Midsummer in Alksnāja Street
15.06.2016 - 23.07.2016
From June 15 to July 16 an exhibition dedicated to summer solstice is on display in Daugava Gallery in our Alksnāja Street 10/12 address. The exhibited works are from the collection.
There is a presumption that for Latvians the day before Midsummer celebrations has been around since ancient times and it has and important role in the accompanying rituals – this day, formerly known as Medicine Day (Zāļu diena), is now popularly regarded as Līgo Day. On this day tree leaves, green herbs for different teas, roots and many other natural ingredients were collected in folk medicine. These were used for people and animals alike, for example, to heal cattle from various ailments.
Latvian artists have not remained aloof from these precious traditions und have used the magic of this day in painting – rural flowers, green trees, mysterious waters with tree foliage and blue sky reflected in them.
Art historian Andrejs Kaufmanis