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| C A M E O S |
by Auste Vygantas
We live in a progressive society. In our search for a better tomorrow, often we tend to ignore
the past, to ignore our heritage and traditions, and join the mechanical march to the future. Often we forget that there is beauty in diversity, and that by delving into our heritage, new thoughts and ideas are possible, which help to enrich cultural experiences.
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| Marianne Loftu's monoprint with
double-helixed chromosomes among fruit patterns. Photo: Auste Vygantas |
One person, Marianne Jonaitis Loftus, a long time resident of Chicago's North Shore, has raised her family, and participated in professional and volunteer work, all with a conscious awareness of her Lithuanian heritage.
Marianne's father came to the United States from Vilkaviskis, Lithuania. Her childhood was spent in Chicago's Brighton Park area where her father was a pharmacist and a poet; a collection of his poems Sielos Broliai was published in 1967. Marianne attended Immaculate Conception Grammar School, and the family developed close ties with the Lithuanian Sisters of St. Casimir. Often, an admired aunt, a Dominican sister, and an uncle, a priest, would visit; Marianne, as a child, decided Lithuanians were intelligent, attractive people.
Marianne continued her education at Visitation High School and the College of St. Francis, where, on a scholarship, she obtained a degree in chemistry. For a while, she worked as an analytical chemist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Then she worked as a chemistry and biology teacher at Longwood Academy. Marriage to Bill Loftus and raising six children followed.
Throughout her school years, teachers observed and commented on Marianne's artistic talents. While in high school, she took human figure drawing class at the Art Institute, and other art classes in college.
After raising her family, Marianne made a conscious decision to follow her artistic inclinationsand pursue them to her potential. She was fortunate to have received
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| Marianne Loftus stands between two of her monoprints at the Nomad Central Gallery in Chicago. Photo: Auste Vygantas |
a Smith Scholarship from the Art Institute of Chicago to attend Oxbow in Sagatuck, Michigan for three consecutive summers. There, she gained experience in various media. Marianne found special enjoyment in mixed media incorporating etchings and other printmaking techniques with watercolors.
It was in this media technique that Marianne "pushed the envelope of creativity" and produced her five famous monoprints. In these works, she delved into her Lithuanian heritage and combined it with personal experience. Dancing double-helixed chromosomes of yellow, green and red frolic among the quiet monochromatic pastel fruit patterns. Each painting has a musical title.
The special significance of these paintings is that there is an identity being revealed. The tri-colored chromosomes express her Lithuanian heritage, interacting intimately with family and surroundings. The movement of the chromosomes expresses her love of jazz. The Lithuanian heritage, not forgotten but expressed, adds a touch of richness to a diverse national culture. Together, national heritage and personal experience provide an immense source of inspiration to an artist attempting to understand the metaphysical self.
These paintings were exhibited at the Nomad Central Gallery in Chicago, and received high praise from viewers and reviewers. We congratulate Marianne on her achievements, and consider her an inspiration to our endeavors.
Revised: October 29, 2002
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