Rokai l Contemporary Neighborhood
Rokai is participant of Contemporary Neighbourhoods project since 2019. Community of Rokai in Kaunas district did not have to search for its identity for a long time. Neighbourhood is known for the abundance of clay, for more than 400 years the brickyard has been operating in Rokai. People say that even St. George’s church was built of bricks produced in Rokai, so ceramics and clay became inseparable part of the identity of this town. For nine months people of Rokai where traveling along the clay road, participating in creative activities, were exploring impressive cognitive trails in Rokai area. Elderly people told many interesting, authentic stories of the town. One of them was about brickyard „Rokų keramika“ which was an integral part of this town and had the only circular stove in Lithuania. It is amazing that the objects created by the community since 2019, have become part of the open museum. During the creative workshops with potter Ieva Bertašiūtė-Grosbach community people made about 100 clay bells, which became a decoration of the tree, exhibited in the courtyard of Rokai leisure hall. On September 4th 2020, a closing event “Clay Road 2020” took place, decorated by an impressive installation “Clay Road” created by Ieva Bertašiūtė-Grosbach and Rokai community, also an art exhibition by local artists. The installation decorated Rokai neighborhood and the nearby Girininkai village. Each brick of clay road was a symbol of an important historical fact, personality or geographical object of this locality. By the way, conception “Clay Road” also marked the 520th anniversary of Rokai. The event was also complemented by musical program with tenor Povilas Padleckis, the magical atmosphere was created by the electronic music creator “Girių Dvasia”, “Linamynis” presented his own experimental folklore performance and many others. Dalė Žėkienė, an active participant of creative workshops, elder of Rokai, shared her impressions: “Last year after event we were in euphoria, uplifted. People were truly surprised. I admire our own and “Kaunas 2022” organizers. Community was joyful sharing impressions how great it was working with other participants who did not lack warmth, so they really appreciate this opportunity and look forward to becoming a contemporary neighbourhood!
Short statistics In 2019 about 370 people (from kindergarteners to seniors) participated in various workshops. Together they created more than 100 clay bells and created a magical bell tree. About 500 people attended the event. 16 creative workshops and the Clay Road event was organized, which is becoming a tradition. The activities were carried out by a large number of participants: 113 people participated, audience reached 320. In 2020 two permanent pieces of art, installations of the Clay Road were created in Rokai. To learn more about and/or join the spectacular activities in Rokai e-mail: [email protected].
We sincerely thank Emilija Smilinskaitė and Aušrinė Vilimaitė, volunteers of Kaunas 2022, for the prepared information!
Moments of Contemporary Neighbourhoods project captured by M. Plepys and A. Aleksandravičius.
For more information about the activities of Contemporary Neighbourhoods project in Rokai follow the links below:
