The Children’s Easel Room

One day I received an unexpected phone call. It was Svetlana Ryžikova, a senior high-school student from Panevėžys. She told me that on the 17^th of June (Saturday) the young artists of Panevėžys would be organizing an event Atidaryk konservus! (Open the Can!) at the former canned food factory.

 

An experimental day-center of young art would be placed among the ruins of the factory building. The crumbling walls of the 120 year-old building, broken windows and discontinued stairs would become a space for young adults to express themselves through the art of performance. However, according to Svetlana, they would also like to do a good deed for children with malignant tumors - perhaps by donating blood, or in some other way...

 

I told Svetlana about our efforts to make one very beautiful dream come true – one young artist needed an easel. Svetlana was fascinated by this idea. I completely entrusted her with making this dream come true. When we saw what was done in Panevėžys, we were moved and captivated. The ruins had been turned into an oasis full of warmth and light. Inga Kontrimavičiūtė, the correspondent of Sekundė (19-06-2006), wrote about the Children’s Easel Room:

 

The organizers of the event were surprised to see a number of children from the neighborhood gather at the factory together with the young adults. They built sand castles in a sandbox that was set up upstairs.

 

While the seniors decorated the premises, the juniors expressed their fantasies in the Children’s Easel Room. A donation box was placed in this room for all those who were willing to contribute to the seriously ill girl’s dream to have an easel. The sealed donation box will be given to Edita Abrukauskienė, the director of Childhood Cancer Fund Rugutė. We are so glad that young people are able to generate such kind and meaningful ideas.

 

From all of our hearts we thank the initiators of the project – the high-school seniors Svetlana Ryžikova and Marija Dautartaitė – for implementing their meaningful idea in a very beautiful way. Thank you for your kindness.

 

 

Photos of the event – Event of the Young Artists of Panevėžys

Articles – Art Gallery at the Canned Food Factory / I. Kontrimavičiūtė, Sekundė, P., 2006