A Cornucopia of Ideas (and Objects!)

I'll try to regularly report on my museum visits here in Latvia--and I'm already behind by a few museums.  I'll catch up!  I just visited Art Museum Riga Bourse specifically to see the new exhibition, Cornucopia.  We've seen so many museums that do exhibitions that highlight rarely see objects in their collections, but this approach is so fascinating.  Even the benches had labels!

The team landed on the concept of cornucopia--"boundless material and spiritual abundance,"  with some of that abundance hidden in the horn of plenty itself, much like museum collections are hidden away. But they also go a step further to raise questions such as "What is a museum today?  What kinds of displays are created and for who?  Can anything become an exhibit?"  The idea is further developed in the label you see below (apologies for more label pictures than object pictures!).

I found just one dialogic question for visitors--but it was so lovely.  "What is the object or ritual in your everyday life in which your own understanding of abundance resides?"  I only wished there had been a place for visitors to share that reflection.  Some of the objects below--and I believe that the first one was created by the exhibit installers/designers, reflecting the layers of paintwork from previous exhibits!

For me, these fairly dense text labels were vital for me--but there were other visitors, including children, who were more interested in the wide array of objects--so I think this exhibit is a success, bringing people in in varied ways--and definitely not dumbing down content for folks, but encouraging everyone to consider who controls what in museums--something that remains a critical issue here decades after independence and separation from the Soviet Union in 1991.  I've seen this self-reflection on other museums here, and wish that more museums in the US took on such work. Whose story will be told?  And who wil tell it?   A big shout-out to Deputy Director Kristine Milere and the whole team!

And a footnote:  my deep appreciation for the clever way labels were mounted, and for wonderful English translations!

Why Latvia?

I'm almost two weeks in to my four+ month time as a Fulbright Scholar in Riga, Latvia and I am hoping to return to regular blogging to share what I'm learning and experiencing here.  So I thought I might begin with a bit about Riga and Latvia.  Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries (along with Estonia and Lithuania) on the Baltic Sea--it's pretty far north!  It's not very big--about half the size of New York State--and is fairly flat, and deeply forested.  The country has a long and complex history--centuries of German, Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russian rule.  It was established as an independent republic in 1918, but then of course, the 20th century brought occupation by both the Nazis and the Soviet Union (the latter which lasted 45 years).  The country became once again, an independent republic in 1991.  Latvia's a part of the EU and NATO and support for Ukraine is notable here seen both in blue and yellow flags everywhere, but also in conversation.

Riga celebrated its 825th birthday this past August and the city itself reflects all those centuries!  Remember the Hanseatic League from Western Civ classes?  Riga was a part of this trading network.  You can see medieval architecture in the old town, some of the most spectacular Art Nouveau buildings anywhere,  wooden clapboard buildings interspersed among 19th and 20th century architecture, including some Soviet blocs and the zeppelin hangars turned Central Market, and newer architecture including the mountainous National Library.  

The museum, cultural heritage and contemporary art community is vibrant, with all sorts of activities that I'll be exploring. I've already been out to the contemporary craft fair at the Ethnographic Museum and visited the Natural History Museum to see the community's display of dahlias.  

But it's complicated, of course, which is what I want to learn more about here. My interest in this part of the world goes back a long way--I'm fascinated by the way places make and remake themselves physical, emotionally and societally.  I've been lucky enough to get to know some Latvian colleagues through ICOM and the wonderful Baltic Museology School--that helped my decision to apply for a Fulbright here.  Big questions to consider:  How does 20th century history affect lives today?  How should museums address that history?  What does it mean to be Latvian or a Latvian citizen?  How can cultural organizations help build civic participation and identity?  What sorts of intangible heritage help shape that identity?  All of these questions are complicated by the residents who are non-citizens, who colonized Latvia from other Soviet republics (see label from Museum of the Occupation above.) Needless to say, the war in Ukraine has deepened concerns around Russia in every way.  Elections are in October, and I don't understand yet all the issues, but see big wall posters around the city for different parties.

Also on the learning plan?  Finding the best coffee and pastry place in the city!  Stay tuned.

Updates!

 

Just a few quick updates after a long absence...

Along with Stacey Garcia, I'll be heading to Kalmar, Sweden to facilitate the workshop Climate, Heritage, and Policy: Dialogues in Learning at Linneaus University in Kalmar. I've tacked on some extra days at the end in Copenhagen, so look forward to visiting museums there! Suggestions welcomed!

I'm also pleased to announce that I will be a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Latvia in fall, 2026.  I'll be teaching at the Latvian Academy of Culture as well as doing workshops and other projects with colleagues there.  The city of Riga and the country of Latvia are fascinating places and I know it will be a time of great learning for me.

More to come on both!  Not the least of which Sweden, Denmark and Latvia all seem to have incredible cafes and bakeries!