Am i Lithuania? Let's reintroduce ourselves.

A Beautiful Sunset That Was Mistaken for a Dawn.   

Let’s say you’ve woken up out of a coma. You stumble out of the hospital. The sun is perched on the horizon. Can you tell whether it’s rising or setting? Contemplating this scenario while gazing sunward at dusk or dawn, we might feel as if we could sense the difference between the two times of day. But in real life, it’s impossible to completely separate our perceptions of the scene from our awareness of the hour. When looking at this picture of the sun on the seaside in Lithuania, how could you tell whether or not it’s rising or setting? There’s no way to tell with certainty - all twilight phenomena are symmetric on opposite sides of midnight, and occur in reverse order between sunset and sunrise. That means there’s no inherent, natural cause of a major optical difference between them. So… it’s a matter of opinion. Better head back to the hospital. 

via viktorijapjedyte

Generation Gap.                                                                     

There are probably as many definitions of a “generation gap” as there are generations, so the idea of a divide - in this case, among Lithuanians - is really nothing new. Everything is affected with the change of time - the age, the culture, mannerism, morality, and thinking. It is a fact that this  difference affects everyone extensively. This difference brings out a wide change in the making of the society and its culture. There has always been a clash between the two generations. No two generations have ever shared the same views and options. A very wise man once described the concept of a generation gap as either “a frustrating lack of communication between young and old, or a useful stretch of time that separates cultures within a society, allowing them to develop their own character.” Imagine having to look up things in World Book Encyclopedia, or better yet… imagine every single 60 year old being able to use Google properly. Blissful irrelevance! Now everything is being controlled by science and technology. We are not guided by fiction but by facts. There was a time when sun and moon were gods. Now they are only objects like the very earth where we live… So, at this point, you might be asking, “What’s the point?” The point is this: Current generation is set to take over, and they are becoming new customers, new dealers, new builders and remodelers, new home buyers and homeowners. Remember that they’re different. They all want new choices and new products. They might even want your job. Are you ready? Or are you hoping for a return to the good old days of meat and potatoes and Top 40 list with a Hiperbole song at No. 1? Here’s just a little something to chew on… Some food for thought – you do the dishes.

via pjolakis

What We’re Reading: Born for Freedom.                         

The author, Lina Zilionyte was born in Alytus Lithuania in 1956. She received a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Vilnius University in 1979 emigrating to Washington D.C. in 1985. In 1991 she obtained a master’s in Linguistics from the University of Maryland. She currently lives in D.C. and works at the Library of Congress. Born for Freedom is a story written from the viewpoint of Lucy, a six-year-old girl, who was born in Lithuania under the Soviet occupation. Through the heroine’s eyes the reader comes to know her native village and what social-political changes took place in the country in the 1960’s, the time when the terror-stricken nation tried to reconcile with its recent postwar past. Lucy faces the first challenges of her childhood when she begins to attend elementary and high school. She is torn between the ideologically saturated school and home where old values and traditions prevail. She learns to cover up her true belief and masters to perfection to live with a double face, the feature she carries over into adult life. Thirst for knowledge and strong will takes her to Vilnius where she studies foreign languages at the university. She remains unshakable to the core regarding her personal convictions and refuses to join the Communist Party. Brought up in the national spirit, she knows what it means to be deprived of freedom as a nation and as a Lithuanian. With her unbending spirit, she is about to climb to the heights of her career as a translator when inevitable happens. During the interview with the chief of the KGB, Lucy has to make a choice: either she becomes a Party member and joins the ranks of the Soviet spies abroad or she quits her favorite job. She chooses the latter. The refrain to be free because I was born to be free is not only the main theme of the novel but also Lucy’s driving force through her life. Her dream to become free comes finally true when she arrives in Chicago. However, her new country and the unknown future take her into another whirlpool of adventures. The best way to enjoy this book is to think of it as an oral tale told by an elderly Lithuanian directly into your ear. Although the author is a gifted storyteller the book would have benefited from a native English-speaking editor; the writing sometimes contains turns of speech like “mother looked at Lucy with scare in her eyes” or “Yes I will” Lucy replied cross-glancing at father.” Still… this juicy story offers valuable insight into life behind the Iron Curtain during the 1960s ’70s and ’80s.

via booktopia

Edita Vilkeviciute Is Bringing the ‘80s Back.         

Funky 80s-inspired outfits get the glamor treatment in the Vogue Germany May 2013 editorial. Channeling the edgy attitude of Madonna’s material girl persona, the fashion is not necessarily a reflection of the soft grayscale photography style used. Nevertheless, it does perpetuate the retro elements of the ensembles. Model Edita Vilkeviciute gives her retro best in looks influenced by the likes of Madonna and Boy George styled by fashion editor Christiane Arp. From fishnet stockings and gold chain belts to jean jackets and animal print pants, the outfits are creatively layered for more impact. Lithuanian scrumptious Edita gets naughty with 80’s style. Dressing up like a pop star with dash of rock chic she’s absolutely stunning! Changing wigs from blonde to brunette, extreme cat eye and semi transparent clothes – she’s selling the looks like never before! Will you dare to dress like this going out? More shots down below.

via designscene

Interior Design of Robert Kalinkin’s Pop-Up Shop.

Here today, gone tomorrow (or next week, or next month)—this is a defining characteristic of the unique creature known as the pop-up shop. And yet, despite their ephemeral nature, these shops offer an amazing marketing and design opportunity, precisely because they last for a short window of time. Pop-up shops are popular because you can think outside the box - you can do something powerful and creative that’s not held down by it having to last for 15 years. Sometimes the space itself says it all, requiring minimal resources to make a statement. Robert Kalinkin, a Lithuanian fashion designer, recently opened a pop-up shop that uses 24km (15 miles) of old cinema film. The film is woven together to create a tapestry of texture over the walls, ceilings and other elements on display—occasionally offering a backlit glimpse of the films’ contents. What a brilliant idea, so weird it’s even genius. All made by hand. More shots of the new store in Vilnius right after the jump below!

via unconsumption