Summer: Open-Air Museum of Lithuania (2)

Published: 8 June 2002 y., Saturday
Open-Air Museum of the Center of Europe.

According to the calculations of geographers, Lithuania, the suburbs of Vilnius if more exactly, is situated in the center of Europe. Driving along the Moletai highway, having passed the road sign at Rieshe, Kalinas and Gulbiniai you will see the road sign at the European center. The museum of the Center of Europe is situated a little bit further; just follow the indicators.

The park was founded in 1991 in the woods of the suburbs of Vilnius by the Lithuanian sculptor Gintaras Karosas. The exhibition covers an area of 55 hectares. In the open-air museum not only the Lithuanian exhibits, but also of USA, Japanese and Egyptian and of other countries are presented. Among the exhibits you can see wonderful inventions made of wood, stone, concrete and metal. More than 70 works are displayed here. Size of the sculptures differs very much: you may see the exhibit that occupies 1 squire meter and the one, which occupies 2,025 squire meters.

In their exhibits the sculptors share their attitude at the world, they try to create new shapes, are willing to amuse the visitor. The work of art of the young sculptor- a small worm, has just crawled out of the soil and having seen the unknown world smiles. Here you will also find the devil who according to the myth had kidnapped the goddess of Europe, the bird of Europe, and the modern sculpture of the first woman Eva.

Other masterpieces amuse us with their shapes. The Drinking Structure with Exposed Kidney Pool of an American artist Dennis Openheim unites existence and technology what is really amusing. This is the building with the pool and alive substance, crawling out of the waster. The creature “Place for the thought on Lithuania: then the snails crawled…” that was made by the American Karen McCoy is the building for meditations. Some of the exhibits are such majestic that makes us to feel ourselves tiny parts of the world and to realize all its greatness.

Very soon the coolection will be added with the construction made of the used up television sets. They were collected last year after the motto “Give your old television set to Europe” was announced.

When you arrive to this museum you are given the plan of the park. Having such a guide you will not miss any exhibit. If you wish you may order the excursion and the guide will tell you a lot of interesting things about every exhibit and about modern art. The shop where you can purchase souvenirs and café are always open.

Get more information about the Open-Air Museum of the Center of Europe in the site of the Lithuanian Museums.

Europos parkas, Joneikiskiu village, LT-4013 Vilnius region.
Tel.: +370-2-652368, +370-2-502242.
Fax: +370-2-652368.
E-mail: hq@europarkas.elnet.lt

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