Marija Remiene

Awards ... Cultural Contributions ‘98

Winners and honorary guests of the evening. From left: Mrs. Narusis, LAC Inc. Pres.; Dalia Puskorius, Lith. Foundation rep.; Marija Remiene, Cultural Council Chair.; Dr. Raimundas Silkaitis, Cleveland LAC co-Chair.; Stasys Sakalauskas, Ambassador to Lithuania; Maryte Newsom, L.A. Saturday School director; Manigirdas Motekaitis, pianist; Dr. Darius Degesys; Ingrida Bubliene, Lithuania’s Honorary Consul; Antanas Dundzila, journalist; and Rita Klioriene, music director.

The Culture Council of the Lithuanian American Community presented awards for outstanding cultural contributions in five different fields: art, music, journalism, radio broadcasting, and education. A committee of experts who evaluated and voted for each nominee represented each field.

The winners were announced and their awards presented at a ceremony held in Cleveland on November 28, 1998. The Culture Council president, Marija Remiene, gave the presentation speech.

Outstanding artist award was given to Eleonora Marciulioniene of Chicago. Her distinctive ceramic sculptures have been appreciated by many over the years. She began her artistic career in Lithuania between the wars. At the World’s Fair in Paris in 1937, she received an honors diploma for her work. During her many years in Chicago, she continued to create a uniquely Lithuanian ceramic art form. Due to age and failing health, she was unable to come to Cleveland, and received her award in Chicago.

Outstanding musician award was given to pianist Manigirdas Motekaitis of Chicago. Born in Kaunas, Lithuania, he began taking music lessons in Germany with composer Vladas Jakubenas. In Chicago, he continued his study of music. At De Paul University, he was chosen to be the piano soloist with the University symphony orchestra. His musical career actually began at the age of seven, and he has appeared as concert pianist and accompanist before both Lithuanian and American audiences.

Outstanding journalist was duly merited by Antanas Dundzila. Although an engineer by profession, he has also made use of his journalistic talent as editor and contributor to many and varied Lithuanian periodicals. He is also a talented writer of short stories and has won awards for his work. He has also contributed articles to the Lithuanian Encyclopedia published in Boston, a standard Lithuanian reference work.

Outstanding radio broadcast award went to the "Margutis" radio program broadcast from Chicago. This is the oldest daily Lithuanian radio program, begun by Antanas Vanagaitis on April 11, 1932. Vanagaitis started it for Lithuanians living in the Chicago area and it has continued regularly until the present, even though its founder has passed away.

"Margutis" has been especially creative in its presentation of news items from Lithuania and the U.S., and also known for its cultural and entertainment value. Under various directors, the program has flourished and continues to the most-liked and listened to broadcast by Lithuanians in the Chicago area.

Outstanding education award was given to the St. Casimir Lithuanian Saturday School operating in Los Angeles with Maryte Newsom as its able principal. This school has been in operation for fifty years. Under the management of Maryte Newsom, who is herself an outstanding educator, the school is not only known for creative teaching and helping its students assimilate their dual culture, but is also noted for good parent-teacher relations.

We can truly express our gratitude to God, the Creator, for gifting these talented members of our Lithuanian nation as they shine like points of light in a dark sky. Our Lithuanian diaspora has been able to survive and to continue as a creative and productive community because of its fund of talent. We can give our best to the newly emerging independent Lithuania of the new millennium by offering her the cultural achievements of her children overseas. America has been good to us by allowing us to preserve and continue to create our distinctive Lithuanian culture.

The cultural life of our Lithuanian diaspora encompasses almost all forms of cultural expression. In previous years, the Culture Council of the Lithuanian American Community has presented these awards fifteen times. The awards are financed by the Lithuanian Fund, based in Chicago. Understandably, this is simply a way of encouraging creative endeavor and of acknowledging the value of what has been achieved. These things will remain as a lasting bequest to future generations.

The Lithuanian American Community is very proud of our current award winners, and through this token of appreciation, we commend the efforts of all who are doing something to preserve our Lithuanian cultural heritage. We hope that this, our humble recognition of their achievements, will give others the courage to explore new frontiers of cultural expression.

Our hope is that the Lithuanian word and all the varied artistic expressions of the Lithuanian spirit grounded in our love for the land of our fathers will continue to burn brightly as the source of these recipients’ work and of all our concerted efforts this side of the Atlantic.

Photo from Marija Remiene