The exhibition’s title is grounded in themes of dialogue, empathy, space and time, with particular emphasis on materiality and spatial thinking. It serves as a deliberate—perhaps even slightly naive—invitation to reconsider the role of contemporary art and its ongoing search for meaning in today’s turbulently unsettling world. The exhibition is a collective reflection by the participating artists on vulnerability and healing, on seeing and finding refuge, and on the continuous responsibility we bear towards ourselves and the space we inhabit.

The exhibition also seeks to decentralise the region’s cultural landscape by bringing contemporary art into direct dialogue with audiences in Ogre.

Curator: Māris Grosbahs

During their visit, the artists explored Ogre and its multilayered history – they visited the Ogre market, the Ogre sanatoriums, the former Ogre Textile Factory, as well as the museum’s buildings and collection.

Together with the author of the exhibition “Dawn of Ogre,” Zigmārs Jauja, and architect Ilze Mekša, we took a walk through Ogre, paying particular attention to the city’s architecture and its historic concrete bollards. Meanwhile, Ogre Technical School student Beatrise Krista Ceiča presented her vision of the former Ogre Textile Factory to the artists.

Christoph and Sebastian Mügge are internationally recognized artists whose works are regularly exhibited at biennials and contemporary art institutions across Europe. In their artistic practice, they explore traces of history and the possibilities of their interpretation, using the language of contemporary art and various artistic means of expression.

The program is designed as an inspiring and educational experience, where participants will not only engage in creative activities but also explore different art forms, ask questions to professional artists, and become familiar with their daily work, creative journeys, and the specifics of their professions.

At the end of the sessions, an exhibition of the participants’ best works will be organized, offering an opportunity to publicly present the results of the creative process.

The exhibition will be gradual. It begins with the first workshop day on 08.07.2026 and will be open to visitors until September 13.

The exhibition opening will take place during the Ogre City Festival on 22.08.2026 at 12:00 in the small hall of the Ogre History and Art Museum.

The programme is designed as an inspiring and educational experience, offering participants the opportunity not only to engage in creative activities but also to explore various art forms, ask questions to professional artists, and gain insight into their daily work, creative journeys, and the unique aspects of their professions.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS:

08.07. | Liena Subatiņa–Brazeviča
“Design Your Own T-Shirt” – a tie-dye workshop introducing the batik dyeing technique.

During the workshop, participants will observe demonstrations and learn different batik techniques, including stencil batik, tied batik, and hot wax batik. They will learn about traditional and contemporary fabric-dyeing practices, natural dye production, and the materials and tools required for creating batik artworks. In the practical session, each participant will create their own unique T-shirt using the tie-dye batik technique. The workshop will be led by fashion designer Liena Subatiņa-Brazeviča.

15.07. | Laura Ikauniece
“When Words and Images Become a Story” – a creative writing masterclass.

Inspired by various texts, images, and associations, participants will create their own unique stories, developing imagination, language skills, and the ability to creatively interpret what they see and read. The session will reveal how text and visual material can combine to create engaging narrative worlds. The masterclass will be led by Laura Ikauniece, author of the book Kate Cukurvate Conquers Meatball Soup.

22.07. | Māra Gaņģe
“The Museum of Lost Things” – a performative and research-based art workshop.

The workshop consists of two parts. In the first part, children and young people, equipped with vinyl gloves and paper collection bags, will explore the urban environment in search of objects they consider lost or abandoned. In the second part, upon returning to the theatre space, each participant becomes the curator of their own “museum,” reflecting on the meaning, story, and display possibilities of the found objects. The workshop encourages participants to think about the value of everyday items, the environment, and human relationships with objects. The workshop will be led by performance artist Māra Gaņģe.

29.07.| Oto Holgers Ozoliņš
“Form-Making Workshop” – an introduction to sculpture mould-making and casting techniques.

Participants will explore various sculptural materials and working processes while listening to a sculptor discuss the nuances of the profession, creative experiences, and the process of creating a sculpture. During the workshop, participants will develop spatial and sculptural thinking through hands-on practice, creating a mould and producing a plaster cast of their own hand. The workshop will be led by sculptor Oto Holgers Ozoliņš.

05.08. | Dārta Madara Cielava
“Impasto Oil Painting” – a workshop exploring oil painting techniques.

Participants will become acquainted with the impasto oil painting technique, which uses thick, textured paint and expressive brushstrokes. During the session, they will gain an understanding of colour layering, composition, and the importance of texture in painting, while creating their own individual artwork using the technique. The workshop will be led by painter Dārta Madara Cielava.

