GalleryField of education and culture
The Latvians of Esslingen can be proud of two imposing buildings in which most of the educational activities are taking place. One of these buildings houses the Latvian Elementary school, the other, the Latvian High school. Everyone who is acquainted with educational work in other settlements can testify that this work is being done on the right lines in Esslingen. In this respect we may rightly develop a feeling of pride. The time will come when, the 585 pupils of the Elementary School — who during the breaks between the lessons now chirp like sparrows — and the 224 pupils who attend the High School, will realise that in Esslingen no pains have been spared to widen the horizon of their knowledge. Those, who have observed the teachers in that difficult time when there were no text books, when the teachers searched and inquired for material everywhere, will know how much they devote themselves to their work. Nobody is happier than the teachers themselves when they can say: "Our pupils study industriously." The pupils do their work really well and conscientiously. The same conscientiousness is to be observed also in their little sisters and brothers, the toddlers, who attend the kindergartens. These institutions are managed by trained educators. The children pass the time here in pleasant and instructive games, and in the evenings when they come home, they can tell volumes to their parents of how pleasant it was in the kindergarten.
Among the schools which prepare the young people for practical life are to be mentioned the School of Technology which is a technical high school and the Trade school. For adults has been established The University Extension with the same aim. English Courses and courses for driving exist also at other Latvian camps but the number and variety of the courses here is so manifold that if they were represented by a diagram, this diagram would look like a huge tree with many branches. "I am an agricultural engineer, but I do not know how to make cheese", says a gray-haired father of many children and puts down his name for a course in dairy work. "Who knows whether I shall be able to earn my living by teaching philology" are the words expressing the doubts of a woman professor who decided to take up a course in tailoring. The University extension provides practical courses in various branches of craftsmanship and invites all Latvians to learn a trade. The slogan is: "Let us learn some practical profession."
The Latvians living in Esslingen are studying also in other towns. 123 persons attend the Higher Technical School Stuttgart, the Universities of Heidelberg, Gottingen, Tubingen, UNRRA University in Munich, the Higher Technical School in Karlsruhe, the Academy of Agriculture in Hohenheim and other similar institutions.
Seldom does one see so many entertainment posters as in the quarters of Esslingen where Latvians live. A poster has scarcely time to turn yellow before it is replaced by a new one. This proves how alive our cultural life is here.
A great number of other camps will surely envy the one in Esslingen for the variety of public entertainments, which have nearly spoiled the inhabitants. Esslingen has the good fortune to have quite a number of famous Latvian theatre artists living here. The artists have been very active offering to the deported Latvians the possibility of enjoying many performances of a high standard. The theatre prepares one show after another. Professor J. Kuga, former President of the Academy of Arts, paints all the scenery. As there is no other material available, he paints on flour or sugar sacks sewn together.
Here are often given excellent concerts. All the prominent Latvian singers, headed by Mr. A. Kaktiņš let the public hear the best Latvian songs and Latvian music. Our neighbours, the Estonians, have also been given the opportunity of appearing on the stage in Esslingen.
The choir of the Centre in its masterful performances reflects the deep feelings of the national sentiments. Latvian painters, illustrators, engravers and sculptors, as well as masters in applied arts have shown their skill in a number of exhibitions which were appreciated and highly praised by many foreign experts. We have noticed with real satisfaction in an American paper lines about the opening of a Latvian art exhibition:
"The Latvian colony in Esslingen, which numbers some 6.000 persons, includes several artists of world wide reputation — men whose work is hung in galleries and museums throughout the globe. These artists, who left all material possessions behind them, brought their culture with them, and are fighting successfully, as anyone who views their exhibit here can well determine."
The Latvian artists who live in Esslingen represent various sections of the artistic field. They take all possible pains in offering their countrymen not only entertainment, but also training for those who intend to study art. Just as Don Juan could tell from a foot-print the looks of a young beauty, Professor Kuga, Professor Liberts and Mr. Vidbergs, a master of etching, as well as all other tutors at the Art Studio are able to determine which abilities can be most successfully developed in a student. These men can also determine what the leading imaginative power of a prospective artist is, by merely looking at a few strokes of his pencil. They take the utmost pains in order to foster these young talents. Mr. Mercs, sculptor and specialist in wood carving, tries to improve the natural gifts of his pupils.
Since 5th May 1946 at another end of the Centre one can hear the piano exercises from pianissimo amounting to allegretto furioso of 200 students of music. The Ballet School has its quarters nearby and tries, in spite of its modest size, with its 120 pupils, to renew the excellent reputation of the Latvian ballet.
Latvian writers and poets have come from many different places to stay in Esslingen in order to live in closer contact with their people and present them with the newest works reflecting their impressions and depicting their experiences of the period after they were expelled from their homes. Recently some very essential Latvian books were published in Esslingen. These were eagerly awaited by the public. Here the Latvians in exile also publish a newspaper "Latviešu Ziņas" ("Latvian News") and the periodical "Laiks" (The Time), the largest Latvian magazine printed abroad.
Esslingen has also become a meeting place for the scientists and fellows of the Latvian University, who recently commemorated the opening of the Riga University 27 years ago. In general Esslingen has become an important cultural centre for the Latvians. After the Right Reverend Archbishop Dr. theol. T. Grīnbergs1 transferred his residence to this place, Esslingen has become the centre also of religious life for the protestant people of Latvia.
All these cultural developments have been hampered by all sorts of difficulties and obstacles which were, however, overcome by common effort. The local UNRRA officials have given every support possible to all the cultural projects of the Latvian centre.
| 1 | Teodors Grīnbergs (April 2, 1870–June 14, 1962) was a Latvian prelate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, its second Bishop, and its first Archbishop from 1932. He continued to serve as Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in exile until his death, having remained in Esslingen. |
