On 6 July, awards ceremony and opening of the juried exhibition \u201cMartinsons Award\u201d marked the end of the 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale. The biennale was part of the Latvian centenary programme and was organised with a view to developing contemporary ceramics as a discipline, promoting cooperation among the Baltic states and commemorating the artistic legacy of P\u0113teris Martinsons, who is widely considered the father of Latvian contemporary ceramics.
\nFrom 2 to 6 July, for the second time in the Baltic states, Latvia International Ceramics Biennale underscored the importance of ceramic art with a number of events held in R\u012bga, Sigulda, Ogre, Daugavpils, R\u0113zekne, L\u016bznava and Panev\u0117\u017eys (Lithuania). The biennale opened in R\u012bga when its organisers, jury members of the international competition \u201cMartinsons Award\u201d and curators of contemporary ceramics exhibitions from the three Baltic states gathered for a press conference and discussion at the Latvia 100 Information Centre in the National Library of Latvia. On the opening day of the biennale, exhibitions of contemporary ceramics from Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia were opened at the Latvian Railway History Museum and Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel. The biennale programme continued with ten other ceramics exhibitions, which were opened in Latvia and Lithuania, and the 10th international scientific conference \u201cPerson. Color. Nature. Music\u201d, which was held in Daugavpils.
\nAs homage to P\u0113teris Martinsons (1931-2013), a distinguished Daugavpils-born ceramic artist, the biennale programme featured the second internationally juried competition \u201cMartinsons Award\u201d. 395 applications were received for the internationally juried exhibition, and the jury selected artwork by 94 artists from 29 countries. At the opening ceremony of the exhibition at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, an international panel of judges gave out Gold (EUR 5000), Silver (3000) and Bronze (EUR 2000) awards in national and international categories, distributing the total of 20 000 EUR in prize money. The National Gold Award was won by Juta Rindina, a distinguished Latvian ceramicist. Meanwhile, Silver and Bronze Awards in the National category went to young artists \u2013 Krist\u012bne Nu\u0137e-Pante\u013cejeva and Kaspars Geiduks, respectively. Internationally, the jury was most impressed by the work of Akiko Taniguchi, a Japanese artist, who received the International Gold Award. Silver went to Sara Dario, an Italian artist, while bronze was earned by R\u016bta \u0160ipalyt\u0117 from neighbouring Lithuania. The jury also gave honourable mentions to Andris V\u0113zis (Latvia), Helmie Brugman (the Netherlands) and Kimie Ino (Japan). A special surprise was prepared by Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian companies who supply materials to ceramic artists. El\u012bna Tit\u0101ne, an outstanding Latvian artist, received honourable mention from the jury and a EUR 200 gift card from \u201cKeramserviss\u201d Ltd. Estonian artist Annika Teder became the recipient of a EUR 200 gift card from Estonian company \u201cKerako\u201d whereas Lithuanian artist Rytas Jakimavi\u010dius received a EUR 200 gift card from \u201cKeramikams.lt\u201d. Opening ceremony of the \u201cMartinsons Award\u201d exhibition was enhanced by a performance \u201cVinyl Recorder\u201d from Israeli artists Roy Maayan and Liat Segal and a performative installations \u201cFuture Memories: A Feminine Study of the Fortress\u201d from Belgian-Romanian artist Ana Maria Asan. These projects were presented at the Nikolai Gate and the Culture and Information Centre of Daugavpils Fortress.
\nAnother event within the framework of Latvia International Ceramics Biennale and the new exhibition season at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre is the one-man show \u201cThe Fortress Exhibition\u201d by Dainis Pundurs \u2013 the National Gold Award winner of the 2016 Martinsons Award. In addition, every visitor to the art centre will have an opportunity to see an installation \u201cGirl in Blue\u201d by a Dutch artist Marie-Josee Comello who won the International Gold Award at the 2016 Martinsons Award.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Latvia International Ceramics Biennale is officially over, but all its exhibitions, which were opened in R\u012bga, Ogre, Sigulda, R\u0113zekne, L\u016bznava, Daugavpils and Panev\u0117\u017eys (Lithuania), are still available:<\/p>\n
\n02.07.-26.07.<\/strong> 02.07.-06.08.<\/strong> 03.07.-29.07.<\/strong> 03.07.-19.08.<\/strong> 04.07.-25.07.<\/strong> 05.07.-31.07.<\/strong> 15.06.-05.08.<\/strong>
\nExhibition \u201cContemporary Lithuanian Ceramics. The Collection of International Ceramic Art Symposia in Panev\u0117\u017eys\u201d
\nExhibition \u201cEstonian Contemporary Ceramics. What Holds Me\u201d
\nLatvian Railway History Museum, 2a Uzvaras Boulevard, R\u012bga<\/p>\n
\nExhibition \u201cLatvian Contemporary Ceramics\u201d.
\nPullman Riga Old Town Hotel, 24 J\u0113kaba Street, R\u012bga<\/p>\n
\nCeramic and graphic art exhibition \u201cTowers\u201d by P\u0113teris Martinsons (1931-2013).
\n\u201cSigulda Tower\u201d, 6 Ausek\u013ca Street, Sigulda<\/p>\n
\nExhibition \u201cReflections\u201d by Valda Podkalne and Harald Jegodzienski.
\nOgre History and Art Museum, 36 Br\u012bv\u012bbas Street, Ogre<\/p>\n
\nExhibition \u201c\u0136\u012bpsala Ceramics\u201d.
\nCeramics Pavilion of Panev\u0117\u017eys Civic Art Gallery, 3 Republic Street, Panev\u0117\u017eys, Lithuania<\/p>\n
\nExhibition \u201cMy Townsfolk\u201d by a Dutch artist Jacomijn Steen.
\nL\u016bznava Manor, R\u0113zekne district, L\u016bznava<\/p>\n
\nExhibition \u201cLatgale Ceramics. Ceramics in Latgale\u201d
\nLatgale Culture and History Museum, Atbr\u012bvo\u0161anas aleja 102, R\u0113zekne<\/p>\n