Discover how the Panevėžys Elena Mezginaitė Public Library is bringing poetry to life through interactive exhibitions, a unique walking route, and Lithuania’s first talking bench.
The Panevėžys Elena Mezginaitė Public Library is celebrating the 85th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding local creator and poet, Elena Mezginaitė. The library was named after her in 2020.To mark this anniversary, the library is organizing various events, educational activities, and exhibitions dedicated to the poet’s creative legacy.
The public library hosted a calligraphy workshop titled “Calligraphic Dedication to Elena,” led by artist Diana Masiulienė. During the session, participants rewrote Elena Mezginaitė’s poems in calligraphic script, honoring her work.
A walking route through Panevėžys, “Elena’s Path: From the Editorial Office to the Bench,” was introduced to the public, inviting them to explore places connected to the poet’s life and achievements.
The Elena Mezginaitė bench, equipped with audio, was originally installed to commemorate the poet’s 80th anniversary and is the first “talking bench” in Panevėžys. Anyone sitting on this bench can listen to 17 poems by Elena Mezginaitė. They were recorded by Ligita Kondrotaitė, an actress from the Panevėžys Juozas Miltinis Drama Theatre.
Since several songs have been composed based on the poet’s work, the library invited visitors to a solo concert by actor and bard Aidas Giniotis. The library has also hosted multiple poetry evenings where poems were read by actors and visitors alike.
A photography exhibition titled “Stop This Shot” opened at the library. The photos were created by the mobile photography group of the Panevėžys University of the Third Age, inspired by Elena Mezginaitė’s poetry.
Poet Elena Mezginaitė wrote plays for the unique, one-of-a-kind Puppet Carriage Theatre in Europe. The children’s literature department “Green Owl” features a unique exhibition prepared by the theatre, titled “From Elena’s Drawers – to the Theatre Carriage.” Visitors can see theatre puppets and other installation elements that reveal the connections between Elena Mezginaitė’s work and the puppet carriage theatre. The exhibition was opened on October 8, and an educational program for children, led by theatre educator Birutė Beresnevičienė, has been prepared based on this exhibition.
The events are held as part of the project “A Year with Elena: Elena Mezginaitė – 85,” which is partially funded by the Panevėžys City Municipality.
Prepared by a librarian Anžela Vasiliauskienė. Source and photos: library website
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