Contemporary Art Enlivens Small Towns: 'Sūkuriai' Festival Begins in Valkininkai

The small Dzūkija town of Valkininkai is set to become a vibrant hub of art and sound with the "Sūkuriai" (Whirlpools) festival on August 14-15. This event aims to symbolically celebrate the 100th anniversary of Lithuanian Radio by merging diverse art forms, historical periods, spaces, and people. The festival's scope extends beyond its main evening events, incorporating a week-long art plein air and creative workshops. These activities invite both Valkininkai residents and visitors to participate. Teachers from the Justinas Vienožinskis Art School in Vilnius have already been exploring the town and its surroundings, engaging in creative work and leading workshops in sculpting and wall painting for the local community. A notable addition to Valkininkai is the sculpture "Visi kauk" (All Masks) by Donatas Jankauskas-Duonis, a prominent Lithuanian contemporary artist. Previously displayed in public spaces in Vilnius, the artwork now finds a new setting in Valkininkai. Another piece intended to remain in the town long-term is the painting project "Trys upės" (Three Rivers), created by artist Algis Sprindžiūnas in collaboration with local youth on the facade of the Valkininkai Culture Center. The festival's first evening will also feature a concert by the Alytus "Žaliasis choras" (Green Choir) at the Culture Center, followed by a "Kuriančią ugnį" (Creating Fire) performance outdoors as dusk settles. Ceramic artist Valdas Aničas will create his works in front of the audience.

The second day of "Sūkuriai" encourages deeper exploration of Valkininkai. Historian Dr. Žygimantas Buržinskas will lead an excursion through the town in the afternoon. The Culture Center will host the exhibition "Atviras eteris" (Open Air), showcasing works created during the plein air by teachers from the Vilnius Justinas Vienožinskis Art School alongside creations by local artists. The festival lineup includes well-known figures in the Lithuanian art scene such as Aurelija Maknytė, Donatas Jankauskas-Duonis, Rasa Noreikaitė-Miliūnienė, Gediminas Piekuras, Mykolas Piekuras, Valdas Aničas, Jonas Vaitekūnas, Algis Sprindžiūnas, Rūta and Nerijus Kavaliauskai, and Rapolas Kavaliauskas. Local artists Vida Sevrukienė, Danutė Žukovskienė, and Stasys Tolvaiša, along with workshop participants, are also featured. Jazz pianist Agnė Pasaravičienė, accompanied by Tadas Pasaravičius, will provide musical accompaniment at the opening of the "Atviras eteris" exhibition. A premiere on the second evening will be Mykolas Piekuras's short film "Švytintys" (Glowing) about Valkininkai. The festival's most surprising event awaits at its conclusion: the grounds of the Valkininkai Franciscan Monastery will be opened to the public. Artist Bernadeta Brazdžionytė will present a culinary performance titled "Gyvieji dažniai: raugo vyksmai vienuolyno griuvėsiuose" (Living Frequencies: Sourdough Processes in the Monastery Ruins). A bonfire will be lit outdoors for baking bread, symbolizing the dough as a medium capturing local history, the heat of the fire, and the communal gathering of people.