12.08. | Ilze Krastiņa
“Draw the Summer” – large-format flower and plant painting using acrylic paints.

Participants will explore the diverse possibilities of acrylic paints while learning about colour harmony, composition, and various application techniques. In the practical part of the workshop, each participant will create an individual A2-format artwork, expressing their own vision and creativity. The workshop will be led by mural and decorative wall painting artist Ilze Krastiņa.

19.08. | Auce Biele
“Splash Studio: Painting Emotions Through Abstraction” – an abstract painting workshop.

Participants will explore the principles of abstract art and create their own artworks using emotions, movement, and spontaneous interactions of colour as tool of creative expression. The session will include discussion about the feelings and associations evoked by abstract art, as well as the role of art as a form of emotional self-expression. Participants will also hear the artist speak about her creative experiences in different countries around the world and her work at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, The workshop will be led by visual communication artist Auce Biele.

To register, please call +371 20217889 or email liena.subatina@ogresnovads.lv.

Participation Fee: EUR 3.00

All materials are included.

When registering, please provide the participant’s name, a parent or guardian’s contact phone number, and the name of the responsible adult.

At the end of the workshops, an exhibition of the participants’ best works will be organized, providing an opportunity to publicly showcase the results of their creative process.

The exhibition will develop gradually throughout the project. It will begin with the first day of the creative workshops on 8 July 2026 and will remain open to visitors until 13 September 2026.

The exhibition will officially open during the Ogre City Festival on 22 August 2026 at 12:00 PM in the Small Exhibition Hall of the Ogre History and Art Museum.

“In July 1940, J. Gucevičs bought two mercury thermometers in Riga, while J. Nemo purchased apple pies at the buffet of the Ogre railway station. The contents of one broken thermometer were poured into one of the pies. The ‘enhanced’ pie was then fed by J. Nemo to V. Jupatins at the Ogre Community Hall, following a ceremonial rally held in honor of a visit by commanders of the occupation army.

J. Gucevičs did not know that ingesting mercury is not lethal. The harm done to V. Jupatins was limited to severe stomach cramps and groaning while lying on a couch in his office.”

📍You can read the full story in the permanent exhibition “The Path to Freedom”

Photograph: Organizers of the parliamentary elections at the Ķegums open-air stage. 1940. Collection of the Ogre History and Art Museum.

Dārta Madara Cielava studies at a Master’s program in painting. Although the artist is a painter by education, other media and materials also play a significant role in her practice. Each technical solution is chosen deliberately, as painting becomes a language that freely transcends the boundaries of a single medium.

The author of the exhibition reflects: “I am a student; I have school, work, and home. And at home, I also work, paint, write, and send endless rows of emails. Routine arises from comfort and the connection of small problems and joys. I am affected by expensive heating in a rental house; I am affected by stupid, ill-considered expressions uttered by people whose staged plays we are all subjected to. My bed is my safety; it is like the starting point of a coordinate plane. I am not untouchable; I am in a cage of my own building. Stepping out of it, a new act begins.”

In her works, Dārta Madara Cielava perceives everyday objects as signs that form a personal visual language. Compositions are formed intuitively, seeking connections between the visible and the experienced, between the physical environment and its emotional resonance. The artist does not try to provide unambiguous answers but rather draws attention to questions and experiences that characterize the daily life of a modern person. In the paintings, impasto brushstrokes, bright colors, and unpainted areas of linen canvas intermingle. This contrast creates a balance between presence and absence, allowing meaning to form not only in what is depicted but also in what remains unsaid.

Dārta Madara Cielava became the laureate of the 2025 competition exhibition “Artists of Ogre Municipality” with the work “Grandpa Doesn’t Know My Name,” which depicted a personal story of the artist. The jury commission consisted of Māris Grosbahs, curator of exhibitions at the Ogre History and Art Museum, photographer Georgs Avetisjans, art historian Māra Lāss, graphic artist and art historian Valdis Villerušs, and scenographer and multimedia artist Ineta Sipunova. The winner of the competition’s main prize received the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition in 2026 in the museum’s Great Hall. Through the work “Grandpa Doesn’t Know My Name,” the author touches upon a relevant and new theme in Latvian painting—dementia. It is important for the Ogre History and Art Museum to support young artists from the region, promote their professional growth, and enhance the visibility of their work in the broader cultural space.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from July 3 to September 27.

