Martynas Mažvydas pedestrian alley

Coordinates: 55.713828 21.130410

Object address: Martynas Mažvydas alley, Klaipėda, Lithuania

Municipality: Klaipėda

In 1968 the first pedestrian avenue in Klaipėda, which was named in behalf of Martynas Mažvydas, was equiped. In such way a sense was given to Martynas Mažvydas – the first Lithuanian book author, priest, educator. M. Mažvydas alley was reconstructed in 2008 summer. Reconstruction revived the only pedestrian artery of the port city, where there are marked some side-streets that crossed the alley until the World War Second. Reconstruction project manager – architect V. Paulionis. After the reconstruction M. Mažvydas alley in Klaipėda has become one of the most popular places in the port city. Alley lit up in new colors: there were laid tiles, woodblocks, flagstones of clinker and granite, alley is illuminated with original illuminators, there is freshen up green plantation, built granite benches, which in the last period were decorated with original sculptural accents.        

In 2008 summer architect V. Paulionis, manager of reconstruction project of M. Mažvydas alley, decorated the first granite bench. It was decorated by bronze apple and wooden tables on which there is much more pleasant to sit.

On 24 July 2008 the first sculptural accent was unveiled – 0.5 m high bronze boy “Klaipėdietis”, leaning on the city‘s coat of arms. The sculpture is created celebrating the 750th anniversary of Klaipėda. Sculptor – Svajūnas Jurkus, architect – Vytautas Paulionis.

In 2013 one more bench was decorated with „Key to the World of Art“. Sculptor – Gintautas Jonkus. The work was ordered by pupils of Eduardas Balsys Gymnasium of Arts.    

On 21 June 2013 M. Mažvydas alley was decorated by original and playful new thing – three granite unprepossessing benches were transformed into composition „Chess“. The work of art not only pleases the eyes of citizens, but also everyone, who only wishes, is provided with opportunity to play a chess game. This composition was granted to citizens by Klaipėda Association of Industrialists (KAI). Author of work – artist Gintautas Jonkus.

On 6 July 2013 in alley there was built a bench – „Sundial“. This is work, created by artists Romualdas and Aras Martinkai. This gift, dedicated to the city, gives meaning to memory of Rimantas Ulevičius, who fifteen years ago tragically died. This artistic accent was granted to the city by Rimantas Ulevičius‘s charity and support fund. The bench, turned into Sundial, became not only an artistic accent of M. Mažvydas alley, but also gained a practical purpose. According to it townspeople will be able to orient in time. Actually, the clock will show us the noon not at the usual time, but at 13:41. For accurate measurement of coordinates the true nature time differs from the contractual time. According to sundial people will be able to learn the true nature time.              

From 11 July 2013 everyone, who wishes, can sit on lovely puppy back. Passersby can scratch the ear of puppy „Marsas“. This artistic accent of alley symbolizes the best friend of man – the dog. This bench was donated to Klaipėda residents and guests by company “Mars Lietuva”. Sculptor – Gintautas Jonkus.     

On 6 September 2013 a bronze girl with a bird sat down on a bench in Mažvydas alley. Sculptor Klaudijus Pūdymas maintains that he wanted to create work, which is breathing warmth: „This sculpture – like a symbol of a relationship between a small child and nature: children‘s hearts still feel a deeper relationship with nature“.      

On 25 October 2013 a boy with the boat folded-out of paper sat down near the girl. Sculpture, created by Klaudijus Pūdymas, was presented to the city and citizens by one shipping company. Bronze boy, holding on his knees a small boat, was christened by Klaipėda citizens in the name of „Svajoklis“ that suggested Lithuanian language teacher Kristina Ambrazaitytė.  

From 5 November 2013 sitting on the bench in Mažvydas alley, you can relax leaning against the cat‘s head. The idea to decorate the bench of alley with stylized cat‘s head came to the artist Gintautas Jonkus.  

On 25 April 2014 one more bench of alley was decorated with sculpture – „Jump“. It was donated by group of friends from Klaipėda to friend from Kaunas Nerijus Lazdauskas, who finally decided to move to Klaipėda. Three stylized fish, settled on a granite bench – the creation of sculptor from Klaipėda Gintautas Jonkus, was one that caught the most fancy of Klaipėda citizens, who decided to surprise Kaunas‘s resident. Friends are pleased just for somewhat contributing to the beautification of the city. They as well presented to N. Lazdauskas a copy of an artistic composition „Jump“.

