as color, shape, balance, depth, composition, and scale; yet, he refused to consider his paintings solely in these terms. He explained:  It is a widely accepted notion among painters that it does not matter what one paints as long as it is well painted. This is the essence of academicism. There is no such thing as good painting about nothing.

    Mark Rothko was born Marcus Rothkowitz in Dvinsk, Russia (today Daugavpils, Latvia), on September 25, 1903, the fourth child of Jacob Rothkowitz, a pharmacist (b. 1859), and Anna Goldin Rothkowitz (b. 1870), who had married in 1886. Rothko and his family immigrated to the United States when he was ten years old, and settled in Portland, Oregon.

   Rothko attended Yale University in 1921, where he studied English, French, European history, elementary mathematics, physics, biology, and economics, the history of philosophy, and general psychology. His initial intention was to become an engineer or an attorney. Rothko gave up his studies in the fall of 1923 and moved to New York City.

    During the 1940s Rothko's imagery became increasingly symbolic. In the social climate of anxiety that dominated the late 1930s and the years of World War II, images from everyday life--however unnaturalistic--began to appear somewhat outmoded. If art were to express the tragedy of the human condition, Rothko felt, new subjects and a new idiom had to be found. He said, "It was with the utmost reluctance that I found the figure could not serve my purposes....But a time came when none of us could use the figure without mutilating it."

     In their manifesto in the New York Times Rothko and Gottlieb had written: "We favor the simple expression of the complex thought. We are for the large shape because it has the impact of the unequivocal. We wish to reassert the picture plane. We are for flat forms because they destroy illusion and reveal truth." By 1947 Rothko had virtually eliminated all elements of surrealism or mythic imagery from his works, and nonobjective compositions of indeterminate shapes emerged.

   Rothko largely abandoned conventional titles in 1947, sometimes resorting to numbers or colors in order to distinguish one work from another. The artist also now resisted explaining the meaning of his work. "Silence is so accurate," he said, fearing that words would only paralyze the viewer's mind and imagination.

    Rothko's work began to darken dramatically during the late 1950s. This development is related to his work on a mural commission for the Four Seasons restaurant, located in the Seagram Building in New York City. Here Rothko turned to a palette of red, maroon, brown, and black. The artist eventually withdrew from this project, due to misgivings about the restaurant as a proper setting for his work. He had, however, already produced a number of studies and finished canvases, two of which are included in the present installation. In the Seagram panels, Rothko changed his motif from a closed to an open form, suggesting a threshold or portal. This element may have been related to the architectural setting for which these works were intended.

www.nga.gov

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2007.  October-November

Gleina

GLEINA* The idea of the artists from Vitebsk and Daugavpils about organizing a joint exhibition was long expected. The cities, which had given to the world such great artists as Mark Chagall and Mark Rothko, have rich cultural traditions. However, they are situated on different sides of the border now. What unites them, still, in time and space is the river. Though the river has different names on different sides of the border– the Daugava and the Dvina, - in a certain sense Vitebsk and Daugavpils owe to it their existence. Times changed, human fates, names of cities and countries changed too, whole cultures andpeoples flourished and perished, but the river is still flowing from its source to the sea.Nowadays no rafts leave its banks. The Daugava does not influence the economy and trade of the two countries as it did a hundred years ago. Nevertheless, its mysteriouswaters influence everybody who lives on these banks, and the waters give answers tovital questions which we ask ourselves and each other every day.The exhibition that not only united the representatives of the Daugavpils and Vitebsk art schools, but also 54 artists of different age groups and various tendencies of modern art was like a symbol of a big raft, whose 54 Gleinas, having united, went on a long journey:from Vitebsk to Gomel, Bobruisk, Mogilev, Minsk, Daugavpils, Jēkabpils, Madona, Rīga…54 artists with 54 different world outlooks were gathered together in one common international project. We believe that the results will come soon, and a new interesting artistic project will appear. History proved that only art can win the time.

*Gleina is the name use in the basin of Western Dvina (the river Luchos, Bobr etc.) to denote the link of the raft. Several Gleinas were united in a raft.

Ineta Auzane, Svetlana Baranovska, Deniss Barkusovs, Tatjana Beregeiko, Zane Berzina, Maija Berzina, Viktorija Boikina, Aleksandrs Voitehovskis, Jelena Volkova, Romualds Gibovskis, Dina Danilovica, Nataļja Demsova, Olegs Jelizarovs, Ilgvars Zalans, Kalvis Zalitis, Vasilijs Zenko, Pjotrs Kirilns, Ivans Krasovskis, Viktorija Krupska, Nina Leonidova, Silva Linarte, Natalja Marinoha, Olegs Marinoha, Leonids Medvedskis, Valda Mezbarde, Viktors Nikolajevs, Andrejs Mihailovs, Grigorijs Mihejevs, Dmitrijs Msars, Violeta Nekrasova, Maksims Osipovs, Glebs Otciks, Inara Petrusevica, Andrejs Piskuns, Tatjana Piskuna, Alina Pitk, Olegs Prakorins, Ludmila Procenko, Olegs Skorovodko, Jelena Tolobova, Mairita Folkmane, Ivo Folkmanis, Olga Hohlova, Uldis Camans, Sergejs Certiļins, Liga Cible, Ilona Sausa, Julija Saikova, Viktors Silko, Dmitrijs Jakimcuks, Tatjana Jakovleva, Aleksandrs Pavlovskis, Oskars Jansons.

