2016

Our friends in Rēzekne are eager to continue the work started by Pigman

With greetings and best regards, at the end of July Pigman (Cūkmens) visited Rēzekne City Festival, where he together with young and old friends of nature took part in Pigman's Wood-Enthusiast Workshops and presented his special gift - a wooden manifesto - to Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, Chairman of Rēzekne City Council. By signing this manifesto, the Mayor of Rēzekne undertook to continue the work started by Pigman -  to praise wood as the best material that is used in living space.

To love and respect wood as the most valuable natural resource in Latvia, to defend wood vigorously and decidedly, and to remember that Pigman will help with his advice in all the matters relating to wood and forests - these are just some of the things undertaken by the Mayor of Rēzekne in his meeting with Pigman.

  Open gallery 

“On behalf of all the citizens of Rēzekne, I can say with confidence that we are very pleased and honoured to be welcoming Pigman here in Rēzekne. We highly value the importance of wood, as evidenced by both - the restoration of the Green Synagogue and the activities of the Wooden Architectural Heritage Centre. Wood is a material that requires special attention and approach, and it must be treated with care. Rēzekne City Council has always been for a clean and tidy environment. Every year, we take part in the Forest Day activities, the Big Clean-up and other environmental clean-up activities; but from now on I undertake to support Pigman even more actively, and continue the work he has started," says Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, Chairman of Rēzekne City Council.

In Pigman's workshop in Rēzekne wood enthusiasts were invited to explore the good qualities of wood - to create a number of new things from wood - dolls, spinning tops, their first business card and many more. Children had the opportunity to play games and watch the animated short film "Wood - a Healthy Material", as well as participate in a special drawing competition "Draw a Wooden Pigman".

Woodcarvers of Latvia's State Forest Nature Park in Tērvete have decided to create a wooden sculpture of Pigman. Children under the age of 10 are invited to take part in the contest "Draw a Wooden Pigman", and create their unique idea of what the wooden sculpture of Pigman should look like. The work of the author of the most creative solution will turn into a real wooden sculpture of Pigman, and he or she will have an opportunity to throw a party with friends in LVM Nature Park in Tērvete together with Pigman himself.

To take part in the contest, children, using an A4 sheet of paper or cardboard and stationery, should draw their idea of what the wooden sculpture of Pigman should look like. Parents should also give a helping hand. If the small artist does not know how to write yet, the following information about the child should be written down on the other side of the drawing: name, surname, age, educational institution and the favourite activity. There should also be details about the parent: name, surname, phone number, home address - and most importantly - a short story about the drawing. The drawings should by sent by 20 August by postal mail to JSC "Latvia's State Forests" at 1 Vaiņodes Street, Riga, LV-1004.

The works will be judged by a knowledgeable jury: Jānis Udrass, Head of the Woodcarving Workshop of the Nature Park in Tērvete, Tomas Kotovičs, Head of Latvia's State Forests Communications Division, Kristaps Ceplis, Board Member of the Society "Zaļās mājas", architect Ervīns Krauklis and financier Ilze Jurkāne. The jury will choose the most creative work which will turn into a real wooden sculpture.

The winner of the competition will be announced on 26 August in the final event of the Pigman's Wood-Enthusiast Tour in Riga, in Lucavsala Recreation Park.

This tour will take Pigman to three more cities in different parts of Latvia: on 13 August to Valmiera, on 20 August to Liepāja, to close his summer tour on 26 August with an event in Riga, in Lucavsala Recreation Park.