Lizums launches fundraiser to restore its Tautumeita sculpture

Lizums Development Association has launched a fundraiser to restore the Tautumeita sculpture in the centre of Lizums parish, where cracks and other damage have reappeared. The restoration is expected to cost about 2,200 euros, LSM reports.

The sculpture, created by Latvian sculptor Lea Davidova-Medene, is 73 years old and has become one of Lizums’ best-known symbols. Many local residents associate it with childhood memories and daily walks.

It was last restored in 2020 using 3,000 euros donated by residents. Some of the remaining money went towards a flower bed designed to represent a shawl slipping from the sculpture’s shoulders.

During that restoration, sculptor Ivars Drulle repaired large cracks in the skirt and refreshed the paintwork. Lizums parish administration had previously repainted the sculpture white each year, but repeated coats had obscured its facial features, said Elita Dūte, head of the Lizums cultural centre.

The sculpture has undergone several repairs over the years. Vaira Briede, head of the local history museum at Lizums Secondary School, recalled stories of an accident around the time it was unveiled. People say something went wrong and scaffolding was put up, she said, but nobody living today remembers exactly what happened. One account suggests the sculpture’s head may have fallen off and then been repaired.

The association is also developing souvenirs featuring images of Lizums. In collaboration with the Instagram account Lizuma bildes, managed by Inta Dārzniece, it came up with the idea of turning the photos into fridge magnets.