In 2022, the world and Lithuania celebrate the life and work of Jonas Mekas, one of the country’s most prominent cultural figures of the 20th and 21st centuries and a global cultural phenomenon in his own right, considered by many to be the “godfather of avant-garde cinema”.

Throughout his life, Mekas always emphasized and cherished his Lithuanian roots. After fleeing the foreign occupation of his native land, he arrived in New York City, in his own words “at exactly the right moment”, joining thousands of others escaping the devastation wrought by destructive ideologies and tyrannical regimes in Europe. One might say that Mekas left one village, his native Semeniškiai in northern Lithuania, and immersed himself in the life of another – the Village thriving in and around lower Manhattan, and in its landmark publication, the Village Voice, helping to shape American and global culture so profoundly in the latter half of the 20th century.

Mekas’ name is most often associated with the United States, and with this expansive centennial observance, other countries now have the opportunity to learn more about his work. Indeed, the impact of Mekas’ unique worldview and personal experience on many world-renowned artists still awaits deeper reflection and appreciation.