The “Dzimtas mantojums” (Family Heritage) exhibition opens at the Liepāja Latvian Society House exhibition gallery, running from September 1 to September 30, according to Kristena Sokolovska, marketing and public relations specialist for the society house. The exhibition explores artistic education, creative experience, and generational lineage through three distinct artistic mediums across a century.
A Century of Artistic Lineage at Liepāja School
The family’s narrative connects deeply with the Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (LMMDV), which marks its 100th anniversary this year, according to exhibition author Ilze Akselrode. Akselrode graduated from the school in 1986 and taught there for 17 years. Her daughter, Krista Dintere, currently teaches sound art at the same institution. The generational roots extend further back through the family tree. According to Akselrode, her grandfather’s sister, Magda Jembergs (later Kalēja), graduated from the Liepāja Art School in 1931 from the Fiber Department. Photographs of Jembergs’s nearly century-old handicrafts document the historical skills and time period.
Giving Second Life to Legacy Instruments
Sound artist Krista Dintere incorporates wind instruments inherited from her great-grandfather, Ervīns Siliņš, into her work for the exhibition. Siliņš played in both the Apriķi and Aizpute brass bands and participated in the Song Festival, establishing a musical tradition in the family home. By utilizing the acoustic qualities of these instruments, Dintere created a sound composition that fills the gallery space. According to the artists, this installation gives a second life to the silent musical instruments, bridging past and present.
Profile of the Artists
The exhibition brings together three generations of family members and distinct art forms, creating a dialogue between the past, present, and future. Ilze Akselrode is a professional artist who graduated from the Art Academy of Latvia in 1993 under the guidance of emeritus professor and painter Juris Jurjāns, later earning a master’s degree in educational sciences from the Liepāja Academy of Pedagogy in 2007. She has exhibited work since 1989 and belongs to the Liepāja professional artists’ association “Mākslas kolēģi.” Krista Dintere holds a master’s degree in humanities in art from the Liepāja University New Media Art Department. She teaches sound art and electroacoustic music at RTU Liepāja Academy, the Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas Akadēmija, and LMMDV, alongside organizing festivals and media art events through local cultural associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the “Dzimtas mantojums” exhibition open?
The exhibition is on view at the Liepāja Latvian Society House exhibition gallery from September 1 to September 30.
When is the official opening event?
The opening and a meeting with the artists take place on Saturday, September 5, at 1:00 PM.
How many generations are represented in the exhibition?
The exhibition features three generations through the works of Magda Jembergs, Ilze Akselrode, and Krista Dintere.
Did you know? The Liepāja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (LMMDV), which anchors the family’s educational history, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
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