Tautodailė Punsko - Seinų krašte

LTPunsko-Seinų krašto tautodailė labai menkai žinoma Lietuvoje dėl ilgus metus gyvavusios administracinės-politinės atskirties. Ankstesnieji leidiniai apie šio krašto tautodailininkus buvo išleisti Lenkijoje negausiu tiražu ir nepalyginamai kuklesnės apimties. Todėl tikimės, jog ši knyga, skirta plačiajai Lietuvos visuomenei, geriau atskleis Punsko-Seinų krašto tautodailės įvairovę, savitumą, paskatins platesnį bendradarbiavimą, padės geriau suvokti šio krašto ryšį su lietuvių kultūra. Medžiaga buvo renkama nuo XX a. pabaigos. Itin kryptingai tautodailės būkle šiame krašte susidomėta Lietuvos kultūros ir sporto rėmimo fondui pritarus šio leidinio rengimo iniciatyvai. Leidinio sudarytojas ypač dėkoja geriausioms Punsko- Seinų krašto liaudies kultūros žinovėms, tautodailės puoselėtojoms Nastutei Sidarienei ir Aldonai Vaicekauskienei už prasmingą ir kūrybingą bendradarbiavimą rengiant šį leidinį, supažindinant su vietos tautodailininkais ir ruošiant medžiagą spaudai. Punsko-Seinų krašto tautodailė plėtojosi kiek kitaip nei Lietuvoje. Šio krašto meniškos sielos žmonės ilgą sovietmečio laiką buvo atitverti spygliuota užtvara nuo Lietuvos respublikos meninio gyvenimo. Nežiūrint to, kad komunistų valdoma Lenkija buvo draugiška respublika Tarybų Sąjungai, kurios sudėtyje teko gyvuoti Lietuvai, tačiau sovietų valdžia bijojo savų piliečių ryšių su laisvesnės Lenkijos gyventojais, todėl Lietuva punskiečiams atrodė kaip nepasiekiama svajonių šalis, o Lietuvai šio krašto dvasinis gyvenimas buvo „nepažintoji žemė“. [p. 3].

ENFolk art of the Lithuanian minority in Poland region Punskas- Seinai has been very little known in Lithuania due to long- lasting administrative-political separation. Earlier publications about folk artists of the region were published in Poland in small circulations and of much lesser content. Therefore, we hope that this book will better reveal the variety and uniqueness of folk art in Punskas-Seinai region, will encourage broader cooperation and will help to better understand the relations this region has with Lithuanian culture. Material has been collected since the end of the 20th century. The folk art state in this region was paid an exceptional amount of attention after the Culture and Sport Support Foundation of the Republic of Lithuania approved the initiative to prepare this publication. The editors express special thanks to the best experts of folk culture in Punskas-Seinai region, the nurturers of folk art existence, Nastutė Sidarienė and Aldona Vaicekauskienė, for meaningful and creative cooperation with local folk artists in preparation of the publication and material for print. Folk art in Punskas-Seinai region was developing in a little bit different way than in Lithuania. The people with an artistic soul in this region for many Communist years were separated from the artistic life in the Soviet Lithuania. Despite the fact that communist-governed Poland was friendly to Soviet Union that ruled Lithuania, the Soviet authority was afraid of their citizens’ relations with the people in a more independent Poland. That made Lithuania look like a distant country of dreams for Punskas-Seinai region inhabitants and vice versa - the spiritual life of this region was an “undiscovered land” for Lithuania.This is why folk artists of Punskas-Seinai region did not have a possibility to take part in the cultural life of Lithuania, especially in national song festivals and national exhibitions of folk art arranged on the occasion. Obviously, regional exhibitions of folk art so numerous in Lithuania, consultations given by folk art specialists, seminars, symposiums and publications were not reachable for them also. On the other hand, Lithuanian emigrants in the West, not being able to enter the Soviet Union, were coming to Punskas-Seinai region for Lithuanian soul. Therefore, it was the Lithuanian oeuvre from Punskas-Seinai region that was so valued in Lithuanian communities in America, Canada and Germany. Folk textile that was leaving overseas together with emigrating citizens has become a symbol of Lithuanian spirit and love for the motherland. However, the folk art of Punskas-Seinai was developing within more closed boundaries in comparison to Lithuania. On other hand, communication with the Western Lithuanians and a certain bond with Polish culture determined unique changes and processes in the region’s culture as well. An especially significant role in development of folk art in Punskas-Seinai region was played by local exhibitions that not only formed the dreams of the artists but also influenced micro-market, the region’s society’s demand for art and created certain interface between folk artists and the society. Exhibitions on summer festival occasions were first organized quite early - in the middle of 1950’s. Besides, the region’s folk artists were taking part in larger regional ecclesiastical festivals and events organized by churches and culture houses of the North-East Poland. [p. 57].