Exhibition artist: Dārta Madara Cielava

Project manager: Elīna Cērpa

Creative process mentor: Madara Kvēpa

Graphic design: Kristīne Martinova

Photo: Oksana Okmi Mizgajeva

The Ogre History and Art Museum offers guided tours led by museum specialists at two locations: Brīvības Street 36 and Brīvības Street 2. At Brīvības Street 36, visitors can explore current history and art exhibitions with a guide. Tours are currently available for the exhibitions “Ogre’s Dawn” and “Boy, Listen!”. At Brīvības Street 2, the museum offers guided tours of the permanent exhibition “The Road to Freedom”, as well as the exhibition “Us or Them”, located on the third floor of the museum (recommended for visitors aged ten and above).

THE MUSEUM OFFERS THEMED TOURS

Tour of the permanent exhibition “Stop Ogre”

The origins of the once-popular Ogre resort date back to 1861, when the Riga–Dinaburg railway line was opened. In the 1930s, 30. following the devastation of the First World War, the resort experienced a period of rapid development. Buildings designed by renowned architects – including Vladimirs Šervinskis, Dāvids Zariņš, and Teodors Hermanovskis – were constructed, and a vibrant cultural life emerged. The town and its surroundings attracted visitors with picturesque landscapes and a health-promoting environment.

BOOKING

Tours can be booked by calling +371 65022251 or by visiting the Ogre History and Art Museum at Brīvības Street 36, Ogre.

Tour of the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Individual visitors or groups of up to 30 people:
– €15 (Latvian-language tour)*
+ €0.50 entrance ticket per person
– €20 (English-language tour)*
+ €0.50 entrance ticket per person
– Free of charge for Ogre Municipality school groups

Activities provide an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of an exhibition or display theme, to explore its content through a variety of approaches, examine objects closely, and discover something new through hands-on engagement. The museum offers permanent activities and creative workshops available throughout the year, as well as seasonal and temporary museum education programmes developed specifically for individual exhibitions.

The Ogre History and Art Museum team is currently developing a new museum education programme, which will launch in January 2026.

OGRE'S HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE

The Cardboard House Folding Workshop, Ogre – a city of historic summer houses – offers an engaging and educational experience that aligns with cultural and educational goals while fostering creativity, collaboration, and sustainable thinking.

Target audience: Grades 3–12

The creative workshop offers insight into the museum’s exhibition section dedicated to the city’s historic summer houses, their architecture and distinctive features, as well as Ogre’s significance as a resort town in pre-war Latvia. Ogre’s buildings are associated with prominent Latvian architects, including Art Nouveau master Konstantīns Pēkšēns, the notable representative of functionalism Teodors Hermanovskis, and Vladimirs Šervinskis, the author of many summer houses in Ogre.
Participants are invited to embark on an engaging and creative journey by taking part in the cardboard house-making workshop “Ogre’s Historic Architecture”. The workshop introduces the art of cardboard house folding while familiarising participants with Ogre’s historic architecture, offering a creative and educational experience suitable for both children and adults.

Programme available year-round

Workshop duration: 1.5 hours

Participation fee: €1.50 per person

STATION O G R E

Target audience: Grades 5–9

The museum’s permanent exhibition presents the story of the city of Ogre across many centuries through visual and interactive means, using digital technologies such as projections, sound showers, interactive maps, and video and audio materials.

Accompanied by a museum educator, students become acquainted with the history of their city through the exhibition, learning about its earliest inhabitants and the settlement on Ķente Hillfort.

An interactive LED map helps students better understand Ogre’s former territorial divisions, while sound showers featuring clashing swords or volleys of gunfire immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages or the First World War.

During the activity, students also learn about the stories of visitors to Ogre’s renowned air and bathing resort, as well as the successes and challenges of the notable Soviet-era enterprise, the Ogre Knitwear Factory.

Following an introduction led by the museum educator, students work in teams to view, research, and explore historical exhibits, placing them within the appropriate historical periods of the exhibition. The activity also includes creative worksheet-based modelling tasks that engage all participants.

Benefits of the activity: participants gain knowledge of Ogre’s history, develop teamwork skills, and learn to respect and listen to different viewpoints, thereby strengthening collaboration and team spirit. At the end of the activity, results are reviewed, and the winning team receives museum souvenirs.

Programme available throughout the academic year.

Participation fee: €1.50 per person

WAX CANDLE MAKING

Target audience: all interested parties

This museum education activity is designed for students and adults. Wax candle making is a traditional craft and an important part of our cultural heritage. During the activity, participants gain hands-on experience in the ancient craft of candle making, learn about the history of wax extraction and its uses, explore methods of lighting living spaces before the introduction of candles, and become acquainted with ancient Latvian festive days and traditional candle-casting techniques. The programme is enriched with insights into ancient Latvian beliefs. Through practical engagement with this traditional craft, each participant creates their own wax candle during the activity.

