“Kretinga stands out from other cities in the country with its spiritual uniqueness, which is why the concept of boundary markers is based on the motif of the cross and the sun, rooted in several centuries of Lithuanian cross-crafting tradition. And when creating the new contemporary symbol of Kretinga city, the starting point was the memorial cross built by the people of Kretinga district in the Valley of the Crosses of the Baltic Way near Pasvalys,” says Vakaris Bernotas, the designer who prepared the concept of Kretinga city boundary markers together with his daughter Ugne, and a professor at the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
Read more An extraordinary guest in Lithuania: the wife of the legendary LeBron James, Savannah, has arrived
According to V. Bernotas, it is proposed that Kretinga boundary markers be made of corten, a rust-resistant metal highly durable to environmental effects. One side of the boundary marker would greet those entering the city with the current city name “Kretinga” and the city coat of arms. By the way, the latter is also unique – it is the only city coat of arms in Lithuania depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. The other side of the boundary marker would remind of the city’s ancient origins, marking the beginning of the written history of the name Kretinga – the year 1253, when Kretinga was mentioned by the Curonians as Cretyn.
The boundary markers installed at the main entrances to Kretinga would be connected by a differently stylized sun motif, chosen according to the directions from which one arrives. In the symbolism of the cross and the sun, the sun is associated not only with light and life but also with care, protection, and a safe space, so the boundary marker would become not only a symbolic city threshold but also a sign of its protection.
Kretinga city boundary markers would also be adorned with the Tau cross and a stylized pair of birds – one of the most well-known signs of the Franciscan tradition.
Read more LeBron’s son was not scared: Lithuania’s reserve team tamed Arizona students
“The boundary markers would stand on a granite base, in which Baltic origins are recognizable – an interpreted motif of the eight-pointed star – Aušrinė (Auseklis) – associated with dawn, light, new beginnings, and protection. And the outer ring of the round granite base is interpreted as a rose of the winds and world directions, emphasizing Kretinga as a crossroads, since the city is an important junction of roads and directions in Western Lithuania,” said V. Bernotas.
The necessity of installing modern boundary markers in Kretinga city has been discussed for several decades. The 2016 competition for preparing the boundary marker concept was terminated due to plagiarism, and the ideas proposed in 2018 remained unimplemented.
