Oltenia Day, a joyful celebration in Craiova
Oltenia Day, celebrated annually on March 21, marks the date on which, in 1821, the revolutionary Tudor Vladimirescu entered Bucharest with his Oltenian followers. Since 2017, Oltenia Day has become a celebration by law, and during this period, the authorities and cultural institutions have prepared a lot of interesting surprises for us.
The Oltenia Museum is preparing for us, on March 21, the “Object of the Month”, and is exhibiting, for all visitors, in the original, the proclamation given in March 1821 by Tudor Vladimirescu to the inhabitants of villages and towns, when he took power over the boyars. The exhibition can be seen from March 18-23, at the History-Archaeology Section at Madona Dudu Street, no. 14. Also, at the Oltenia Museum you can see:
- Iancu Jianu's sword – it has the outlaw's name inscribed on the blade, in Cyrillic. It is the sword that left Paşa Osman Pazvantoglu without an eye, who, after this incident, acquired the nickname Pazvante Chioru';
- The silver belt inkwell of the great boyar Nicolae Glogoveanu, Tudor Vladimirescu's protector;
- The portrait of Tudor Vladimirescu, signed by Theodor Aman - an engraving from 1879;
- The box in which Tudor Vladimirescu transported his correspondence during the revolution.
The "Alexandru and Aristia Aman" County Library has a lot of events prepared for March 21:
- Exhibition of books and old periodicals "Oltenia";
- "Oltenia in 60 seconds", where Craiova residents are invited to send short video clips (60 sec.) about landscapes, traditions, representative buildings or personalities from Oltenia;
- "Journey through Oltenia" - interactive educational workshops, reading hours dedicated to students during which they will discover information about Oltenia;
- "Oltenia Detectives" - a cultural treasure hunt, with clues based on the history of Oltenia;
- "Nea Mărin Miliardar" (1979, directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu) - film viewing;
- Piano and cello recital - artistic moment offered by students of the "Marin Sorescu" High School of Arts, coordinated by cello professor Elvis Ciuculescu;
- "Children draw Oltenia" - exhibition of drawings made by students of Dolj schools;
- "Traditions and folk costumes" - painting and drawing exhibition;
- "Grandma's Dowry Chest" - exhibition of folk costumes, in partnership with the Oltenia Museum.
The "Colibri" Children and Youth Theater also has two surprises prepared for March 21st:
- "Prazul, zaibărul și ciușca" - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM – traditional folklore show;
- "Once upon a time... in Oltenia" - hologram exhibition in the foyer of the "Colibri" Theater.
Also, the Dolj County Center for Culture and Art will participate in the Oltenia Days with the section of the Popular Dance Ensemble "Maria Tănase", at the show organized by the Colibri Theater, "Prazul, zaibărul și ciușca".
The Museum of the Romanian Book and Exile is preparing the following events for March 21:
- 18:00: Opening of the photographic art exhibition "Oltenia Eterna Terra Nova" - exhibiting artists from Oltenia (Association of Photographers Dacia Malvensis from Oltenia) - Attic
- 09:00 – 16:30: "Memories from Exile" - Exhibition of personal documents, photographs and books from the collections of the Museum of the Romanian Book and Exile - Paris Hall, ground floor
- 10:00: Reading Club "Famous Women from Oltenia: Elena Farago" - Multimedia Hall
- 09:00 – 16.30: Holographic exhibition "Did you know that...?", about Oltenia personalities: Elena Farago, Alexandru Macedonski, Marin Sorescu and Alexandru Mitru (attic).
The Craiova Art Museum invites you, between March 20 and June 22, to METAREALIA, which includes histories and visual fictions, constituted in an exhibition that can be seen as another facet of the exhibition presented at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in 2017.
The "Oltenia" Philharmonic celebrates Oltenia Day, on March 21, starting at 7:00 PM, through an extraordinary concert "From Kreisler to Dimitrescu in 3,600 seconds". Thus, music lovers will be able to listen to the Symphonic Orchestra of the "Oltenia" Philharmonic, with Florin Ionescu as a conducter, but also as a violin soloist.
Other events will complete this day full of local knowledge and experiences:
- eStrada Food Truck Festival, March 20-March 23, "Mihai Viteazul" Square (12:00-22:00);
- Handmade Fair "Fusei la târg...", March 20-March 23, "Mihai Viteazul" Square (organizer: Carousel Project Craiova Association, 12.00-22:00).
Also, on Thursday, March 20, at 19:00, the first itinerant immersive space MINA Pop-Up will open, with 360° projections, on bvd. Ilie Balaci, no. 6, next to the Multipurpose Hall. The museum opens in Craiova with three exhibitions:
- "Romanian Painters" - an immersive journey into Romanian art, a tribute to the great masters, including Theodor Aman, through which we celebrate the artistic heritage of the Oltenia region;
- "Van Gogh" - a visual journey through his masterpieces;
- "Underwater World" – a spectacular incursion in the depths of the oceans.
Details about the event, here:
Moreover, on March 21, the Shakespeare Foundation invites you to the Shakespeare Hub (14 Popa Șapcă Street), to a photographic exhibition opening, complemented by a video installation, plus a Shakespeare-Sorescu recital, alongside Emil Boroghină and Cătălin Vieru. The exhibition will remain open until April 15.
Oltenia Day could not pass without a guided tour, this time to discover the architectural jewels of Craiova. Thus, on March 22, from 10:00, Dragoș Andreescu invites you to the “Tour of the Banks of the Past” (Palace Building - str. A.I. Cuza, no. 1) and the Central Headquarters of Craiova City Hall (str. A.I. Cuza, no. 7). Registrations are made at the email address dragos@baumpixel.com, within the limit of available places.
Happy Oltenia Day to the people of Oltenia, Dolj and Craiova! Craiova, Dolj and Oltenia are wonderful! Discover them!