JULY 12 - SEPTEMBER 22
Art space Civita Nova of the Great Amber Concert Hall presents the inspirational exhibition of jewelry and photography Her Northern Calling, curated by the creative team behind Baltu Rotas and the photo book Ziemeļmeitas kods. Liepāja will be the final stop for this traveling exhibition, with special additions and surprises to the collection in dedication of our town.
The authors of the exhibition encourage visitors to explore the narratives of our culture and personal stories through close-ups echoing through modernity from centuries ago and empowering each future generation.
‘Liepāja has a special place in our hearts, and we are glad to conclude the exhibition here. The town’s spirit of freedom and creativity, the perseverance and determination of the people of Kurzeme, their boreal composure, and their beautiful sternness, these all go well with the themes of the exhibition. The exhibition will explore several motifs from jewelry lines by Baltu Rotas from the past 30 years along with nuanced black-and-white portraits of women by Una Taal. Our intention with this collaborative exhibition was to arrange symbols into a narrative of our nation’s values and confidence,’ says Laura Geistarde-Šube, curator of the exhibition and development manager at SIA Baltu Rotas.
The exhibition Her Northern Calling is the first collaborative project of this visual form and content to focus on both heritage and current topics in Latvia and the world. As we reflect upon the most dramatic event of this period, the war in Ukraine, the authors have included portraits and audio stories of female Ukrainian refugees currently residing in Latvia. This motif fits in naturally with the overall story of the exhibition, as it highlights power and light that each of us carry within even through the darkest of times.
‘Specifically for Liepāja, we have selected several pieces of jewelry representing an ancient legend of the North and made sure to include amber, also called the sun stone. We will also have special pieces dedicated to Liepāja, but that shall remain a surprise for now. We will be glad to see all locals and visitors attending the exhibition and honoring us with their presence to celebrate our 30-year anniversary,’ invites Inita Staupe, co-founder and head designer of SIA Baltu Rotas.
Pieces created by Baltu Rotas are based on the culture of ancient Baltic peoples, inspired by the region’s northerly nature. They promote this unique narrative by creating accurate replicas of ancient jewelry and creating original design pieces in silver, bronze, and gold. The jewelry is made in Latvia, and the small workshop in Sigulda has been operating for over 30 years. Over this period, works by Baltu Rotas have been highly praised by local and foreign design aficionados as well as displayed in international exhibitions. The pieces are sought after as gifts for local and foreign officials, such as Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Hillary Clinton, and the Norwegian Royal Family.
The photo book Ziemeļmeitas kods (Her Northern Roots) is the synergy of photography and text that illustrates and describes the Latvian woman. She honors tradition and heritage but is successful in modern life, and, with growing freedom, she is able to become a leader, a voice that is heard in femininity and equality. The picture stories of different women were created to search for commonalities, a link between generations, roots, a sense of belonging to specific places and nature as a source through an interpretation of rhythm and continuity as information embedded in heartbeats, breaths, and seasons. The stories are told in black and white, with the interplay of light and shadow revealing each protagonist and leaving colors to the imagination.
Authors and creative team of the exhibition: Inita Straupe, co-founder and head designer of Baltu Rotas, Ieva Straupe-Lūse, head of Baltu Rotas and author of two lines, Laura Geistarde-Šube, development manager of Baltu Rotas, concept author and curator of the exhibition, Una Taal, photographer, co-author of the book Ziemeļmeitas kods, Kristīne Kutuzova, text author, co-author of the book Ziemeļmeitas kods, and Una Grants, exhibition designer.
Location: Art space Civita Nova
Organized by: Great Amber in cooperation with the creative team behind Baltu Rotas and the photo book Ziemeļmeitas kods
Admission: free
Supported by: Liepāja City Council and State Culture Capital Foundation
Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
