Sugrįžimas: Viliaus Variakojo ir Jokūbo Dagio archyvai Biržų krašto muziejuje "Sėla"

LTBiržų krašto muziejaus „Sėla“ išeivijos fonde saugomas ne vienas archyvas, atkeliavęs iš Kanados ar Jungtinių Amerikos Valstijų. Šie daiktai buvo siųsti žmonių ar jų artimųjų, Lietuvą palikusių XX a. pirmoje pusėje. Tai ne tik meno kūriniai, bet ir ne vienas savomis rankomis sukurtas daiktas, skirtas tai išsiilgtai, gimtai šaliai – Lietuvai – prisiminti. Išeivijos fondą sudarantys įvairūs dokumentai, nuotraukos, knygos, meno kūriniai bei kiti daiktai į muziejų pateko daugiausia kaip dovanos. Iš viso šiame fonde saugoma per 2 400 eksponatų. Fondo pradžia galima laikyti 1988 m., kai muziejų pasiekė dailininko Jokūbo Dagio (1905–1989) darbai. Straipsnyje aptariamas ir vienas įdomesnių muziejuje saugomų išeivių archyvų – Viliaus Variakojo, 1949 m. pasitraukusio į Jungtines Amerikos Valstijas. Tiek J. Dagio, tiek ir V. Variakojo (vieno – profesionalaus skulptoriaus bei dailininko, kito – nenuilstančio mėgėjo kurti) darbuose – daug Lietuvos, jos istorijos. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Biržų krašto muziejus „Sėla“, išeivijos fondas, Jokūbas Dagys, Vilius Variakojis. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe works by the artist Jokūbas Dagys (1905– 1989) were the first works that in 1989 occurred in the emigrants’ fund of the museum. He studied painting at Kaunas Art School, and since 1929 – sculpture under J. Zikaras. In 1944, as the front was approaching, he and his family retreated to the West. After his death, the photographs, pictures, sculptures, the albums of creation were donated to the museum by the artist’s relatives, the artist himself also expressed his wish to give over the works to Biržai Region Museum “Sėla”. The museum preserves 51 wooden sculptures by J. Dagys, 9 wooden bas-reliefs, 164 paintings and sketches, and 61 postcards created for various occasions. The rest part consists of photos of J. Dagys himself and his works, magazines, books, leaflets and invitations to his exhibitions. In total, J. Dagys’ archive contains over 1000 exhibits. One of the most interesting archives of emigrants is the archive of Vilius Variakojis, who in 1949 emigrated to the USA. He had degree in engineering, he was an amateur creator of different souvenirs on Lithuanian themes: the crowns of Mindaugas and Morta, the games of shepherds, the necklace from bull bone, coat of arms, for whom to depict Vytis the artist creatively used actors’ faces. He had the museum at his home, with an impressive model of Biržai castle, the farmstead of Biržai style, the windmill, and other buildings or exclusive places special for Biržai region.Biržai Region Museum “Sėla” preserves 63 souvenir works on ethnographic-historical topics donated by the artist as well as 478 units of coin collection, the medals with the profiles of the USA presidents (2 sets each with 35 medals, issued in 1968), bracelets with coins and other samples of numismatics, in total – 85 units. In total over 700 exhibits are preserved in V. Variakojis’ archive. There is much of Lithuania and its history in the works of both J. Dagys and V. Variakojis (one is a professional painter, a sculptor, another is a tireless art amateur). The most important thing is that they returned, as they wished, to their native land, however, not themselves, but in their works which were donated to the people of their homeland. [From the publication]