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2007.  July - September

The great summer exhibition 2007

Contemporary Latvian painting

The great summer exhibition has been organized the sixteenth time.It includes 300 works of  more than 100 authors. The theme of the exhibition is to show paintings of different generations, influence from one generation to another and how new artists are looking for their own way in the art. Different styles and kinds of painting – from realism to impressionism and post –modernism, from still- life, landscape and nude to abstract compositions have been displayed at the gallery. Many paintings are painted special for this exhibition and have not been shown before. There are works of famous and well – known painters as well as paintings of new artists, works of professors and students. The exhibition shows Latvian contemporary painting in its variety, its level and tendences of its development.

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2007.  May - June

French spring in Jekabpils

Joelle Dumont, Danielle Burgart (France)

Due to the co-operation between the gallery and Culture department in Daugavpils it was possible to show the works of the festival "French Spring".

Joelle Dumont was graduated by the National Art School of Versailles. She takes part in the international exhibitions and biennials of plastic arts for several years. "The art is the cognition of the sens of life and the method to use the time between the earth and sky to leave something behind us", admits the artist.  

Danielle Burgart is a painter and engraver. She has finished the art school in Paris and worked in the workshops Ville de Paris. Now she is organizing her personal exhibitions in France, mostly in Paris. The artist is being invited to show her works in art exhibitions, bienale and international festivals in New York, India, China.   www.danielle-burgart.com

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2007. April  - May

Result with four

Edmunds Lucis, Diana Vernera, Gunta Smilgina, Laine Kainaize

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March 2007

Asta Keraitiene. Moments of my childhood

A. Keraitiene was born in 1971 in Lithuania in Rokiski. She has graduated Telsi Applied art School in 1991 where she has studied fashion design. Now she is an artist in design and commercial branches. Since 1997 she has taken part in exhibitions together with RODA – the union of artists in Rokiski. Using pencils, pastels, acrylics she creates colorful and decorative world. A lot of works have been gone to private collections to Russia, Germany, Italy, the USA, Australia, England and Latvia. Although the artist is a cosmopolitan, dominative shapes and colors are Lithuanian. First time Asta demonstrates works in oil on canvas which reflect adventures and feelings in her childhood. For gallery MANSS this is the tenth project together with artists from Lithuania. The gallery has taken part in projects in Rokiski, Duseta, Zarasai as well as has organized exhibitions of Lithuanian artists in Jekabpils and Riga.

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2007. February - Marth

Maija Berzina. Paintings

  “I get inspiration from the nature. I need the presence of the nature, at least behind the window”, says Maija Berzina. “ This is the reason why I take part in different plenaries in Latvia and Lithuania. Earlier I drew and sketched in the open air, I collected all my copies. Then I have understood – my interest in these motives has disappeared. As I put all my strength in the sketch, the real work was only a copy. Therefore I work in alla prima now – I start to paint and finish it in open air. The atmosphere can be lost working in a workshop. But it is the most important for me. I can change some elements and drawing but the atmosphere remains – it is a definite moment, the sun heat. I prefer cheery and light colours , the sun and the summer. I do not put my problems in the paintings. When I paint lightly, I try to forget my problems. Late autumn and winter months are the most difficult for me. The dark depresses me. Then I spend my time indoors and sketches”.

Maija Berzina was born in 1949. She studied at Janis Rozentals Art school and pedagogy at Art Academy. The painter is a member of the Union of Latvian Artists as well as an association of regional artists in Daugavpils.

Personal exhibitions: Daugavpils (2005, 1999, 1989, 1988, 1983, 1982), Riga (1994, 1900, 1982), Salaspils (1999, 1982), Sigulda (1982), Panevezys (Lithuania, 1986).

Group exhibitions: Daugavpils (1999, 1998, 1997, 1989), Riga ( 1999, 1998, 1987, 1994, 1989, 1976, 1973), Rezekne (1998), Salaspils (1996), Panevezys (Lithuania, 1987), Ribnic-Damgarten (Germany, 1999), Paris (France,1991, 1992), Toronto (Canada, 1991, 1992).

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2007. January - February

Meet Janis Pujats in 30 year time

Ceramics. Pudnieku skula

Latgale, the South East region of Latvia, boosts its pottery which has been cultivated through time and still evolves, keeping its authenticity, and which is estimated for its uniqueness not only in Latvia but also in Europe.

Its origins can be found not only in very ancient ethnographical but also archeological strata.

Clay products in the region, as well throughout the republic, have been  know since 5 thousand years BC (the Lubana Plain settlements). During the 2^nd thousand BC, artifacts associated with the Baltic Culture emerge.

