 |
This page is dedicated to the blacksmith art of Samogitia. We want to present you works of one of the best Lithuanian blacksmiths Algirdas Stankus and his apprentices. In this site you can view their works: forged furniture, lamps, fences, banisters, sculptures, Damascus knifes and other hand made forged items.
Life and works of Algirdas Stankus
I was born in spring of 1948 in Vieksniai town. The father of mine was blacksmith Dominykas Stankus, he was my first teacher. I finished the secondary school in Kaunas, after that I learnt order and discipline in the navy forces and studied art in Telsiai school of applied art.
In Vilnius I started to work as a restorer so it was unique a opportunity to study secrets of old blacksmith art. Professor Güntr Laufer from Eisenach and architect- blacksmith Achim Kühn from Berlin encouraged me to study new trends and ideas. Alfred Haberman introduced me the traditions of Bohemian art and blacksmith trade. Archaeologists Jonas Stankus, Marija Gimbutiene (from Lithuania) and Antein (from Latvia) helped me to learn the ancient ways of Baltic metal work.
My first Damascus steel works were demonstrated in the exhibition of decorative art in Vilnius 1987 year. In year 1988 I was accepted to the artist union. In the same year I was also accepted to the Estonian blacksmiths' association as an ordinary and a honorary member.
My first series of lectures called "Traditions and Perspectives of Blacksmith Art in Baltic Sea region" were read in Finish Institute of Applied Arts and Design (in Miunemaki town). Later the same lecture was read in Stockholm Academy of Art. In 1991 year I became the honorary member of Finish Blacksmith Union.
Just before Lithuanian independence I decided to come back to native land and to teach blacksmith art myself.
I am a teacher of blacksmith craft to my two sons: Martynas and Mindaugas from their childhood. We are already six years seriously working together. My sons were participating in exhibitions in Vilnius, Klaipeda, Telsiai and Mazeikiai towns and in various events related with blacksmith trade and traditional crafts. From year 1992 I share the secrets of blacksmiths' to Virgilijus Mikuckis. He was participating in exhibitions in Mazeikiai, Klaipeda, Vilnius and Worldwide Congress of Blacksmiths' in Finland. His works are demonstrated in Miunemaki Institute of Applied Arts and Presidential Palace of Lithuania.
I was taking part in number of international exhibitions in Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Russia and Finland. Also I am constantly taking part in various Lithuanian exhibitions and other events related with blacksmith art. If you visit Lithuania you may see my works in the Church of St. John, Presidential Palace, priests seminaries of Kaunas and Birstonas and also Lithuanian embassy in Moscow. I have made a great number of cemetery memorials and crosses in Lithuania.
Algirdas Stankus
|
|
|
