Vincas Kudirka’s monument was unveiled 90 years in the past, and the sculptor Vincas Gryba was in debt | Tradition

Aurimas Kanapkis, the curator of the Lithuanian Nationwide Museum’s exhibition “Nationwide and Trendy: Manifestations of Modernism in Kudirka’s Naumiesti” that may open quickly on the Vincos Kudirka Museum, shares attention-grabbing and even curious tales that passed off 90 years in the past, based on a press launch.

– Just lately, new monuments have been receiving plenty of consideration, however not essentially solely constructive. What was the temper of the general public at the moment in relation to the monument to Vincas Kudirka?

– The disclosing of this monument grew to become an excellent celebration for each the folks of Naumieście and for the entire of Lithuania, however this was in all probability decided by the context of that point. Even within the second decade of independence, the inhabitants wanted to be impressed and educated within the spirit of Lithuanianness, which is so essential for a younger state. It isn’t for nothing that in numerous components of the nation indicators of outstanding nineteenth century folks started to be discovered. in reminiscence of the characters of the nationwide revival. Naumiestis (now Kudirka Naumiestis) was additionally not far behind. The initiative of the Lithuanian intelligentsia was significantly sturdy right here, when a nationwide narrative was constructed with the assistance of recent architectural varieties, and the seek for a nationwide model passed off. On the identical time, the persona of Vincas Kudirkas, who lived right here, was checked out by way of the prism of modernity. The exhibition that we’ll open very quickly within the Vincos Kudirkas Museum will even inform regarding this. And now I can solely say that the crowning second of all this was the development of the monument to the nice bell ringer.

– Do we all know what that celebration appeared like?

– The official unveiling of the monument was held on June 10, 1934. The President of the Republic of Lithuania Antanas Smetona, the previous president and bell ringer, Vincas Kudirka’s comrade Kazys Grinius, Jonas Šliūpas, the determine of the nationwide revival, and sculptor Vincas Grybas, the writer of the monument, attended the celebrations. About 1,300 shooters from Šakiai County got here to Naumiestis, as a result of they simply celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of their group. The monument itself greeted the friends with intrigue – it was lined with an enormous flag of the state of Lithuania. Based on contemporaries, regarding 10,000 folks gathered for the celebration, though such a big quantity might have been exaggerated.

– For a city the place not more than 3,000 folks lived, such quite a few friends will need to have turn out to be fairly a problem?

– It is true, as a result of folks began coming to Naumieštis for the reason that morning. It’s apparent that the preparation needed to take a while – on that day the entire city was adorned and drowned in flowers, the streets had been polished. The newly shaped sq., the place the monument was constructed, was planted with flowers, its edges had been adorned with enormous vases of blooming flowers. The friends needed to be fed. Meals for the shooters was cooked close to the bridge, the place 4 out of doors kitchens had been established. After the disclosing, a giant celebration was organized for honored friends within the Rectory backyard.

– How did the information in regards to the unveiling of the monument unfold so broadly?

– A lot of the friends had been from Kaunas and Suvalkija, maybe the richest area on the time. It was the best for them to reach – some went on foot, some got here with carts, vehicles. I had the chance to learn the recollections of Ona Kudirkiene, who lived close to Šakii, in regards to the day of celebrations and the information that had unfold prematurely in regards to the unveiling of the monument:

“It was like now – the very starting of June. The solar was beating down, however the two males and the mammoth set out for the church. […] And on the church the largest commotion, […] calls following St. Mass will go to Naumiestis, the place the monument shall be unveiled. Oh, and it is not costly, – is he a usurer, – for 3 litas he’ll take you and produce you once more. Mamutė wrote down: each of them will go. My God! She has by no means pushed any automobile. And he didn’t see any monument. […] And what’s that monument that the folks of a number of parishes are gathering to unveil? …He nearly did not hear the mass, he mentioned a prayer half-heartedly, however through the bulletins he heard that the priest was additionally calling to go to Naumieštis, that the President can be there, and even a number of bishops… […]“

– As we speak, you’d in all probability be shocked by the eye paid by the media once more then?

– The celebrations of the disclosing of the monument weren’t solely broadcast on the radio, which allotted as a lot as 6 hours of dwell airtime, but additionally filmed, because it was known as on the time, with a “sound movie”, – it needed to be taken to be proven to Lithuanians dwelling in the USA. A particular 12-page situation of Lietuvos Aido was additionally printed for this occasion. We tried to gather all this materials for the exhibition – one thing guests will certainly see.

– Whereas the entire of Lithuania was celebrating, two folks weren’t completely satisfied. The disclosing of the monument grew to become an inevitable confrontation for Kazi Grinis and Antanas Smetonas, who needed to keep collectively all day. Had been outdated conflicts pushed apart, not less than through the ceremony?

– The state of affairs was actually extraordinary. Two rivals meet on the bell ringer V. Kudirka’s monument – A. Smetona, who was the President on the time, and Okay. Grinius, who labored for a while in Naumiestis through the press ban and along with Kudirka, organized the publishing of the “Bell”. So the involvement of each of them was inevitable.

It was unimaginable to not discover a considerably comical state of affairs on the celebration. In spite of everything, A. Smetona on June 7. had skilled a navy coup try, however remained in energy. And three days later, on the celebrations, he needed to meet his personal ouster through the navy coup in 1926. expelled former president Okay. Grinių. The stress was clearly felt when A. Smetona prolonged his hand to Okay. Grinis to greet him, however he simply nodded as he handed by and did not say a phrase, nonetheless clearly holding the grudge for the ruined birthday. The ideological variations between these two personalities can be felt of their speeches.

– The monument was created without cost by the well-known sculptor Vincas Grybas, however this conceptual undertaking was fairly bitter for him? What story is hidden right here?

– It began with the truth that a bust of V. Kudirka, created by V. Grybos, was deliberate to be erected subsequent to the first faculty being constructed within the city. It isn’t identified for certain, however it’s seemingly that V. Grybas created the bust following which destroyed it, as a result of he thought that it was not acceptable for such an excellent man like Kudirka to construct solely a bust. So then he begins to design a statue of Kudirka with a pedestal, and he doesn’t take a royalty from the conceptual incentives, he solely asks to pay for the supplies. The group collects funds, Felicija Bortkevičienė from American Lithuanians collects 2000 litas. However it isn’t attainable to gather all of the required quantity of funds. V. Grybas takes up facet tasks in order that he can finance the development himself, thus getting caught in debt. And that is not all. Even if the sculptor sacrificed each his power and cash with out regard for his well-being, there was no place and time for him to talk in this system of the celebration… Through the Second World Conflict, the Nazis killed V. Gryba. To this present day, neither the sculptor nor his household have been paid for the development of the monument.

The discuss is a part of the exhibition “Nationwide and Trendy: Manifestations of Modernism in Kudirkos Naumiestis” that may quickly open on the Vincos Kudirkas Museum (29 V. Kudirkos Avenue, Kudirkos Naumiestis, Šakių District). The exhibition on this department of the Lithuanian Nationwide Museum opens in 2024. on June 29.