PROFESSIONAL, HIGH-MINDED, STRICT 5
In brief: The theatre critic, culture journalist, editor, translator, teacher and public activist Vida Savičiūnaitė died a year ago (she was born in Virsnis village, Anykščiai district on January 15, 1956 and died on November 17, 2011 in Kaunas, was buried in Viešintai Old Cemetery in the family grave). The theatre critic Daiva Šabasevičienė wrote in the obituary: “Vida lived in Kaunas. This city has awarded her, but Vida herself was a much bigger award to the city: the development of Kaunas theatre and culture in general may hardly be imagined without her during the latter several decades. As long as Vida wrote, one could be sure that the main events would be reviewed in time and professionally. Vida was loyal to attitudes of her school and her personal opinion about theatre. This loyalty made her ruthless in her articles.”
St.Mass will be said for the late Vida Savičiūnaitė at Kaunas St. Cross (Carmelite) Church on November 17 (Saturday) at 6 pm.
Memories of several people of culture who knew the late editor-in-chief of www.kamane.lt well are published in the article.
Presentation of www.kamane.lt at Kaunas Artists’ House on October 3, 2005. The composer Giedrius Kuprevičius, theatre critic Vida Savičiūnaitė and actor Viktoras Valašinas are treated by the “beekeeper” Antanas Kneziauskas. Photo of Zenonas Baltrušis
Viktoras Valašinas
Actor and director, director of Kaunas Artists’ House
I remember the times when the theatre critic Vida Savičiūnaitė worked as the head of the literature part of Kaunas State Drama Theatre, participated in the creative life of the troupe actively, wrote much and expressed her professional opinion boldly. Her reviews about performances were sharp, sometimes painful, but Vida wrote the essence, looked at things strictly, responsibly and deeply.
(...) When I started heading Kaunas Artists’ House and decided to create a website of culture, I announced about the search for the editor-in-chief. I called Vida and asked to recommend a person suitable for this work after long searches. Her answer was short: “Ok, I will think about it, I write and edit texts at Lietuvos Rytas at the moment.” I did not dare to invite her but when I heard the doubt in her voice, I did not let Vida go. Thus, I may be called the father of the website and Vida Savičiūnaitė – the mother. She created the title, structure, searched for the designer and people who created the control system of the website. She worked vigorously, demandingly and with knowledge.
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“This is how we suffer longing for cold,” Vida Savičiūnaitė wrote from Spain. Photo from the personal archive of Danutė Kluonienė
Danutė Kluonienė
Stylist of www.kamane.lt
I do not dare to delete Vida’s emails from my inbox. It seems that the energy and the trace of the live person will vanish then and that I will have to conciliate with the unavoidable.
Kamanė was Vida’s child, her passion, she was all in it, with passion typical of her. She found everything in this activity – the possibility to disseminate news of culture, to teach young people criticism, diligence and dignity. She rejoiced when she found a sparkle of creativity in young people.
(…) I do not imagine how much power and courage one should have on the last road. I know one thing – Vida had much of these character features. Even when it seemed that her last powers ran low, no bitterness or fear could be felt in her voice, only some irony.
(…) Thank you, Vida, for the words: “Dear Danute, frost and rime like festivals and positions are temporary. Growth and creativity is eternal. Let us preserve the joy of growth, duty, freedom and dignity!”
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Fifth anniversary of www.kamane.lt. Director of Kaunas Artists’ House Viktoras Valašinas and editor-in-chief of the website Vida Savičiūnaitė. Photo by Aušra Blinstrubaitė-Vasiliauskienė
Aušra Blinstrubaitė-Vasiliauskienė
English language translator of www.kamane.lt
I think of the late Vida Savičiūnaitė daily. It would be hard to forget her – we continue work started by her with the art news website Kamane.lt. I remember her bubbling energy and eagerness to do everything the best, to disseminate cultural information to a wide circle of readers in Lithuania and abroad, to be honest with herself and readers, never to touch bottom, even in the hardest situations. She remained very strong till the very moment of her life. It seem that Vida had ideas and wish to implement them for at least two lives. Still… It is hard to realise and conciliate that Vida is no longer with us. We were left only the big and important work done by this exceptional, diligent and creative person.
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Vida Savičiūnaitė
Giedrė Širvytė-Saladžiuvienė
Poetess and teacher
Vida was Alive. She was such a lively person that the word "was" is not suitable when speaking about her. It seems that she still is somewhere. Even now that I write I still do not believe she is dead.
(…) Vida’s mind was sharp as a blade. You could speak about everything with her: life, art, books. It is too little to say that she was clever and educated. I think she reached the level of wisdom when all thoughts, statements, evaluations and generalisations were discerning and with empathy.
Vida was like a bowl overfilled with the joy of life. (…) Still, despite her strength and optimism, I think she did not always feel understood. Loneliness that lurks in wait for every more sensitive person did not bypass Vida.
(…) I do not know whether somebody understands Vida there, where she left a year ago, but she remained as an example of humanity, wisdom and sacrifice to culture here.
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Editor-in-chief of www.kamane.lt Vida Savičiūnaitė. Photo by Vidmantas Balkūnas
Rasa Žukienė
Art critic
I did not know her personally for a long time but I knew that Vida Savičiūnaitė was a very important person, an authority in Kaunas art world. (…) We first met in the editors’ office of Lietuvos Rytas. The daily used to publish art critics’ texts in an interesting cultural annex. Vida edited those texts.
(…) Vida was a real art critic. She used to write about theatre, fine arts, architecture equally well. She did not fear to be direct and the ones who were displeased with her words. She was ready to fight for real art, she knew for sure how real art and fake looked like. Vida longed for good art, high-minded evaluations and clear statements. She worked with all her heart, loved and taught younger colleagues, did not consider them as rivals, she always shared advice. The mission of an art critic and principles of the profession were important to her.
(…) The picture of Vida is very clear in the memory. Her place remained vacant. There is no other hard worker (journalist and art critic) in the field of culture. What Vida feared the most happened now – there are few people who live in culture and with culture in the camps of artists and evaluators. The majority simply live merrily. In province. They do not write reviews all the night. It is a pity – this province tries to settle in us, and there is nobody to warn about this danger.