Lithuanian Foundation Invited to Discover Chicago-Based Lithuanian Artists

The Lithuanian Foundation, which is committed to the preservation and promotion of Lithuanian identity in the diaspora, invited its members and supporters to the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture on November 2, 2024, for an exceptional evening of art and meeting with the organizers and participants of the exhibition “beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now.” This show is part of the Art Design Chicago, a Terra Foundation for American Art program series that brings together Chicago’s cultural communities and showcases the city’s unique artistic heritage.

The evening began in the Amber Room of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. Juozas Kapačinskas, LF Board of Directors Chairman, and Audronė Pavilčius Karalius, President, welcomed the guests.

The Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania in Chicago, Regimantas Jablonskas, and the newly elected President of the Lithuanian American Community, Edita Buzėnienė, also delivered welcoming remarks.

The evening hostess, LF Board of Directors member Ieva Dilytė, invited Sigita Balzekas, President of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, to address the audience. Ms. Balzekas was very pleased to see so many people interested in the event and thanked the Lithuanian Foundation for generously supporting this exhibition.

The exhibition took place in the museum’s gallery on the third floor. As the exhibition title states, it is devoted to an overview of the work of Lithuanian artists from Chicago. It features over 100 works by 30 artists who came to Chicago during the first wave of mass immigration (1890–1940) and after World War II (the DP generation). It also includes several works by artists who settled in Chicago after Lithuania regained its independence, i.e., after 1990. Guests enjoyed exploring the exhibition, curated by art historian Victoria Kasuba Matranga. Our sincere thanks go to her not only for the guided tour but also for the excellent lecture on the six exhibition topics: Changing Chicago, Art as Activism, Mythical Feminine: Lithuanian Women Artists, Reverence and Hope: Sacred Art, Designed in Chicago, and Belonging.

Through the diverse work of Lithuanian artists, the exhibition seeks to answer questions of how immigrant status, displacement, trauma, and self-discovery in a foreign environment have influenced and ultimately enriched the artists’ creative work. It also attempts to uncover the influence of Chicago on the development of the artists’ work and their personal and cultural identity.

Looking at the works executed in various techniques (painting, drawing, sculpture, textiles, graphic arts, photography, etc.), visitors not only had the opportunity to feel the Lithuanian creative touch: Those wanting to learn more about the exhibition artists could watch video interviews, browse through books, and look at the documents presented in the exhibition.

A silent auction was held during the evening. We congratulate Joan Kuras from Canada, who acquired a piece by Monika Plioplytė, a former LF scholarship recipient, at the auction.

The evening guests took their time to disperse, listening to the music of pianist Anju Chandy. Over a glass of wine, people chatted and enjoyed snacks prepared by the Kunigaikščiai (Dukes) Restaurant.

The Lithuanian Foundation would like to thank the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture for its long-standing cooperation and the opportunity to host an art evening at the museum. We would also like to thank all the organizers of the exhibition “beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now” for providing us with a deeper insight into the Lithuanian artists who had worked in Chicago.

Founded in 1966, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture (6500 S Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60629; balzekasmuseum.org) presents and promotes Lithuanian and Lithuanian-American culture and history, preserves the cultural heritage of Lithuanians in the United States, conducts genealogical research, and organizes extensive exhibitions.