On Thursday, 12 June at 4 pm we invite you to the presentation of the book ‘The Čiurlionis Family and Druskininkai’ and the screening of the video essay ‘The Tale of the Courting Organ, or the Tale of the Kings’.

The event will be attended by the authors of the book, Regina Stankevičienė, Sigita Rundytė, Aušra Sedlevičiūtė, and the filmmaker Evaldas Tamariūnas.

The book ‘The Čiurlionis Family and Druskininkai’, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of M. K. Čiurlionis, presents the little-studied period and environment of M. K. Čiurlionis's childhood and youth, and gives a new meaning to the creative heritage of the most renowned Lithuanian painter and composer.

The publication presents in detail all the members of the Čiurlionis family, introduces M. K. Čiurlionis' grandparents and other relatives, family traditions, values, family culture and upbringing. The book reveals the context of the artist's environment - the then Druskininkai resort and its surroundings, as well as the social circle of M. K. Čiurlionis. It describes the artist's creative inspirations in Druskininkai and the works of art created there. It also tells the story of the historic homestead (now the M.K. Čiurlionis House-Museum) from the time of its acquisition to the present day, and presents the family's possessions and their stories.

The dates and places of birth of the Čiurlionis family members have been provided and clarified on the basis of the Historical Archives. The analysis of these data contributes to the clarification of the biography of M. K. Čiurlionis. The book describes the plans of the Čiurlionis homestead, as well as the objects of Druskininkai, which are recorded in the works of M. K. Čiurlionis.

The video essay ‘The Tale of the Courting Organ, or the Tale of the Kings’ was conceived as a cultural tribute to Čiurlionis' parents, Konstantinas and Adele. Its authors - Evaldas Tamariūnas, a former TV, print and radio journalist, and now a public relations specialist at the Varėna Culture Centre, and Almantas Vilbikas, a cinematographer - were guided by the idea that when discussing the life of any genius, their parents are undeservedly forgotten (or do not receive the attention that they deserve), and at least in this case, they have attempted to fill that gap.

The choice of the fairy tale as a narrative form was motivated by two things: firstly, the fantasy and symbols are perfectly in line with M.K. Čiurlionis' worldview/worldview, and this method is therefore particularly suitable for the discussion of the life of the family of Čiurlionis. Secondly, the lack of visual or factual information (there is an image, but no factual ‘evidence’; there are facts, but no image) simply pushed us down the path of figurative meanings.

"The Tale of the Courting Organ, or the Tale of the Kings" is a watercolour sketch, not a painting, an étude, not a symphony. The authors of the video do not reject the hope that one day this etude may become a full-fledged symphony.

The event is open to the public, and filming and photography may take place. By attending the event, you agree to be seen in photographs and videos of the event and are informed that these photographs and videos may be made public.

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EVENT INFORMATION

Date and time: 2025, June 12, 4 PM

Venue: M. K. Čiurlionis House-Museum

Address: M. K. Čiurlionio g. 35, Druskininkai

More: HERE

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EVENT ORGANIZERS

M. K. Čiurlionis House-Museum

ciurlioniomemorialinis@gmail.com / 0 313 51131

Program

Book Presentation and Screening of a Video Essay

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