Competition “Birds in Rainis' Poetry”

In 2024, the Rainis Museum “Jasmuiža” organized a visual arts competition “Birds in Rainis' Poetry” for students of Latvia's professional visual arts education programs.

The task of the competition was to create an artwork based on one of Rainis' poems that mentions birds. Students were free to create their works using various techniques: as drawings, paintings, or mixed media (such as gouache, watercolor, pencils, pens, oil pastels, and similar techniques).

A total of 353 entries were submitted from 42 educational institutions. In the age group 11–13, 293 works were received, while in the age group 14–16, 60 works were submitted.

From May 2 to June 5, the exhibition of the competition winners' works will be on display at “Jasmuiža,” with the competition closing and award ceremony planned for May (date to be confirmed).

The judging panel consisted of visual arts teacher Anita Vjakse, artist Sintija Bērziņa, and Anita Puncule, the education program curator at the Rainis Museum “Jasmuiža.”

1st place in the age group 11–13 was awarded by the jury to Sofia Pegasova for the work “Bird on Hand” (MIKC LMMV Rēzekne Art and Design School) and Anastasia Ribakova for the work “Sun, Bulls, and Flowers” (MIKC LMMV Rēzekne Art and Design School).

2nd place in the age group 11–13 was awarded by the jury to Rūta Muižniece for the work “Sparrow and Cat” (Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School) and Beate Nagle for the work “Sparrow” (Kārsava Music and Art School).

3rd place in the age group 11–13 was awarded by the jury to Ariana Novikova for the work “Dove and Gray Sparrow” (MIKC LMMV Rēzekne Art and Design School) and Valteram Laurinovičam for the work “Bird on Branch” (Jēkabs Graubiņš Līvāni Music and Art School).

1st place in the age group 14–16 was awarded by the jury to Marianna Jurčika for the work “Restless Homes” (Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School).

2nd place in the age group 14–16 was awarded by the jury to Linda Sals for the work “Bird on Hand” (Alsunga Music School).

3rd place in the age group 14–16 was awarded by the jury to Junora Narvida for the work “Evening Peace” (Jēkabs Graubiņš Līvāni Music and Art School).

The jury also awarded 11 Honorable Mentions: Zinta Peperniece for the work “Bird Catchers” (Gulbene Elementary School), Barbara Vanaga for the work “Bird and Nest” (Pēteris Rozenbergs Cēsis City Art School), Madara Reinholde for the work “Duckling Walks and Worms Crawl” (Mērsrags Music and Art School), Alise Valtere for the work “Starling Spreads Its Wings” (Roja Music and Art School), Jolanta Jupatova for the work “Little Bird” (Kārsava Music and Art School), Beate Janeke for the work “Girl Feeding Birds” (Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School), Paula Šķendera for the work “Spring, Spring, Time of Joy for Birds” (Gulbene Art School), Sindija Eihenbauma for the work “Fly's Song” (Ventspils Art School), Elza Maira Tirzbanurte for the work “Bird on Branch” (Sēja Music and Art School), Anete Zirne for the work “Kiss of Peace” (Jaunpiebalga Music and Art School), and Madara Mennika for the work “Spring Has Arrived” (Berģi Music and Art Elementary School).

Competition prize sponsors: Preiļi Star Bookstore, Memorial Museums Association, ceramists Edvīns Vincevičs, Viktors Ušpelis, Sintija Bērziņa.