 

On 23 May 2014 another bench of M. Mažvydas alley was ornamented by work of famous sculptor Klaudijus Pūdymas – two bronze hands tightly holding each other. The bench of reconciliation – family gift for city dwellers. The sculpture „Reconciliation“, by which pedestrian alley of Klaipėda was decorated – gift of Giedrė and Teisutis Matulevičiai for their daughter Rūta which that day celebrated her 17th birthday. Family, which is located and work in city centre, is raising another daughter – twelve-year-old Milda. Palmprints of all family members are depicted in artistic composition. The cat of Matulevičiai is not forgotten as well – on pedestal there is stuffed print of its paw.  

       

On 18 July 2014 M. Mažvydas alley was decorated by one more piece of art – „To the sea“. Young architect from Alytus Laimis Kaziukonis decorated one of the benches of alley with bronze fragment of the ship‘s steering-wheel and anchor carved in stone. The bench, decorated in such way – gift from company „Klaipėdos baldai“ AB to Klaipėda residents and guests. The company granted such gift to the city celebrating its 60th anniversary of activity. The Mayor of Klaipėda V. Grubliauskas hoped that having sat on this bench and used imagination which is natural to Klaipėda citizens, it would be possible not only feel but also see the sea.    

 

On 1 August 2014 the pedestrian artery of seaport – Martynas Mažvydas alley – was graced by a new artistic accent. One bench was decorated by stone water source. This gift on the occasion of Klaipėda birthday was handed to the city by plumbers which themselves were commemorating anniversary. Author of sculpture „Spring“ – artist Gintautas Jonkus. Leonas Makūnas, the General Director of company „Klaipėdos vanduo“ AB that presented to the city the embellished bench told that as symbolic conjunction can be considered the fact that company as well as the city celebrate a birthday almost on the same day.

On May 16th, 2015, yet another statue was placed on one of the benches in the M. Mažvydas Alleyway. Kryžiukai-nuliukai (Lith. Tic-Tac-Toe) is an artistic accent that not only enriches the artistic scene, but also invites passers-by to have some fun. This work of art was a gift from the Klaipėda County Women’s Lions Club Smeltė. It was created by Dominykas Vakrinas, a bachelor of the Telšiai Faculty of the Vilnius Academy of Arts and the student of sculptor Romualdas Inčirauskas. The club commemorated ten years of its operation with this statue. The game Tic-Tac-Toe is meant primarily meant for children to play, but there is absolutely no doubt that adults, who want to remember their childhood, will also have a go at it.

On May 21st, 2015, another original and meaningful artistic composition was placed in the M. Mažvydas Alleyway, next to the Klaipėda Wedding House – a bench and chest, decorated in truss elements, which can also be found on some of the city’s architectural landmarks. The bench’s new accessory is an actual chest, made from hardwood and decorated with metal ornaments. The bench and chest combination was gifted to the seniors of Klaipėda city by the Klaipėda City Shelter and some of its sponsors. Rokas Valaitis is the artist behind the new addition to the alleyway.

On 25 July 2017 M. Mažvydas Alley was decorated with yet another piece of art. Klaipėda citizens can already enjoy the “Lightning Bench”, donated to the city by Klaipėdos Energija company. Director General Antanas Katinas revealed that the material chosen for the artistic composition of the bench symbolises the strength and successful years of activity of Klaipėdos Energija company, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The bench, decorated with a granite composition of a lightning bolt and two figures, was created by the sculptor Gintautas Jonkus.

On 8 September 2017 M. Mažvydas Alley was decorated with one more artistic composition, called “Life Microchip”. The composition, created by the Master of Culture Isroildžon Baroti, was donated to the city by Voltas company, which decided that it would be the best way to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2017. The “Life Microchip” artistic composition is a bronze figure of two people, made of stylised microchip parts and elements, which as if symbolise the complex blood circulation system of the human body, life or a life microchip.  They say that on the sculpture there is a small microchip which brings luck. What you need to do is find it, touch it three times and whisper: “I want to be happy.”

On 14 September 2017 one of the benches of the promenade acquired a special book. The open “Alley Book”, made of coloured granite and stainless steel, was created by the artists Romualdas Martinkus and Aras Martinkus. It tells the story of the first pedestrian alley in Klaipėda, introducing authors and patrons of artistic projects. This piece was donated to the city by Bega Stevedoring Company, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2017.

On 26 March 2018, Klaipėda Region Waste Management Centre, celebrating the company’s 15th anniversary, decorated a bench on Mažvydo Avenue with a sculpture of The Tree of Life. The bronze sculpture, created by the ceramic artist Isroildžon Baroti is a 60 cm stylised evergreen tree.

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