Season 5 Overview

Season 5 started with a visit from a Boulder, CO, couple but it ramped fast and ended with a historic visit by students and professors from Tromso's University of Norway Barents Institute as they traveled across Canada and Alaska studying diaspora cultures. 50 came on Sept. 14 representing 11 countries. That highlighted Season 5 for me along with the interest and commitment expressed and acted upon by some younger visitors from the Anchorage area. One of them, Emma, is my Cultural Intern, and her involvement with the LTFAI (Lithuanian Fine Arts Institute) of Toronto lead to a slide presentation to its members preceded by a presentation to the Prospector’s Club of Anchorage preceded by being featured in Visit Anchorage Local Conversations preceded by being featured on Lithuanian TV (LRT) in Augustinas Semelis filmed interview. He is a journalist stationed in Washington, DC, a true professional. This lead to other interviews by Lithuanian media and to being asked to write a personal essay for Lituanus which will be published this Spring 2026: "The Ontology of Lithuania in Alaska: A Personal Perspective: How the Little Lithuanian Museum Came to Be"

Also scheduled is production of a database of the Library holdings of the LLM&L&AG in collaboration with the LTFAI and a Library Science Graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania.

There was also a radio interview with Janis Chakars of Germantown Radio PA and a visit from a Daughters of the American Revolution group from Anchorage and Palmer, AK, who expressed admiration for Lithuania's culture and history and ate some Pink Soup (Saltibarsciai) and liked it.

In between all of these development, there were many wonderful visits by guests some bringing gifts from Lithuania. The Art Gallery's new acquisitions are two original paintings, another national dancing costume, and a large framed hand woven Lithuanian National Anthem acquired by Anchorage colleague Carole Anderson. I am ever so grateful for all these happenings and new friendships and continuing friendships.

Season 6—look for a free standing Book Closet to house the overflow of books. There can never be enough books.