ArtWalk Cēsis
Cēsis’s cultural scene is especially lively this summer — the Cēsis Art Festival, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, offers a rich program, and the “Draugu nams” (Friends’ House) gallery brings a dynamic new element to the city’s art landscape.
Cēsis joins the worldwide movement of cities hosting “ArtWalk” open studio days — a unique opportunity to glimpse artists’ creative processes and enjoy a diverse array of art experiences. The Global Center for Latvian Art (PLMC) created this initiative to give visitors the chance to visit several galleries and studios in a single day, encouraging an unhurried exploration of Cēsis’s cultural environment and the discovery of new art spaces and artists.
This walk differs from a traditional museum or exhibition visit — there’s no guide, but a suggested route is provided, which also includes some of Cēsis’s public artworks — from modern murals to classical sculptures.
Maps will be available at all locations. With the exception of Cēsis Museum and the Cēsis Exhibition Hall, admission is free. “ArtWalk Cēsis” is a chance to meet artists, get to know their work, and take part in conversations that shape the city’s creative environment.
PARTICIPANTS
Galleries, studios and museums:
“DRAUGU NAMS” ART GALLERY | Torņu iela 1. A new cultural space that opens art to the world and the world to art. Ritums Ivanovs’s solo exhibition “Screen.”
ALISE ĶĪNASTA | Valņu iela 3. A versatile artist working in graphic design and painting, who also leads masterclasses.
SOCIETY “HARMONIJA” | Rīgas iela 7. Gallery of the local senior citizens’ art collective.
CĒSIS EXHIBITION HALL | Pils laukums 3. Historic gallery and event spaces. Iveta Šmite’s solo exhibition “Forest Dichotomy” and Dutch artist Peter Jansen’s solo exhibition “WASTELAND.”
CĒSIS MUSEUM | Pils laukums 9. A venue for exhibitions spanning more than ten centuries of Latvian cultural history, art shows, and seminars. Exhibitions: a tribute to Cēsis and its residents, “City Beyond the Window,” and Amanda Ziemele’s solo exhibition “On the Second Floor.”
DIMENSION INK | Rīgas iela 11. Tattoo parlor and contemporary art gallery. Elīna Māliņa’s painting exhibition “Happenings.”
“MUSEUS” GALLERY | Rīgas iela 22. Family-run gallery specializing in Latgalian ceramics and crafts. Exhibition: “Jānis Unda. The Identity of Latgale. Watercolors.”
CĒSIS CONCERT HALL ART GALLERY | Raunas iela 12. Regional multifunctional music and cultural venue with 800 seats. Art installation “Time Will Tell,” created by the group “Famous 5.”
“LIGA LIGHT” STUDIO | Rīgas iela 20-602. Porcelain creative studio.
LĪVA GRAUDIŅA / Raiņa iela 25. Professional painter working in oils, who teaches painting courses, offers private lessons, and is the creator of the jewelry brand LIGHTDUST.
ART SPACE “MALA” | Lenču iela 11. A café and event space housed in a former brewery, offering concerts by talented musicians from around the world and Latvia, plus visual art. ISSP graduates’ exhibition “1.5ha.”
MATIASS JANSONS’ STUDIO “SILĶES” | Dzirnavu iela 33. Three generations of sculptors have worked in this historic studio on the banks of the Gauja. Please call 30 minutes ahead: 29 124 876.
GLOBAL CENTER FOR LATVIAN ART (PLMC) | Lielā Skolas iela 6. A center for Latvian diaspora art with galleries, an archive, a research center, and event space. “This Is Not the Moon, and I’m Still Here — For Lelde Kalmīte’s 80th” and Krista Svalbonas’s exhibition “Displacement.”
RUCKA MANOR | Exhibitions, masterclasses, and cultural events take place in the historic rooms and spacious garden. Multimedia exhibition “Living Paintings.”
SIGNE VANADZIŅA | Gaujas iela 7-4, entrance from the courtyard side. Artist and art therapist.
VOKUR | Rīgas iela 36. Silver jewelry workshop and bar.
Public art:
MURAL “THE POWER OF THE WORD” | Dainis Rudens, Raunas iela 9
MURAL AREAS OF HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE” | Paulis Liepa, Uzvaras bulvāris 28
MURAL ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS | Naza del Rosal Ortiz and Juan Rico / Olliemoonsta, Uzvaras bulvāris 16
SCULPTURE ANCIENT CĒSIS | Matiass Jansons, Rožu laukums square
SCULPTURE BATTLE WITH THE CENTAUR | Kārlis Jansons, Maija park
SCULPTURE THROUGH THE CENTURIES | M. Jansons, Sv. Jāņa baznīca church
MONUMENT TO HARALDS SĪMANIS | Girts Burvis, Maija park
PUBLIC ART PROJECT “RAISING FLAGS” | Curated by Una Meistere / Cēsis Art Festival) Cēsis Castle square
Artists exhibited:
“FAMOUS 5” | LĪVA GRAUDIŅA | LĪGA GUTĀNE | RITUMS IVANOVS | ISSP | PĒTERS JANSENS | MATIASS JANSONS | LELDE KALMĪTE | ALISE ĶĪNASTA | ELĪNA MĀLIŅA | IVETA ŠMITE | KRISTA SVALBONAS | JĀNIS UNDA | SIGNE VANADZIŅA | AMANDA ZIEMELE
More info here