By the ornamenting, the finish of the surface and other techniques, we can find a great diversity  of ceramic products: “comb-hollow”, “String”, “textile” patterns as well as scraped, smooth, plastered, etc.

Vessels were shaped by the hands, and mainly  by women. House ovens and heating stoves were used for baking.

Since 5^th century AD also the black “sooted” ceramics has been produced. During 10^th century AD, a fast-rotating  potter’s wheel become  popular as well as special kilns of high baking temperature. Pottery grew a trade to which also men turned. The technology, the shapes and ornaments of vessels were perfected. The patterns of straight or undulating lines, drawn onto a vessel while rotating  on the wheel became poplar. Glaze appeared in 15^th century, and later on engobe was also used. The ratio of producing and using crockery decreased in the households of other regions along  with the development of industry. However, owing to the peculiarity of the  Latgale economical situation, home trade kept an important role much longer. The practical usage of crockery determined the high qualities, refined by the generation  of gifted potters, of various types of vessels: milk- and honey pots, oil jars, bowls, jugs, etc. Early in this century, potters also started going in for decorative ceramics, or, as they themselves said: “making the ceramics”. From plain kitchen crockery there developed  magnificent vases, wall plates, tea sets, splendid candles holders and many others things, meeting the aesthetical requirements  of the time. Attractive, colourful jugs have already been known since 17^th century. Those were masterpieces decorated  with bearded faces in high-relief, with inscriptions and other plastic elements. Figurines, radiating fine, lyric humor, namely tiny horses, dogs, hunters, hares, devils, fanciful whistles and other characters, fostered over centuries by folk fantasy, they all acquired an expression of their own.

The plastic elements and decorative  motives, such as “seams”, “teeth”, “stitched belts”, “strings”, “beads”, they all became integral part of vases, candle holders and the like. Various small shaping tools were used like seals to form little suns, stars, etc. As the decorative ceramics refined, the graphic scraped ornament was also perfected.: the undulations, the herring-bone pattern and most diverse variations of astronomical or biological nature.

Up the turn of centuries translucent glaze  was commonly used. Plain colour  glazes: green yellow or brown  also found wide application, and later in the 20^th century blue was added as well.

In the nineteen  20ies and 30ies, several Silajani potters began to use two colour glaze in the decorative  pottery, and in the recent years, also multicoloured glaze. Thus unusual colouring was attained.

As the artisans of the region used dry glaze, and the baking was done in open kilns, fire, smoke, steam and just a sheer chance played not a little role in attaining those unique hues.

In the 30ies, ceramists started taking part in exhibitions. Specific personalities gained acknowledgement for their expertise; it was those  people who  created and perfected style. That was  how the works by A. Paulans set the fashion in the development of the ornamentation  and form of vases and candle holders throughout the region. A. Paulans was an unimitable master of small-size ceramics: his talent turned that, which had been basically a toy, into a piece of art. P. Vilcans gave an impetus to the forming of very balanced shapes in meticulously fine scraped patterns.

In 1937, in paris World Fair, both these masters of art were awarded gold medals; the craftsmanship of A. and. P. Ruics and S. Kalve won silver.

During the 2^nd half of the century, the regional pottery went through periods of flourishing and stunt; the latter being  a stranglehold of taxes on the free trade in the starting period of socialism after the WW II.

Un the 60ies, potters lived and worked in the coutryside where the original style and traditions had historically formed. Apart from  the mentioned Silajani centre, also in Pusa worked potters with their even more ancient techniques. The craftsmen of Ludza, Kraslava, Baltinava, Vilaka moulded in a peculiar rustical form.

In order to acknowledge the regional pottery and the great  skulls of the craftsmen , A. Paulans and P. Vilcans were admitted to the Artists Association of Latvia in 1957. At present, 10 Latgale ceramists are members to the Association.

Early in 60ies many of the old masters had passed away; the young had moved closer to cities. Only the most devoted ones believed in the future of the trade. Arts expert J. Pujats, cleverly  using the then legislation, did a great job to keep and promote the ancient craft. A new generation introduced themselves to Latgale Pottery. Not only inherited they the basic of the trade, but they also  mastered at Rezekne School of Applied Arts and got trained at the workshops of the old craftsmen. The authenticity of Latgale pottery was noted and highly assessed by the international arts critics at the symposium in Moscow in 1982 when more than 2000 pieces of earthenware had been brought to the exhibition by 70 Latgale authors.

In 80ies the style of the region pottery enriched. The craftsmen began studying  and using more ancient technologies, in particular the black “sootening”. Also Neolithic shapes and ornaments were down out to daylight. All this made the total  view much brighter.

The artists have been taking active part in exhibitions, the geography of which has enlarged. The traditions, fostered over centuries and creatively kept up, now embodied in artistic handiworks, are appreciated by many viewers; in Poland, Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, France, and other countries.

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  2006. November - 2007.g. January

Delimited transference

Contemporary Latvian painting

 Part of the collection from annual art exhibition „Autumn 2006” organized by Latvian Union of Artists in Riga has been exposed in the gallery „Mans’s” in Jekabpils. It is not a mechanic transference from the capital city to Jekabpils – paintings had been evaluated and selected before according to the criteriors for the gallery. The paintings of many popular artists have been added to the exhibition.

