Art

Summary

Textile

Juozas Balčikonis (1924-2010), one of the patriarchs of Lithuanian Textile School, was born in Giedraine, Ramygala district, Panevežys region. He graduated from Ramygala Secondary School. During his study at Kaunas Applied and Decorative Arts Institute, he was greatly influenced by L. Truikis. Balčikosnis was passionately interested in the Lithuanian folk art as well as in Oriental art and collected their samples. Since 1949, he was a teacher in Kaunas Applied and Decorative Arts Institute. From 1951 till 1989, he headed the Textile Department at the Lithuanian Art Institute. Balčikonis authored "Folk art. Fabrics "(I dated 1957, II dated 1962)," Tissue Patterns "(1961)," Tape "(1969)," National Clothing "(1970) and other books. Since 1947, he participated in many exhibitions in Lithuania and in various countries of Europe, Asia, America, and Africa. Almost all the most significant pedagogical, organizational and creative events in the 20th century Lithuanian textile art were related with him. He contributed a lot to formation and development of the Lithuanian National Textile School. The main areas of his creative activity were tapestries, woolen carpets, batik technique pieces, decorative fabrics, mixed technical compositions, national costumes. In 1955 and 1960, he designed folk costumes for the „Song Festival“. Balčikonis received the State Award and was decorated by the Medal of the Lithuanian Army Creator and Volunteer (2000) and the Order of Grand Duke Gediminas (2001).