A Century of Collective Collaboration: Intersection Between Art and Politics

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

The aim of this conference panel is to critically examine the intertwining trajectories of art and politics over the past century, with a specific focus on the transformative impact of collective collaboration.
Sanita Duka's paper, “Supremacy in Collaboration: Collective Creative Practices of Political Theatre in Latvia 1920-1930”, will delve into the realm of political theatre in Latvia, with a specific focus on the case of the Riga Workers’ Theatre (1926-1934).
Dr. Banuta Rubess in her paper “Unveiling Collective Collaboration: Radical Aspazija in the 1980s” will situate the application of collective theatre principles to the global context, while discussing the production and reception of the play “The Silver Veil”. She will contrast the literary prejudices of the diaspora with those of the local theatre critics.
Dr. Laine Kristberga in her paper “Performative Collaboration in Latvian Art and Politics in the Period of the Third National Awakening” will address the intersection of art and politics during the Third National Awakening in Latvia. By examining performative collaboration, evident for example in the Baltic Way, Kristberga will seek to unravel the ways in which Latvian artists and activists utilized the public sphere as a stage for cultural and political assertion.
Dramaturg and curator Evarts Melnalksnis in his paper “Rethinking Collaborative Structures in Latvian Performing Arts” will explore the dynamics of collaboration in contemporary international projects, such as the opera film "Banuta," and the Baltic performing arts think tank, "Baltic Current," aimed at nurturing young artists.

Short Bio

Sanita Duka is a doctoral researcher at the Art Academy of Latvia (AAL). Her doctoral thesis is dedicated to the history of the Riga Workers' Theatre (1926-1934). Sanita has curated the exhibition “Stories from the Collection: The Riga Workers' Theater (1926-1934)” at the Latvian Museum of Literature and Music. Her research interests are related to the use of a multidisciplinary approach in the study of art history and theatre methodology.

Dr. Baņuta Rubess pioneered feminist theatre, diaspora theatre, and contemporary opera to national renown in Canada and Latvia. She has lived in four countries and writes in two languages. In 1998, she moved with her family to Riga, Latvia, where she created productions across the country, and was a regular columnist for the national newspaper. Baņuta returned to Toronto in 2012 where she teaches at the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto.
A Rhodes Scholar with a doctorate in history, her dissertation was a political biography of the poet Rainis, the spouse of Aspazija. She has directed two other adaptations of Aspazija’s work in Riga, an award-winning version of The Avenging Woman in 1991 and another Silver Veil at the New Riga Theatre in 2005.
Dr. Rubess has written essays about Aspazija for the feminist journal Fireweed and for the anthology edited by Dr. Vita Matīss called Robežas/Borders, published by Neputns in 2006.
Rubess also has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. She has been nominated for many awards and has won Best Play, Best Director, Best Short Story. Most recently she won a lifetime achievement award for her work in Latvian culture and literature from the Anšlavs Eglītis and Veronika Janelsiņa Foundation. www.banuta.com

Dr. Laine Kristberga is an art historian and curator from Riga, Latvia. She holds a PhD from the Art Academy of Latvia. Currently she is working on her monograph "Performance Art in Latvia in the Period of Late Socialism". Kristberga works as a researcher and research project manager at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, University of Latvia. Kristberga’s scholarly interests cover art, culture, and politics during the Cold War period. She is particularly interested in the genealogy and historical development of performance art in the region. Her latest articles are focused on the analysis of various socio-political factors that have left an impact on this form of art, as well as a close-up study of conceptual, aesthetic and strategic components applied by performance artists historically and
nowadays. As a curator, Kristberga has been directing, producing and curating the
international Riga Performance Art Festival STARPTELPA, annually gathering artists,
researchers and cultural producers from all around the world. To promote performance art
as a sovereign form of art, Kristberga runs an NGO “Latvian Centre for Performance Art”, which is involved in multiple international networking projects.

Evarts Melnalksnis is a music theatre dramaturg and curator who studied at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre. He was honored with both the DAAD and the "Musiktheater heute" scholarship for young music theatre professionals. In his role as a dramaturg, he contributed to the production of the world premiere of "The Night of the Sea Urchins" at the Hamburg State Opera, where he also participated as a singer.
As the founder of the Latvian theatre troupe KVADRIFRONS, Evarts Melnalksnis has worked as the dramaturg for various music theatre productions, including works such as "Spring," "The Beasts are Restless," "Demon," and "I Played, I Danced" at the Latvian National Opera, among others. Additionally, he has curated interdisciplinary and discursive events. He took the initiative to create, curate, and edit the Anthology of Performing Arts Translations in collaboration with the Latvian Academy of Culture. Notably, he holds a position as a board member of the curators' collective NGO "Art Bureau Riga."
Evarts Melnalksnis successfully completed his postgraduate study program "Curation at the Performing Arts" at Salzburg University in 2023, graduating with distinction.

Sub Unit

• Arts, Music, and Religion

Chair

• Margaret Savilonis, University of New Haven

Individual Presentations

• Unveiling Collective Collaboration: Radical Aspazija in the 1980s - Baņuta Nora Rubess, University of Toronto

• Performative Collaboration in Latvian Art and Politics in the Period of the Third National Awakening - Laine Kristberga, Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, University of Latvia

• Supremacy in Collaboration: Collective Creative Practices of Political Theatre in Latvia 1920-1930 - Sanita Duka, Art Academy of Latvia