Galerii opening 2-2-7

Finally we came to the purpose of the journey. We had sent on about 55 paintings, 40 of which are on display. Most for sale to find a permanent home back in Estonia. My father had been writing his speech for days, buying a dictionary along the way. This was probably his first ever public speaking in Estonian. Piia runs the galerii, and organized the showing. After about 1 1/2 hours of final mad scramble, we were ready to go.





















It was very well attended with more than 35 people in addition to family and employees. Even a long lost uncle (Velo) and his son and grandson drove over 3 hours to attend. About 10 painitngs were sold before the opening even began. I couldn't understand the speeches very well (the 40 or so words I've learned this week will help me get around, but not to have or understand more complex comversations), but the main points were that this was probably the largest exhibit of Juliusi paintings ever, and he and grandmother would have been very proud of it. The art collector who had purchased Juliusi painiting of Tallinna Roekoda, the town hall, 2 years ago showed up and presented my father with a calendar he had made of Juilusi art. It had been finding this painting's sale on line that had gotten us in touch of the galerii to begin with. All in all it was a wonderful tribute to Julius and his work.

groundhog / treaty of tartu day

feb 1 was a good day. started off slow. went to the Kaarli kirik (church). This is actually the last of the landmarks that I'd only seen through paintings. There is a beautiful image of the church in the snow on the wall in my home office which I will post when I return. I wanted to get a picture while it was snowing, but unfortunately it has snowed little since I arrived.



spent a good part of the afternoon in the galerii. they were preparing for today's big show. That was actually quite difficult for me. I looked at so many of the Tallinn city views as a child, but they all seemed very unreal - with the steeple and all the towers and walls, it seemed like a view more appropriate for a fairy tale. After seeing the city for a few days, all those paintings look quite different. I am still happy they are being returned to Estonia and will be appreciated more than when in storage closet in the US, but it hurts to let them go.



on the way to the galerii, we passed a couple of monuments. This rock is a very popular monument here. After declaring independence from Russia in 1991 (August 20th is known as "Re-independence day" here.), this boulder was moved into the street to slow down the Russian tanks if they came back. they never did. The other monument was a Soviet statue remembering those who died in WW2. There is a huge controversy here now about that statue. The government and people want to move the statue out of town center, but the russian locals want it to stay. Apparently the Russian government has threatened to cut off oil to the Baltic states if they remove WW2 monuments. For a year there were guards at the monument 24 hours a day to prevent vandalism and protesting. It seemed pretty quiet when we walked through.

went out last night to a couple clubs that were recommended as places "you have to go" in Tallinn. Somehow I almost exclusively ran into Russians. They don't have the
same positive outlook as the Estonians. I guess that's from going from being in charge to second class citizens here. They can vote now, but there still is a lot of racism. the estonians I've met are fairly tolerant, but it is obvious there is still a lot of hatred yet to be undone here.

Oh and then wandered into an Irish pub only to find a drunk American/Estonian singing "King of the Road" by Roger Miller. He was shocked to find someone who knew the song. He is a professor at Tallinn University, but grew up in Creekskill NJ. I had a very good time explaining the song to people - the hobo train hopping culture as romanticized american folklore. people here still mostly know our culture from TV, and are pleasantly surprised to learn there is a bit more depth to us. Actually, Toomas Ilves, the president of Estonia, also grew up in New Jersey with all the important exiles. He graduated from Leonia high school and Columbia University. Unfortunately he cannot make it to the opening because today is the anniversary of treaty of Tartu, which sealed Estonian independence form Russia in 1919 (Independence Day).


Spent groundhog day morning wandering around the local galeriis. This Loore Varte's work amused me. All influenced strongly by american media culture. I posted a picture but didn't talk about the mcdonalds in old town by the gate. Liis (and I'm sure others) are kind of disturbed by this intrusion into the historic site (maybe like how there is a Gap store at the corner of Haight and Ashbury). I think that is the influence for this picture.

1-31-07

wasn't able to upload pictures last night, but will catch up now. quick adventure with Tiit and Carol to the Estonian museum of art today (Kuum). Bought a book of Tiiu's art there. great exhibit of Felicien Rops ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%A9licien_Rops ), and others. then just finished about 7 hours of estonian lessons in the lounge on the top floor of the hotel. tomorrow i think i will finally meet up with the folks for breakfast instead of sleeping in. Then have one final meeting at the gallery to set pricing and arrangements for Friday.

cousin liis with me and dad


tiiu, liis' mom



another entrance to Vana Tallinn




graffiti on toompea. maybe I'm just easily amused.....


parliament (on the inside of the giant stone wall)

Today is my grandmother's birthday. On this day in 1948 my father snuck out from the home and broke his leg while tobogganing. It was a big moment for the family while in the german camp. Ema had to take a job at the hospital in order for them to treat Dad's leg, and then they would not let them leave (because they needed her to work as a nurse). They eventually escaped and caught up with grandfather and Tom. Anyway, Ema could not let her birthday pass without reminding my father of his mistake when he was 8, so I figure I will carry on the tradition.

Had our first meeting with the gallery yesterday, planning out the opening for Friday, organizing the paintings. Turns out that Julius reproduced many of the paintings he had to leave behind during the war, so there are near duplicates of several paintings already over here. Here's a photo of the original Pikk Jalg. And yes, it is an entrance to the fort that is Vana Tallinn. Pretty amazing actually. The parliament and government offices are still within the great stone walls.



started meeting relations too. Liis I met once before in 1993, but I had not met her husband Kalle or her mother Tiiu before. Liis father's mother was my grandmother's sister, which makes Liis some sort of cousin. Tiiu is also a well known Estonian artist, and some of her work is up at the same art gallery. this link shows some of her work at the haus gallery.

http://www.haus.ee/?s=otsing&otsingus6na=pallo-vaik

1-9-7, 2

So, with a brief google search on Pikk Jalg the street in question has become more real and ordinary. The street is well known and there are plenty of photos available on the web. I love the streetlamps, though I have to say I love them more in the painting.

1-9-7

So my story starts with a picture of Pikk Jalg, a narrow street in old town Tallinn. The gate tower at the end of the road was apparently built in 1380, and at one point the street was the only way into the fortress (i think). I know the street primarily from my grandfather's painting. I spent many hours as a preschool kid staring into this painting. the steeple in the background was in at least a dozen paintings in the living room, and I could probably draw the map of a 5 mile radius just from the paintings i remember. slanted streets and all.