The annual art exhibition”Autumn”has caused a wide discussion among viewers and professionals.It is worth mentioning that this exhibition is an exhibition with different traditions, it reflects traditional art processes in Latvia therefore paintings, graphics and sculpture dominate there.

  The exhibition was tutored by young trustees Inguna Gegere, Elina Hermansone, Daina Auzina and Santa Mazika.The exhibition took place in the Latvian Railway museum.

  72 paintings are being exposed in the exhibition „Delimited transference” in November and December in Jekabpils.

All painters and students of Art Academy could take part in this exhibition. The paintings must have been created in last two years. Artists of different generations and regions of Latvia have met at the exhibition.Among participants are old masters such as Jazeps Pigoznis, Biruta Baumane, Biruta Delle, middle-aged artists, as well as young generation – Liva Rutmane, Laura Kovalevska, Jana Brike, Gatis Pipkalejs, Janis Purcens, Patricija Brekte, Karlis Vitols, Liga Pinne, Diana Adamaite, Liga Kempe and others.

However, the painting has a dominant position, the art objects by Ivo and Mairita Folkmani, Liga Cible give interesting accents.

Young painter Daiga Kruze with the painting „Pressure” has been nominated as  the laureate of the exhibition. The painter Maris Ruskulis with the work „XXX” has been prized by art magazine „Studija”.The painter Kristiana Brekte has been also appreciated by the magazine „Studija” but the painter Maija Berzina with a work „Ropazi”has been awarded by the publishing house „Neputns”.

   The aim of the exhibition was to show art situation in Latvia nowadays.Annual exhibition „Autumn” allowes the viewers to get a total view of the art in Latvia.

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2006. October

Women from the sky

Dieter Pentzek (Germany)

  For many years rivers have been images of our planet. In his narrative “the way it is on earth below heaven” Socrates talks about everything surrounding the Okeanos and the Acheron, which are responsible for the cycle of life. Such streams are often contra-dictory like the one of the burning mud- and ash river Pyriphlegethon, which meets its dark blue counterpart Kokytos. (Platon, Phaedo 108 ff)

Even today a real river can become an image – and its contrasting image, too. One of such rivers is the Daugava that flows through Latvia. On the one hand the river is an image of natural beauty and on the other hand its banks reveal to us an ugly stream of European war history.

     The war memorials begin at Daugavpils with a fort from the time of Tsars. The buildings of a barrack town are enclosed by barbettes whose occupants were constantly changing – from the Soviet KGB to the German SS. The river in its entirety is reminiscent of German Templar tracks that reveal the absurdity of conquest and subjugation in the name of Jesus Christ. Shortly before Riga comes a visible symbol of our most horrific absurdity: the concentration camp of Salaspils.

     The river Daugava passes by without taking any notice. It doesn’t understand why we believe “one is born of water and the spirit”. (John. 3) Water is the origin of all earthly life and has nothing to do with wars fought for “fatherlands”. It mirrors no more than the yearning for a mother – like the paintings of the Madonnas, which the Renaissance painters once used to create a new artistic movement.

     For many years I have been working on the Madonnas of Grünewald, da Vinci, Dürer and Potormo. These paintings were shown in our regional artistic events – until Roswitha suggested to let them go on their final journey further afield. “Hand them over to the Daugava” she said “this could be an image of humanity that the river might understand more”.

Dieter Pentzek

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2005. Jule - September

The Great Summer Exhibition 2006

  Artists Inta Celmiņa, Edvards Grube, Andrejs Ameļkovics, Helena and Ivars Heinrihsons, Ilze Avotina, Kristine Luize and Katrina Avotinas, Inta Dobraja,  Karlis Dobrajs,  Juta Policja and Mareks Gureckis, Ritums Ivanovs, Anita Meldere, Janis Anmanis, Auseklis Bauskenieks, Dace Lielā and others take part in this exhibition.

   Beside the regular authors the paintings by Linda Danilevska, Agija Audere, Evija Kirsone, Liga Kempe, Gunta Liepina-Grivas have been exposed the first time.

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2006. From 20th Jule

From  the earth into the sky

   Peat is an important mineral in Latvia. It is a peculiar organic formation. Peat in its dry form contains more than 50% organic matter  which is formed by incomplete decomposed march plants. Peat as a material has unique, poetical, emotional mood. The purpose of the artists - to give way the charming revelation. The sculptural objects have been created due to the plenary organized by the society "Melna muša".

    The  works created in the plenary are the present for citizens of Jekabpils in city festival and gallery "Mans's" which celebrates its 15th anniversary.

    Aim of the organization is to being arranging experimentaal exhibitions, involving talented artists from Jekabpils and surroundings. The works show emotions and vital thoughts about life of artists, their world outlook, their models of life. This organizations team starts a new process to offer the society an open, tolerant art events.

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2006. May

The intentional part

Uldis Camans. Paintings

The project „Formula – way” is being realized with this exhibition.This project is supported by LKK fundation. Its target is to remind visitors about more than 300 exhibitions held in 15-year time.

