Jonas Mekas Musical Milieu – a series of concerts of events, organized by the Lithuanian Museum of Theatre, Music, and Film will take place between the 9th and 12th of November. The series delves into little-explored musicality and musical contexts of the late filmmaker, writer, and one of the most important Lithuanian émigré artists Jonas Mekas.
It was inspired by a text written in 2019 by the curator of the project Edvardas Šumila, published in the Lithuanian Music Link journal titled “New York Scenes and Echoes from Lithuania: Jonas Mekas’ Musical Milieu,” overviewing the musicality of Jonas Mekas, and his connections with the New York avant-garde, experimental, and rock music practitioners, and sharing the insights of his friends.
Throughout the four days of events, the visitors will have a chance to experience Jonas Mekas’ sound installation To Petrarca, Who Walked Over the Hills of Provence (2003), which has been never exhibited in Lithuania before.
The four concerts in the series will delve into different aspects of Jonas Mekas and his musical milieu and pieces inspired by his creative work.
NOVEMBER 9, WEDNESDAY
6 pm – The opening of Jonas Mekas’ sound installation To Petrarca, Who Walked Over the Hills of Provence (open through December 10)
Free entrance
An exhibition of Roland Andrijauskas photography series See You at Anthology (open through December 10)
Free entrance
7 pm Screening of Jonas Mekas’ films: Cassis (1966), On My Way to Fujiyama I Saw… (1995), and Williamsburg, Brooklyn (2002)
Live music by Kristupas Gikas and Simonas Nekrošius
Free entrance
NOVEMBER 10, THURSDAY
5 pm Screening: Jonas Mekas “Travel Songs“ (2003)
Live accompaniment by Auguste Varkalis (piano)
Tickets: 1-3 EUR, available at the box office of the museum.
6 pm Discussion: Jonas Mekas Musical Milieu
Participants: Sebastian Mekas, Eugenijus Varkalis, Dalius Naujokaitis-Naujo. Moderated by Juta Liutkevičiūtė
Free entrance7.30 pm Concert. Participants: Dalius Naujokaitis, Paulius Vaškas, Arminas Bižys, Auguste Varkalis.
Tickets 6-8 EUR, available at the box office of the museum, or through bilietai.lt
NOVEMBER 11, FRIDAY
7 pm Apartment House ensemble: Lithuanian Music Inspired by Jonas Mekas.
Program includes pieces by Julius Juzeliūnas, Bronius Kutavičius, Mindaugas Urbaitis, Rita Mačiliūnaitė, Dominykas Digimas.
Performers: Anton Lukoszevieze, Gordon MacKay, Mira Benjamin, Bridget Carey, Karolina Ramonė, Kristupas Gikas, Medeinė Mickevičiūtė.
Tickets 6-8 EUR, available at the box office of the museum, or through bilietai.lt
NOVEMBER 12, SATURDAY
7 PM Apartment House ensemble: New York Avant-garde and Musical Milieu
Program includes new pieces by Žibuoklė Martinaitytė and Ramūnas Motiekaitis and pieces by John Cage, Yoko Ono, Ablert M. Fine, Jurgis Mačiūnas, and Julius Eastman.
Performers: Anton Lukoszevieze, Gordon MacKay, Mira Benjamin, Bridget Carey
Tickets 6-8 EUR, available at the box office of the museum, or through bilietai.lt