[ad_1]
A few months ago, it was clear to many Vilnius residents that there would be no Kaziukas fair this year. It is true that the municipality feels comforted that the fair, which was to take place next weekend, is only changing the clothes that it is transferring to the internet.
I will not chat with anyone
Hardly anyone is convinced that such a dead exchange will replace a fun chat with a craftsman, a lesson from a folk artist, or a negotiation with a merchant because it is simply necessary to negotiate through Kaziukas.
During previous Kaziukas fairs, many merchants would probably have responded that this event is the main achievement of their year. But realizing that the fair was not worth the wait, the artists, folk artists, and artisans reoriented themselves. Some were quick to find customers in various ways, others began selling products online.
Communicated for three days
Although we were used to seeing the folk artist Jonas Bugailiškis at all the Kaziukas fairs, the teacher recalled that there were periods when he did not participate in this event.
J.Bugailiškis presented his works in Soviet times, when the Kaziukas Fair was held in the Kalvarijai market, along with horses and goats for sale.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Not because you earn a lot. It’s those traditions,” said J. Bugailiškis. That is why he is saddened that there is no live Kaziukas fair this year.
Recalling previous fairs, J. Bugailiškis mentioned that bad weather used to happen through Kaziukas, so he was not very interested in selling musical instruments or wooden sculptures. Therefore, he only brought smaller items: children’s toys, nests.
“Guests came, I brought Kaziukinė, and there was communication for three days,” said the old man from the fair.
Mardi Gras masks will work too
The son of folk artist Domantas, who produces musical instruments and nests, went into online shopping, and the father promises to remember Kaziukas next weekend in the courtyard of the 17th house on Aušros Vartų street, where they are found. his workshop and museum.
“We will organize an exhibition of various products, of course, if the snow melts. And right now an exhibition of musical instruments is taking place in the museum,” said J. Bugailiškis about his plans.
He promised to signal, meet all security requirements, let in a visitor who won’t have to, hand over the mask. The popular entertainer comedian said Mardi Gras masks would also be suitable for protection: “I have birch and leather masks of all kinds.”
The demand stayed the same
Dainius Strazdas, a representative of the Vilnius pottery workshop, mentioned that he would have missed this Kaziukas fair anyway, because it has many other works.
When asked if he would attend a virtual fair, the potter said he pays little attention to online trading right now: “Unless I’m on social media sometimes, but I use it more often to advertise than to sell.” .
D.Strazdas would use an electronic store, but it creates unique ceramic products and capacity is limited. Therefore, many of them could not offer: “If orders are burned, other things, trade is frozen.”
The artist does not know if it is a coincidence or not, but during the quarantine period the number of orders is approximately the same as before.
“People do not sit idly by, they take care of their needs, they need beauty as before, that’s why they order. I would not say that the virus has paralyzed anyone ”, explained the potter.
I admired the auction idea
For the sculptor Mykolas Tursa, it took 2 months to prepare for the Kaziukas fair: January and February. He admitted that those winter months were very pleasant to create and look forward to the event.
However, after Kaziukas’ life returned to the usual rhythm: “I am not the so-called righteous man, I did not go to other Kaziukas fairs in Kaunas or Klaipėda. For me, the fair was only in Vilnius. “
M. Tursa also does not intend to transfer Internet commerce to the Internet, especially since Kaziukas was not even going to this fair, because he knew it would not be like that.
However, M. Tursa recently used the Internet to auction off his sacred sculptures, ceiling pillars, and chapel pillars.
“I liked the auction, I just wanted more information about it, because the first one was mostly local, familiar,” said the artist.
It is true that some of the works had to be sold almost at cost because the bidders did not bid large sums. But Tursa does not refuse to hold an auction at least once a year.
Won’t move to April
There will be no Kaziukas fair next weekend, but the municipality has promised that it will be held online throughout the year.
The origins of the Kaziukas Fair date back to the 17th century.
It is believed that the centuries-old annual event did not take place only during World War II.
“It is obvious that the Kaziukas fair scheduled for March in Vilnius will definitely not take place.
In January, we plan to postpone the event to April, but seeing the situation and thinking first about the safety of the people, we decided not to organize a fair in the Old Town this year.
Regardless of the easing of quarantine restrictions in April and May, it is virtually impossible to safely hold a party that attracts hundreds of thousands of people, ”said Deputy Mayor Edita Tamošiūnaitė.
The municipality, together with the organizers of the Kaziukas fair, invited everyone to visit the virtual fair of Lithuanian artisans and creators from March 4 in Craftson.lt.
“Probably, for many participants of the traditional Kaziukas fair, who create traditional artisan products, it is a great challenge to create and manage their own electronic store, and for the visitor – to discover these talents.
I believe that this platform will help to combine creativity and craftsmanship, tradition and modern opportunities and, most importantly, to safely acquire something original, beautiful and exclusive, ”said Renaldas Gražys, one of the initiators of this project.
Can’t connect
On Thursday, St. Casimir’s Day, the electronic store created for trade show merchants did not work. Lrytas.lt Readers have reported that they cannot be reached at Craftson.lt, than to enter the keywords “Vilnius Kaziukas Fair 2021” into the search engine.
The site is not believed to have increased its traffic and has been hacked. Because on Thursday night, although not immediately, the most persistent managed to join the site.
However, some Lrytas.lt sources say someone likely tried setting up that site, but to no avail.
