Respublikinės parodos, išauginusios medžio skulptorių žiedą Lietuvoje

ENToday turns 20 years, when Rokiškis Regional Museum started to organize republican exhibitions- competitions of wood-carvers to win Lionginas Šepka premium. This is almost the first and the only event of this type among Lithuanian museums, which has lasted for two decades. L. Šepka (1907–1985) was a special artist, who with this creation did and is doing the influence till now not only to folk artists but also to professional sculptors, and is insipiring painters and other art creators. In 1971, when his works were started to be exhibited in museum, many people associate Rokiškis and museum with the name of Lionginas Šepka. After the reestablishment of the independent state of Lithuania, a considerable number of possibilities have appeared to devote more attention to regional culture and its creators. The museum curators paid attention to L. Šepka personality and to his creation. Museum curators started to think not only about the renovation and expansion of the exhibition of L. Šepka creations but also about his memento commemoration and spread of art. In 1993, it was decided to organize annual republican exhibitions- competitions of wood-carvers to win Lionginas Šepka premium. Rokiškis District Municipality established the premium for the author of the best works in the exhibition. Art critic Alė Počiulpaitė described these carving exhibitions-competitions as the exhibitions, which influence the development of Lithuanian wood sculpture. In Rokiškis Regional Museum, 17 exhibitions have already been held, where 415 wood-carvers have participated. They presented over 2700 works of art.In 2007, the exclusive exhibition of winners’ works was organized, dedicated to L. Šepka 100th birth anniversary. Since 2008, it was decided to arrange exhibitions every two years, because one year is too short time for creators to prepare the collections of their works. By 2014, 19 winners had been announced. These exhibitions became prestigious in Lithuania, republican wood-carvers put a lot of efforts to win Lionginas Šepka premium winner name. During 20 years, contemporary tendencies and stylistic trends in wood carving had become clear. Generation of new and ambitious wood-carvers, who used to be young craftsmen, achieved creative maturity. Wood-carvers exhibitions revealed the strengths and weaknesses of wood carving. The following questions are annually raised in the exhibitions: What is more important in today’s folk art – inventiveness, originality, which is far from traditions, or calm and simple prolongation of traditions, which is not sparkling with external effects? What is more valued – spontaneous expression of untaught talent or search, pursuits of one’s who tasted art sciences…?. [From the publication]