Development stages of the gallery  have been shown in 5 rooms of the exhibition.

 The first stage  - beginning, vision, allegory. Blue and white colours are dominated-  blue for hope, white for clarity.

The second stage – dream, secret, proof. Paintings in green and yellow symbolize self – demonstration.

The third stage – revision of thoughts, walking of clouds and touch. Presence of different colours and lines calls visitors to think about uncertainty of art and life.

The fourth stage – time in nature, sunny reform, bright outlook. Golden and silver plates have been used in paintings so that the level of the gallery is seen and identified in Latvia and abroad.

The fifth stage – the colourful world, proof, happiness and illusion. Red colour shows the maturity of the gallery, actions in new quality, flow of new energy.

New stroke of the brush, diversity of texture, merger of concrete subjects into abstract subjects characterize new paintings by Uldis Camans. The painter proofs that it is possible to find interesting expressions in the branche of abstract painting. It keeps visitors in constant intellectual strain.The painter hopes to start a new point in his creativity, the first stage of new development. The exhibition „Intentional part „summarizes artistic growth and completeness within 15 years.

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2006. March - April

Reflections

Contemporary Latvian painting

 Painters: Roberts Muzis, Dzemma Skulme, Vesma Uspele, Ilgvars Zalans, Valters Kupers, Gita Cankale, Uldis Camans, Elizabeta Melbarzde, Inta Dobraja, Edite Krastenberga

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2006. February

Janis Kalejs. Paintings

Janis Kalejs was born on 19. April 1923 in Sece,  district of Jekabpils Drawing and painting techniques have ben acquired in Riga at famous artists'. Since 1949 till nowadays the painter took part in more than 250 exhibitions not only in Latvia. His paintings have been exhibited in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, in Moscow, Japan, Danmark, Kopenhagen. A large of pailnings are in the museeum in Cesis ar well in private collection abroad.

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2005. December - 2006. January

Taison d’or

Czech artists: Daněk Ladislav, Hastik Jiři, Hrachovina Jan, Kovařik Slavoj, Kučera Zdaněk,  Langer Radovan, Leonidová Lenka, Mičiková Klára, Přileský Ivo, Sedláček Jiljí, Schneider Lubomir, Vaci Jaroslav, Zlamar Petr, Žampová  Lenka

   Patro Gallery  is an exhibition hall of the GALIA Agency, that is to say a private entity, which in the field of arts has significantly contributed to the cultural life of the city of Olomouc and the Central Moravia Region. Each year the gallery presents ten to twenty exhibitions. Their structures vary, but  always comply with a clear conceptual plan, the target of which is to offer the public a high quality selection of contemporary regional, national and international art production. Within its exhibition programme, Patro Gallery closely co-operates with the Statutory city of Olomouc Region, particularly on the level of presentation of international partner relations of both entities, and with the Union of Olomouc Region Artists, whose members significantly contribute to the exhibition programme.

  The primary international programme of Patro Gallery is the Europe to Europe project, whose essence is to purposefully focus on values of fine arts of European countries and regions of similar spirituality and historic developments. We are carrying this plan through in co-operation with embassies of individual states. We pursue implementation of this project, because we are convinced about its viability and the current importance of incentives, which  are materialised from an artistic point of view in places so far not affected by globalised thinking and market imperatives in such a way as to overshadow the individual nature of creative statement. Within the Europe to Europe project we wish to enable getting to know individual  cultures better through reciprocal exhibitions and other activities. In this view, the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), regions of Central Europe and the area of north Italy and the Balkans are in the spotlight.

  Another important aspect, which we pursue with the Europe to Europe project, is a wider involvement of private entities in the process of international cultural exchanges  and interconnection of their programmes.

Libor Gašparovič

GALIA Agency

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2005. November-December

Sweet memories

 It is pleasant when people have nice memories for supporting them in happiness and in misfortune.If the artist has such memories, they got a  visual shape in the painting and give positive emotions, happy moments and sweet memories to visitors. These memories are romantic and very various and they are shown by artists of different generations and maturity. For Uldis Camans they are about turqooize Caribbean Sea, for Inta Celmiņa - about her past childhood in the cycle „Dolls”, for Martins Krumins, Jazeps Pigoznis, Agnese and Edite Krastenbergas - about the last summer, for Aleksejs Naumovs - about  the trip to Italy. Dace Saulite reflects her memories about lucky whiles in geometric, abstract and colourful compositions. All these memories give out warmth and positive radiance.

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2005. October - November

Eternal Child

Exhibition of the painters from Jekabpils

Conception of the exhibition has been arisen in summer during the symposium ‘Personages of fairy-tales by Hans Christian Andersen in the art” in Denmark.

   Fairy-tales of the famous Danish writer are often called fairy-tales for adults.

   Human value has been praised in them. The eternal child lives in each person and this quality helps to maintain moral clarity and belief of victory of the right.Not to lose the child in oneself – it is very essential for art teachers. This childlike ability to create one’s image, form and colourful world is necessary for every painter.