Programme available year-round

Workshop duration: 1 hour

Participation fee: €1.50 per person

The Making of a Tree

Embark on a creative and educational journey to discover natural geoprocesses and the unique natural and cultural environment of the Ogre region. Experience how the environment has changed over time – and how you, too, change along with it.

* In the workshop “The Creation of My Tree”, participants draw their own tree using the neurographic technique – a creative drawing method that combines art and psychology. Through free lines and shapes, the process helps express feelings and emotions, encourages reflective thinking, and reduces stress. The workshop is led by a certified neurography specialist.
* The tree, as a symbol, reveals the unity of nature and humanity – a process of continuous formation and transformation. Through the exploration of natural processes and personal experience, the growth of a tree is compared to a person’s path of self-development.
Content by age group:

• Grades 1–5 (45 min.): Who I am and who I want to become; the name of my tree; power words for the tree.

• Grades 5–9 (60 min.): Life stages of a tree and a human; environment and cooperation; power words (Me – Me/Community – Us).

• Grade 9 and adults (90 min.): Life timeline; growth and future planning; the meaning of one’s “My Tree” in society; a short one-to-one reflection.

The museum provides materials for the workshop.
Participation fee: €1.50 per person

Registration:
📧ogresmuzejs@ogresnovads.lv |☎️+371 65024345
📧liena.subatina@ogresnovads.lv |☎️+371 20217889
📍Brīvības iela 36, Ogre

The Hat Queen and Her Batiks

Have you ever wondered how a felt hat is made, or how fabric transforms into a colorful batik artwork? We invite you to a creative and educational workshop where you will discover the world of artist Ārija Skudra, the secrets of hat-making, and batik techniques. The session will spark imagination and creativity while introducing traditional craft methods through hands-on experience.

In the creative part of the workshop, participants can choose one of the practical activities in advance: a hot wax batik workshop or a wet felting workshop.

Both are included in the cultural education program “Latvian School Bag”:

• Museum educational session “Ārija Skudra’s work at the Riga Felt Factory and her contribution to Latvian fashion design”
• Museum educational session “Exploring the batik art of the artist Ārija Skudra”

The workshops are designed for students (grades 2–4, 5–12) and adult groups.

Younger participants will listen to a story about “The Hat Queen and Her Batiks.” During the session, they will explore colorful artworks and felt hats, and through discussion, learn to recognize different uses of color, patterns, and forms in the works of Ārija Skudra. Afterwards, they can choose one of the following activities:

• Tied, folded, or stencil batik workshop – children will create their own batik scarf and learn interesting facts about how dyes were traditionally made and which fabrics are suitable for batik.

• Wet felting workshop – children will explore different types of animal wool (sheep, goat, rabbit, etc.) through touch and try to guess which animal it comes from.

Participation fee: €1.50 per person

Duration: 1,5 hours

• The history of the city of Ogre, presented in thematic sections, including public organisations, culture, the railway, churches, and more.
• The cultural history and archaeological monuments of the parishes of the Ogre region (former Ogre District).
• The history of historic buildings in Ogre.
• Regional personalities – artists and public figures.
• Latvian history, archaeology, and ethnography.

The reading room also offers access to periodicals, including Padomju Ceļš, Ogres Vēstis, Ogres Vēstis Visiem, Ogrēnietis, Kultūras Ziņas, Kaleidosokops, Atpūta, Brīvā Zeme, etc.

The museum reading room is open to visitors during museum opening hours. Please book your visit in advance!

Museum specialists provide consultations during museum working hours on weekdays. Access to the reading room and specialist consultations are free of charge.

The exhibition “Boy, Listen!” is a personal visual story by photographer Dace Voitkeviča, featuring interactive elements that explore a child’s life with autism spectrum disorder. Challenges related to the autism spectrum are often invisible, yet greater societal understanding can significantly promote support for diverse needs.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 On June 7, Ogre celebrates Family Day with a special programme. The museum believes it is important to engage the community in this conversation and to promote family values, with particular attention to children with special needs and their families.

The environment of the Ogre History and Art Museum is accessible and suitable for visitors with functional disabilities.

🗣️ The author of the exhibition notes: “Sometimes support doesn’t require much – just an understanding of the challenges that people with autism face every day.”

✅ The exhibition will be open to visitors from June 7 until September 28. Admission is free on the opening day.

🔎 More information: https://www.ogresmuzejs.lv/apmekle/izstades/lapa/