Dear American Latvian Artists Association members, friends, and benefactors,

This year our annual Catskill Mountain retreat will be held from Friday evening September 27th until noon on Sunday, September 29th.

Everyone is invited to arrive on Friday evening, settle in with a steaming hot bowl of chili and cornbread and enjoy the lively program which will begin around 7:00 PM with short overviews about the 2018/2019 shows in which various ALMA members showed artwork including the Baltic Centennial art exhibit in Boston; “Carrying Light / Nesot gaismu” exhibit at the Latvian Song Festival in Toronto, Canada; sculptor and painter Jānis Mintiks’ show at the Global Center for Latvian Art in Cēsis, Latvia and other updates from our members.

At 8:30 PM on Friday evening academic librarian and scholar  Robert Milevski, will share with us his research about Latvian agrarian and religious history focusing on the unique metal bindings of Bibles with a lecture:  “Reading the Bible, Preserving the Precious Text: Latvian Metal-Clad Bindings.” We will also hang our annual ALMA show so please bring a new “ready to hang” work to show.

At Saturday morning’s Annual meeting our agenda will include reports from the treasurer and membership offices, as well as discussions about current ALMA projects and upcoming opportunities for ALMA members to show in 2020.

The annual meeting will be followed by the always awaited  Saturday lecture series. Our featured artist this year is Laila Milevski : Maryland Institute College of Art MFA graduate, painter, illustrator, graphic art book author. Milevski will share with us the creative process that resulted in her fascinating MFA work “Mātes zeme / Atmiņas” and in her other multi-media endeavors. We are delighted that  Karina Mieriņš and  Uldis Ricahrd Lote, co-authors of the 2019 comprehensive work “Latvian-Canadian Artists and Artisans” will be joining us at the 2019 retreat ready to share insights about the historical and current Canadian-Latvian art scene and the lengthy process of creating this significant volume. The two featured lectures will be followed by a mini-workshop “New Rhythms for Old Jewelry” led by Laima Rožkalne. Bring your broken chains, bits of amber, various “orphan” pieces so that with a little hands-on guidance they may freshly spring forward again as new ornaments, artistic objects.

In honor of our Canadian guests please come to the Saturday evening festivities adorned in a bit of “ Canada”. The evening will include an official celebration of the “Canadian-Latvian Artists and Artisans” book, literary readings, spark-filled conversation and our annual auction to benefit ALMA . Sunday morning will feature a fresh peak at new initiatives and unfinished agenda items that merit further review from our members.

Just a reminder: if you are driving and can fit in the car something edible or drinkable to share, that is always appreciated, or consider a donation of a quality item to the annual Saturday evening auction.

Bring along news about your recent exhibitions, new techniques and/or materials.

Questions can be directed to Linda Treija:

or Sarma Muižnieks Liepiņš:

As last year – please reserve your lodging at “Atpūtas nams” directly with the caretaker Helēna Mednis Puksts:

The completed enclosed registration form with payment for meals should still be sent to our treasurer Dace Marga:

I look forward to seeing you in the Catskills on Sept. 27th – 29th!

Linda Treija,

President, American Latvian Artists Association

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