   Paintings with motives of H. Ch. Andersen, associative and philosophical works, simple paintings, still –lives and landscapes by local painters Ruta Stelmahere, Uldis Camans, Ziedonis Barbals,Maija Viksne, Gita Cankale, Anna Vitola, Gaida Resetnikova, Ina Vinogradova, Jurijs Abramenko, Iraida Tarvida, Ingrida Kazinika, Iveta Kruglinska,Dina Lukstina and other authors have been exhibited.

   Plastic arts, plates and dishes by ceramists Ineta Dzirkale and Dina Lukstina are very interesting.

R. Stelmahere

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2005. June - October

The Great Summer Exhibition 2005

 The large Latvian painting exhibition with 200 masterpieces of nearly 100 artists has being offered by gallery Mans's in Jekabpils this summer.

    Beside the regular authors the paintings by Harijs Blunavs, Tatjana Krivenkova, Laura Pigozne, Agnese Krastenberga, Gundega Tutane, Karina Rungenfelde, Elina Gibiete have been exposed the first time.

   Tatjana Krivenkova with her 10 abstract pictures is mostly represented from all other authors. Her paintings are distinguished by contrasts of light, by vibrating, changeable gradation and the irritable chosen colouring can create definite emotional waves.

   Paintings by Agnese Krastenberga are dedicated the sea. Deap personal and sensitive view on the sea is seen in her pictures.

   Her own way in the art and different from her father is being searched by Laura Pigozne whose works show calm, peaceful colours, a tiny texture and a quiet plot.

   Inta Dobraja brings very sunny mood into the exhibition – her paintings are filled with light, glitter, optimism.

   Whereas Franceska Kirke surprises the visitors with her view on the old masters' paintings.In her re-makes the author shows an interesting way including the part of her own world there.

   Colourful and phantastic world, a romantic subject come out in paintings by Maija Tabaka.

   Interesting painting with butterfly motive by Janis Zemitis, tiny shaded still – lives by Daina Lapina, a rich stroke of the brush by Imants Vecozols, the sunny Italian landscapes by Aleksejs Naumovs, contrasts and colourful paintings by Elita Patmalniece and Laima Eglite, fascinating and emotional enriched paintings by Dzemma Skulme and Biruta Delle have being offered  to the viewers.

    Artists Inta Celmiņa, Edvards Grube, Andrejs Ameļkovics, Helena and Ivars Heinrihsons, Ilze Avotina, Kristine Luize and Katrina Avotinas, Karlis Dobrajs, Edīte Krastenberga, Ilgvars Zalans, Gunta Smilgina,  Anna Vitola, Juta Policja and Mareks Gureckis, Ritums Ivanovs, Anita Meldere, Janis Anmanis, Auseklis Bauskenieks and others take part in this exhibition.

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2005. May - June

Garden of the happy moments

 Personal exhibition of Dace Saulite

An artist Dace Saulite, who has been  taking part in exhibitions since 1989, proposes to the viewer positive and light emotions at the personal exhibition “Garden of the happy moments”.

Contrast and lively colours create  positive atmosphere. “Every painting is made as an elixir of different feelings. Senses like moments are dwindling nice and lovely feelings must be kept longer in memory so paintings serve as a memory book which allows to read pleasant things. Every line and square include emotions. This is value which create originality of each painting. Nothing is repeating but each painting has its own rhythm, which reminds us some happy moments”, say the artist.

The base of composition is a rectangle, in which the  lines are ordered in definite rhythm and ornaments. There is a rich option of the colours called by artist “colourful giddiness”. Title of the paintings are important for the artist. Abstract and decorative paintings have  a philosophical content.

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2005. April - May

Glass

Adam Jablonski (Poland). Remigius Krukas (Lithuania)

    Adam Jablonski  (1936) is an artist and a certified glass techologist who has been pursuing the artistic activity in that field since 1952. The master craftsman is not only an author of unique artistic products, but he is also a top class unique glass technologist, having several dosens of patents on his account. The innovative technology developed by A. Jablonski allows one to introduce delicate metal  threads into the liquid molten glass. In thatway, not only a new form, but also  an unknown, autright magical, glass  and metal structure is created. The original products signed by Jablonski arouse great interest on all continents. Being exported to 18 countries of the world. Adam Jablonski is the only artist from the former Eastern Block whose works of art are in that very Highly valued collection of unique, cosmic and artistic glass. A. Jablonski has been awarded 12 gold medals at various domestic and international exhibitions, amoung other things, has was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit from the Polish Craftsmanship, Gold Cross of Merit awarded by the Polish President and two prizes of the Minister of Culture and Art.

— I compare glass with a woman: it is not predictable and bossy, says Regimius Krukas, who works with the material more than 20 years. The master experiments with a hot mass and adds to it organic materials. After burning they leave calourful bubbles and other strange creatures. Sometimes he blows glass into a bowl, which is made of less steady material. Texture and colourful spots of its burning process stay on the surface of glass. The products are often worked out: glass is cut, polished,  pasted and combined with other materials - metal, stone, wood. Items such as cups, souvenirs, presents, writing materials are produced in his workshop in Paneveza in 2000. Original works for pleasure are made in Remigius's  spare   time. He takes part with them in international exhibitions.  They are delivered to museums and people.

