Latvia

Event Schedule:

March 21st

10:00 – 17:00 Woodcarving show
10:00 – 17:00 Vintage woodcraft tools show
18:00 – 19:00 Review and presentation of WWD 2014 in China
19:30 – 24:00 Night of Scientists and discussions

March 22

10:00 – 17:00 Woodcarving show
10:00 – 17:00 Vintage woodcraft tools show 
10:00 – 12:00 Wooden children playground ideas generated by Riga Technical University students
16:00 – 17:00 Lectures and discussions on dugout canoe making process

March 23

10:00 – 18:00 Vintage woodcraft tools show

March 24

10:00 – 18:00 Vintage woodcraft tools show
10:00 – 14:00 Wooden birdcages making and placing in the Vienkoči Park forest with Ligatne kindergarten children

March 25

10:00 – 12:30 Vintage woodcraft tools show
13:00 – 15:00 Tree planting in Vienkoči Park

Participants:

Latvian woodcarvers, Riga Technical University scientists, masters from Latvian Chamber of Crafts, students from Riga Technical University.

The Vienkoču Park was opened for public in 2007. Initially a temporary museum/ workshop was arranged in one of the historic barns, brought from Latgale region. Most of the exhibits however waited for more spacious premises. In 2005, Rihards entered the Doctorate in Riga Technical University, he continued to study technologies of solid wood treatment, paying attention to creation of outdoor exhibition in the Vienkoču Park and improvement of Woodcraft Museum's concept. During the period of scientific work,the Park became a field for experiments of solid wood treatment. In 2011,planning of the Museum commenced. In 2012 Rihards defensed his Doctoral Thesis "Cutting Technology of Objects for Outdoor Environment" and obtained his Doctor's degree in engineering sciences. In summer 2013,the current building of Woodcraft Museum was built. In 16th of May 2014,it was opened for public. This is just the first part of the project, being just one third of the whole idea. The museum will continue to be developed as soon as possible.

The Woodcraft Museum has been arranged as a historical workshop. It is situated in the Vienkoči Park and it is possible to learn there how the craftsmen of the past made household items both for landlords and other people. It is possible to learn about nuances of producing the log-ware and other wooden objects from the Stone Age till nowadays. A special attention has been dedicated to the process of producing log-boats. Workshops are organized during thematic events.

More information:

Woodcraft Museum has been arranged as a historic workshop, where most of the tools exhibited are in working order. The exhibition is constantly being enriched and developed. Here it is possible to learn about the development of woodcraft from the Stone Age till nowadays. The basis of the museum's workshop are the working machines, run via transmission axis with aids from the engines and belts. The overall style of arrangement in the workshop corresponds to that of late 19th and early 20th Century.

The idea of Woodcraft Museum was born in summer 1999 when motivated by his father Guntis Vidzickis, Rihards Vidzickis bought historical working machines from farmstead (living barn) "Jaunalēni" in Naukšēni region and brought them to Ligatne. These machines form an important part of current exhibition. Even before that father of Rihards Vidzickis had worked with the wood and studied the history of woodcraft, as well as collected various historic tools. In 1994 Rihards started to study at Riga Secondary School of Crafts, faculty of Woodworking, as suggested by his father. After five years of intense studies, Rihards graduated in 1999, at the same time obtaining three apprentice' s diplomas of woodcarver, wood-sculptor and carpenter, issued by the Latvian Chamber of Crafts, and entered Riga Technical University to continue his studies relating to wood. His main attention while studying are technologies of making log-ware and objects of solid wood. At the same time a place for Woodcraft Museum is being searched. In 2003 Rihards started to create the Vienkoču Park, the main idea being foundation of Woodcraft Museum. From 2003 to 2005 in his Master's Thesis Rihards worked out the concept of the Vienkoču Park and Woodcraft Museum. In 2004 Rihards obtained Master's diploma in treatment of natural wood, issued by Latvian Chamber of Crafts.

The Vienkoču Park was opened for public in 2007. Initially a temporary museum/ workshop was arranged in one of the historic barns, brought from Latgale region. Most of the exhibits however waited for more spacious premises. In 2005, Rihards entered the Doctorate in Riga Technical University, he continued to study technologies of solid wood treatment, paying attention to creation of outdoor exhibition in the Vienkoču Park and improvement of Woodcraft Museum's concept. During period of scientific work, the Park became a field for experiments of solid wood treatment. In 2011, planning of the Museum commence. In 2012, Rihards defensed his Doctoral Thesis "Cutting Technology of Objects for Outdoor Environment" and obtains his Doctor's degree in engineering sciences. In summer 2013, the current building of Woodcraft Museum was built. In 16th of May 2014, it was opened for public. This is just the first part of the project, being just one third of the whole idea. The museum will continue to be developed as soon as possible.