Dainim Rožkalnam – 95

Publicēts: 14.12.2023

Dainim Rožkalnam – 95

He was born on December 14, 1928 in Arakste, Valmiera county - almost at the Estonian border. D. Rožkalns mother's family tree was rooted in Lejasciema, Sinole, Velena, Lizum, Tirza, Galgauska. His mother's parents were teachers in Lejasciema Parish Grabaž School.
In 1933, when the Arakstes parish was liquidated and the father became unemployed, the family moved to the home of the mother's parents - "Meiriem" in Lejasciema parish.
Rožkalns was a master of linocut, woodcarving and ink drawings. Having illustrated more than 60 books, one of his most significant contributions is the illustration of Latvian folk songs in the academic publication "Latviešu tautasdziesmas" in volumes one to nine.
“I am a graphic artist who depicts nature, my experiences only in black and white, discarding everything superfluous. [..] I am not color blind: I see them. I like them or dislike them, excite or repulse them, but the main thing is my inner experience of nature in contrasts and categories of dark - light, black - white, nature's structure and rhythms."
The artist has participated in approximately 300 exhibitions in Latvia and abroad, as well as held more than 50 personal exhibitions.
Created around 200 bookmarks (ex libris).
From 1976 to 2000, Dainis Rožkalns was a teacher at the Latvian Art Academy.

Source: Dzirkstele, Nr.28 (05.03.1988)