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2005. March - April

Inspirations after fiveteen years

The Latvian Culture Foundation group

"Pudniku skula"("Potters' school")

Evalds Vasilevskis, Ilmars Veselis, Stanislavs Vilums, Aivars Uspelis

 "Pottery is one of those crafts which has created material values that have fundamentally influenced the formation of the national spiritual culture", it says in the statues of the Latvian Culture Foundation group "Pudniku skula" ("Potters' School"), founded in Latgale in 1990.

Members of the group Evalds Vasilevskis, Stanislavs Vilums, Ilmars Vecelis and since 2002 also Aivars Uspelis are paying great attention to exploring and maintaining traditional ways of clay processing, by using human and environment friendly technologiey, and are trying to incrise the prestige of the crafts. Shaping their works in the technique of charring or the so called black ceramics the masters of the "Pudniku skula" broaden our concepts of Latgalian ceramics. The principles of the members of the group are based on the concept that a craftsman should learn from the material and the product can  be named as traditional pottery only when it has been created using the traditional technology with an aesthetic credo - wise restrain, simple beauty. These basic values are still topical.

The potters' group activities fully justify the word "school" in their name. Every summer professional symposiums are organised on the farmstead of the group leader Evalds Vasilevskis, "Akminisi" in Kaunata Parish, where they test different types of clay, modern glases, old, yet nowadays rarely used methods of baking, and run summer schools for beginners who interested in the old craft. The essence of the summer school is not the acquired skills as a result, or the number of items made, but the understanding of the potter's craft as a way of life which is subject to a slow harmonic rhythm through the process of creating, drying, baking and final treatment.  This harmony, deep self-respect and respect to others, all these are invaluable qualities in the rhythm of life today that radiate both from the masters and their works.

The masters of "Pudniku skula" ave exhibited their works in numerous exhibitions in Latvia and abroad, they have designed a tourist route including visits to potteries, and there are persistently working to explore and popularise ancient pottery traditions prefected through centuries.

Gunta Kalnaca

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2004.   From November 10th till December 10th

Ilgvars Zalans. Ticket to Japan

Flowers and Landscapes

37 paintings by Ilgvars Zalans (1962) from Valmiera - flowers, landscapes and abstract pictures.

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2004.   From November 8th till December 10th

Aleksandrs Strals, Vitalijs Kalvans.

Paintings and Drawings

.

Pictures of old masters Aleksandrs Strals (1879 – 1947) and Vitalijs Kalvans (1909 – 1965) have been offered to the viewers in the picture gallery MANS'S.

More than 50 works - paintings, drafts, sketchees from the private collection of the grand-daughter of Aleksandrs Strals are presented in the exhibition. However, most of the paintings are demaged and need to be restored, they show the talent and significance of the artist in Latvian culture. The main theme in the pictures is the nature of Latvia, the river Daugava, craftmen, raftsmen, portraits of well-know personalities in Latvian history as writers K. Strals, E. Virza, J. Akuraters, an interpreter V. Steplers. It is worth keeping the creation and biography of the master A. Strals for the next generation.

Vitalijs Kalvans a tiny realist, an admirer of Latgale (a region in the East of Latvia), inspired by landscapes and life style in Latgale, is represented as a second master in the exhibition.

He was an organizer of cultural life in Latgale in the 30ties. Latgale is his  indivisible art subject. He painted landscapes of the town and countryside, agricultural labours, people groups. Grey-greenish and green-yellow colours expressed by bright and decorative strokes dominate in his paintings. The influence of tonal painting from his teacher V. Purvitis is seen in his landscapes. One of the most important work is the picture series devoted Rainis memorial life places. Part of this series is being show at the exhibition.  After looking at these 17 paintings every viewer can see and assess the great talent of V. Kalvans.

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2004.   September - October

The Colourful Performance

Contemporary Latvian painting

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In the exposition - a part of the paintings from "The Great Summer Exhibition" and new pictures of Inta Dobraja, Ieva Iltnere, Auseklis Bauskenieks, Laima Eglite, Anna Kuka-Baklane, Lilita Postaza, Juta Policja and Mareks Gureckis.

 2004.   From  June 14th  till August 31th

The Great Summer Exhibition 2004

Painters: Dace Liela, Maija Tabaka, Ilmars Blumbergs, Ieva Iltnere, Andrejs Amelkovics, Ritums Ivanovs, Liene Baklane, Edvards Grube, Anna Heinrihsone, Inta Celmina, Franceska Kirke, Imants Vecozols, Janis Anmanis, Helena Heinrihsone, Aleksejs Naumovs, Kristaps Zarins, Kaspars Zarins, Vija Zarina, Dzemma Skulme, Janis Osis, Inta Dobraja, Karlis Dobrajs, Janis Zemitis, Uno Danilevskis, Biruta Delle, Jona Bajarunas, Juris Jurjans,  ect.

