Vargo Mokykla "School of Sorrows" wood carving
Dedicated in 1940, the Lithuanian Room's decorations represent the community's love for their homeland and farming. The wallpaper is made of hand-spun linen in a geometric pattern called the "path of the birds". The wood blackboard frame, door and wall decorations were carved with motifs of greenery native to Lithuania.
The friezes near the ceiling were inscribed with names of famous and important Lithuanians. You may notice the black wood professor's chair at a corner of the room. This chair was made from precious bog oak, which is oak wood that had been submerged into bogs for years to obtain the dark hue. Wood submerged into bogs is not ready to be retrieved for use until several generations later.
The lead window frames were also hand-made to create the sunburst patterns, a reminder of the importance of nature's blessings in an agricultural society.
Near the window is a wood carving of a mother at a spinning wheel with her child. This is known as the School of Sorrows and is a traditional symbol of Lithuanian language and culture preservation during times of oppression. The story tells a mother teaching her child the Lithuanian language and history at home when the Russian invaders forbade that at school.
Finally, the back wall of the classroom is a fresco showing Two Kings who protect the most precious things: community, village life and land. Beyond the dark forest, the bright stars represent hope and light even in dark difficult times.
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The Nationality Rooms are located in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning building. The rooms are gifts to the university from Pittsburgh's ethnic communities. Each room has been designed to represent the culture of the nation represented. The rooms function as university classrooms and are not open all the time for the public to explore particularly during school terms. Visitors are advised to contact the University for opening times and guided tours.
www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/
The very first Nationality Room opened in 1938, and new rooms are still being planned now. There are currently 30 Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning.
Vargo Mokykla "School of Sorrows" wood carving
Dedicated in 1940, the Lithuanian Room's decorations represent the community's love for their homeland and farming. The wallpaper is made of hand-spun linen in a geometric pattern called the "path of the birds". The wood blackboard frame, door and wall decorations were carved with motifs of greenery native to Lithuania.
The friezes near the ceiling were inscribed with names of famous and important Lithuanians. You may notice the black wood professor's chair at a corner of the room. This chair was made from precious bog oak, which is oak wood that had been submerged into bogs for years to obtain the dark hue. Wood submerged into bogs is not ready to be retrieved for use until several generations later.
The lead window frames were also hand-made to create the sunburst patterns, a reminder of the importance of nature's blessings in an agricultural society.
Near the window is a wood carving of a mother at a spinning wheel with her child. This is known as the School of Sorrows and is a traditional symbol of Lithuanian language and culture preservation during times of oppression. The story tells a mother teaching her child the Lithuanian language and history at home when the Russian invaders forbade that at school.
Finally, the back wall of the classroom is a fresco showing Two Kings who protect the most precious things: community, village life and land. Beyond the dark forest, the bright stars represent hope and light even in dark difficult times.
xxxx
The Nationality Rooms are located in the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning building. The rooms are gifts to the university from Pittsburgh's ethnic communities. Each room has been designed to represent the culture of the nation represented. The rooms function as university classrooms and are not open all the time for the public to explore particularly during school terms. Visitors are advised to contact the University for opening times and guided tours.
www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/
The very first Nationality Room opened in 1938, and new rooms are still being planned now. There are currently 30 Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning.