In 2022, the local community within the village, collaborating with the Varėna region’s local activity group, undertook a project to construct permanent amenities for the benefit of its residents. The installation included new seating and a central table, designed to provide a dedicated space for the people to gather and interact following local events. These wooden benches were strategically placed within a natural amphitheater setting.
The area was decorated with signage commemorating ancient Lithuanian holidays. Furthermore, large wooden pulleys, recreated based on museum photographs, were incorporated to evoke the ritualistic games of the past. Adding to the cultural enrichment of the site, sculptor Nerijus Kavaliauskas contributed a permanent stone carving.
This piece depicts a dragon and serves as a memorial and tribute to the ethnologist, a senior figure from the ancient Lithuanian belief community known as “Romuva,” who was once associated with the Musteika area. The overall development aims to enhance the communal gathering space, offering the people a lasting fixture for social connection and cultural reflection within the village environment. The combination of modern seating with historical artistic representations solidifies the site as a hub for community life and cultural remembrance.
Topics: #village #benches #people
