“beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now” – An Exceptional Evening for LF Members
Lithuanian Foundation members and donors are invited to the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture on November 2, 2024, for an exceptional meeting with the organizers and participants of the “beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now” art exhibition. The Terra Foundation for American Art has included this exhibit in its “Art Design Chicago” program cycle. The program connects the various Chicago cultural communities and presents the city’s unique artistic heritage.
As the name suggests, “beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now” will exhibit a selection of works by Chicago’s Lithuanian artists. With over 100 pieces by 30 artists on display, the exhibit features works from the first wave of mass immigration (1890 – 1940) and those who came after the Second World War (DP generation). A few artists who settled in Chicago after Lithuania regained its independence in 1990 will also showcase their work.
The expo is divided into six themes: “Changing Chicago”, “Art as Activism”, “Mythical Feminine”, “Reverence and Hope: Sacral Art”, “Designed in Chicago”, and “Belonging”. The diverse set of art pieces seeks answers to questions such as how the immigrant status, migration, trauma, and finding oneself in strange surroundings affected and ultimately enriched the lives and creativity of the Lithuanian creators. The exhibit attempts to reveal Chicago’s influence on the artists’ creative, personal, and cultural development.
Visitors will have the chance to do more than get a sense of the Lithuanian style by viewing various media types (painting, drawing, sculpture, textile, graphics, photography, and more). Those interested in learning more about the participating authors will be able to watch video interviews and browse various books and documents on display.
As a patron of the Lithuanian identity, especially of the Lithuanian diaspora, the Lithuanian Foundation took an interest in the exhibition. Not only is LF one of the sponsors but also, as a show of gratitude for its members and donors, the Lithuanian Foundation invites you to something even more special – a meeting with the show’s organizers and participants.
The evening will start at 5 PM in the “Gintaras” (EN: Amber) Hall on the second floor of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture. Lithuanian Foundation leaders will introduce the evening. Attendees will be able to sip wine, chat, and enjoy some hors d’oeuvres to the sounds of music curated by a DJ. Later, guests will be invited upstairs to the third floor for the “beLONGING: Lithuanian Artists in Chicago, 1900 to Now” exhibit itself. Art historian and writer Victoria Kasuba Matranga will lead a guided tour of the gallery.
Established in 1966, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture presents and propagates Lithuanian and Lithuanian-American culture and history, fosters the Lithuanian cultural legacy in the US, conducts genealogical research, and organizes far-reaching exhibitions.
November 2, 2024
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture,
6500 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, IL 60629
The evening will start 5 p.m.,
Program: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Free parking is available in lot across the street.
Tickets will be available soon.
