Gallery
Latvia in America article "Walking Hand in Hand"1984 Exhibition
Daugavas Vanagi House—Saturday, April 7–Sunday, April 8, 1984
Our research led to "Latvija Amērikā," (Latvia in America) May 5, 1984, page 4:
Walking hand in hand
The oldest artists' organization in the USA — The Latvian Artist Group in New York — after a hiatus of a couple of years held its periodic art exhibition on April 7th and 8th at the Daugavas Vanagi House, in the Bronx. What prompts these exhibitions to be organized in this contemporary atmosphere saturated with voluminous and varied directions in art? It is the desire to affirm and express oneself in a union — the distinctness and uniqueness of Latvian art. Obviously, fresh winds have also brought changes to the membership of the group and in the artistic expression of its members, nevertheless, preserving the principles and foundations, upon with the group was first founded, fundamentally expressed in these words: traditions with a new spirit.
Even if the unrelenting passage of time has wrought losses among the group's ranks, and many of its eminent members have crossed the threshold from this life, nevertheless their works represented in the group's exhibitions have given lasting significance to the value of the group's activities. Nonetheless, their losses have succeeded in diminishing neither the animated spirit of its members nor the seeking of new horizons.
Dr. P. Norvilis, former head of the American Latvian Association's Culture bureau, opened the exhibition, briefly touching upon the group's creation and its activities through various period, and emphasized its significance to [Latvian] cultural life in exile since its founding in 1951. That among this group, as in no other, number 9 Culture Fund prize-winners and 5 recipients of other various awards, that alone testifies to the quality of the group.
Three generations of artists participated in this expertly organized exhibition, all together 24 with 59 works — starting with works executed in the spirit of the classical old masters and ending with examples of spontaneously created abstract art. Their crowding together into a single whole testifies to the positive spirit of collaboration among the generations. The exhibition was further enriched with poetry readings by the group's "two servants of the Muses" — Austra Balode and Voldemārs Avens. Klāra Zāle and Indra Avena were not present.
After the traditional glass of wine — more than 80 visitors lingered in the convivial atmosphere at the repast prepared by the Vanagi.
Thus the "old guard," going hand in hand with the newly joined, attested to their belonging to and belief in Latvian art, which still breathes that particular breath, which spiritualizes works of art and sustains them, alive, not only for years, but for decades and even then, after their creators are gone. —A. B-de
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