CV

Born in Riga, 1956. My first work with clay began in Latvia's School of Applied Art, where I spent 4 years. A wall composition for a hospital installation served as my final project to receive a diploma in 1975. Once I was finished there, I enrolled in the Applied Art Department at the Latvian National Art Academy. This was a time of discovery for me and my generation, when many subjects such as art, literature, theatre, and music were absorbed and adapted in innovative ways. It was also at this time that I first participated in large exhibitions featured in Latvia and Estonia: my first works to be shown then were largely in faience.

Late 70s and 1980s: Continuing my education in folk art traditions, I often worked together with folk potters in Latvia's eastern region. In 1979, I put on a one-man exhibition near Riga at the Dole Island Museum; the textile artist Ugis Jankavs assisted in this show. After that first exhibition, I continued the series the following year with two more shows based on similar themes: "The Rainy Day" and "The Voice." By the time "The Voice," was shown, I had graduated from the Art Academy with my diploma work, "The Sun Ways," a decorative garden ceramic. Then I spent 4 years working at a little village school in Korgene: this move helped my art, but it also helped me avoid induction into the Soviet army. In this period I was producing some big clay works for public schools: "The Map of Latvia" was made in clay, measuring 3.5 x 7.5 metres with reliefs of mountains, lakes and rivers, and featured lighthouses dotting the sea-coast. I felt good about this piece, and felt even better when it won a prize. The next work, a collaboration with my wife Tamara, was an exhibition in the memorial house of Emilis Melngailis, a prominent Latvian composer. Melngailis, working with the poet Fricis Barda, wove traditional folk melodies with new lyrics to produce wonderful songs for children. The end of the 80s found me working together with my teacher and friend, Peteris Martinson. Together, we developed wool compositions which are on display at the passenger terminal in Riga's airport, at the Agriculture Academy in Jelgava, and at the composer's house by the sea in the resort town of Jurmala. At this time I also took part in some symposia devoted to ceramics, and in exhibitions in Latvia, Central Asia and other foreign lands.

1990-present: With various changes around Europe in the last decade, I've found myself busier than ever. I enjoyed several ceramic symposia in 1993 alone, one in Aland, another in Panevezy, Lithuania. And there was still some time to produce an exhibition in Germany that year as well. In 1996, I organised the Children's Art School TAKA ("The Path"). Some of the works from that exhibition, "On the Way of Birds," will be on display at the present show in Finland. Then in 1998 I took part in an exhibition in Eidfjord, Norway; a similar event will take place there this year. Now, it is 1999, and I have a ticket to Helsinki from my home in the Baltics. I look forward to meeting friends, new and old, during my stay at Knipnas, Ekenas.