Great summer exhibitions have been offered to viewers in Jekabpils every summer and they get success and recognition outside Jekabpils. Famous and popular Latvian painters as Dace Liela, Maija Tabaka, Biruta Delle, Ritums Ivanovs, Andrejs Amelkovics, Helena Heinrihsone, Dzemma Skulme traditionally prepare their pictures specially for this exhibition.

Latvian painting of many forms has been arranged by the owner and painter Uldis Camans. The exposition shows pictures of young painters, of students from Latvian Art Academy like Gustavs Filipsons, Jana Brike, Diana Adamaite and pictures of Latvian famous luminary like Edvards Grube, Imants Vecozols, Auseklis Bauskenieks and others.

One of the central work in the exhibition is the four-part painting of Franceska Kirke, which is transformed as a screen. Tiny, filigree strokes of the brush, classical characters and unique  lights and darks create an effect of ancient time and association with Renaissance culture.

The paintings "Dressmakers" and "With a veil" of Inta Dobraja, which were successfully exhibited in Stockholm, are performed in a similar style.

The viewers and surprised by two abstract pictures "The Blue" and "The Red" of Edvards Grube, the master of still life and wide stroke of the brush.

2004. May

The Dog of Pompey II

Juris Zvirbulis. Paintings

A large personal exhibition called "Dog of Pompey II" has been set up and is inspected in the gallery "Mans's" during May. It is a continuation of 60. anniversary of the famous Latvian painter Juris Zvirbulis at the beginning of the year a similar exposition was offered to viewers in gallery "Noktirne" in Riga. A picture "Bridge" attracted many visitor of the gallery last summer exhibition and it get the 3rd place in the voting of viewers. It is possible to get to know more oil paintings and water-colours. A central  place of the exhibition take the painting, which are created during the Italian holidays and have impressions of Venice, Piza, Florenc, Pompay.

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2004. April

Politeness of dimensions

Exhibition of the painters group from  Jekabpils

Uldis Camans, Ruta Stelmahere, Ziedonis Barbals, Sanda Malniece, Iveta Vucena, Dina Lukstina, Mirdza Ozolina, Indra Jakovleva, Ina Vinogradova, Dace Tropa, Gaida Plusa, Edmunds Viss, Andris Stelmahers.

During the month April a new exhibition "Politeness of dimensions"  are offered to spectators as a beginning of Art days in Latvia. 

Considering the large amount of painters and pictures the exhibition gives a summary about painting process in Jekabpils. No one of painters is only a painter, but participates in others branch connected with art. Some of them are teachers at art school, others are busy in decorative applied art or photography.

The exhibition shows the different level of painters. Many of them have big growth possibilities. Diversity of styles and manners let us hope that painting won't be only a provincial, commercial landscapes'  reproduction.

2004. March

Walk of the cloud

Uldis Camans. Paintings

The newest paintings of Uldis Camans, which are arranged in the exposition "Walk of the cloud", are offered to viewers. Visual and dwindling feelings from the holidays in Italy ("Italian emotion", "Ibiza"), revelation as an inner, philosophical and emotional necessity  ("Revolved Internity", "Beginning of resonance", "Balanced Instability") reflection of reality in a picture "Highlighting" are concentrated in 15 new oil paintings. The painter experiments with the division of colours, their contrasts and make ringing scale of them.

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2003. December

Joy...

Contemporary Latvian art

2003. November

Pedera Stougord (Denmark). Paintings

In support of Culture institute in Denmark a large exhibition of P. Stougord has been exhibited in the gallery. P. Stougord was born in 1946, has graduatted the Art Academy in Orhus. Outside Denmark has taken part in exhibitions in France, Sweden, Germany. The theme of the painter - heads. They are tiny, often without any eyes, always with an expressive mouth. According to the author the viewers sees their dark side on these heads. The painter likes drawing heads and no expresses his real feelings. The director of Dane Culture Institute Mogen Lange take part in opening of the exhibition.

From September 29th till October 5th  (2003)  

The Gallery MANS'S took part in international art exhibition "ARTS" in Moscow

There were 50 paintings of Dzemma Skulme, Maija Tabaka, Juris Zvirbulis, Karlis, Dobrajs, Anita Meldere, Jazeps Pigoznis, Janis Zemitis, Uldis Camans and other paintings at the exhibition of the gallery. The expositions was recognized by arrangers of the exhibition, by other painters and viewers. Among the viewers were celebrities of Moscow: fashion designer Vjaceslav Zaitcev and politician Vladimir Zirinovski.

From September 22th (2003)                  

A calm worry

Paintings of  Uldis Camans, Jonas Bajarunas, Marta Bajarunaite, Ruta Stelmahere.

Great summer exhibition 2003

More than 200 paintings of 50 Latvian painters are represented in the exhibition -  Maija Tabaka, Edvards Grube, Inta Celmina, Ilze Avotina, Dzemma Skulme, Andrejs Amelkovics, Inta Dobraja, Karlis Dobrajs, Juris Zvirbulis, Anita Meldere and others.