The exposition at the sundial park

The courtyard of the Klaipėda Clock Museum is called the Sundial Park. Next to it stands the tower of the Central Post Office, home to the bell-based musical instrument – the carillon. Concerts performed with this instrument take place every Saturday, Sunday, and on holidays.

Next to the the building lies a park (built in the 19^th century), in which a sundial exposition was built, based on a plan of the workers of the museum. Architect Vaidotas Guodis and designer Romualdas Martinkus prepared an architectural and sculpture layout plan of the park.

In 1989, an original equatorial sundial was placed in the centre of the courtyard. It indicated the exact average Klaipėda city’s latitude time. It is a round stainless steel structure in the middle of a fountain. 12 star signs are fixed onto the sides of the fountain. R. Martinkus is the author.

In 1991, a composition of the solar system was installed. It is called Saulės kelias per žvaigždynus (Lith. the Path of the Sun through the Stars) This work of art is made under the stylised Florentine mosaic technique. The authors of the composition are monumentalist L. Sadauskaitė and designer R. Martinkus.

In 1997, a vertical sundial, called Laikas ir Klaipėda (Lith. Time and Klaipėda), was mounted onto the 62 square metre wall. This original, decorative, and monumental work of art was made under the complex trilayer graphite technique. The composition includes three angels – two white and one black. The angels symbolise the battle between Good and Evil, the continuous transition between light and darkness and time. Authors – artist A. Banytė, J. Vosylius, designer R. Martinkus.

In 1999, a horizontal sundial was set up. It is a decorative work of art, named Išmatuok laiką savo šešėliu (Lith. Calculate the Time with Your Shadow). If it is a sunny day, the visitors of the museum can find out the time by standing on a specially designed platform and by looking at where their shadow ends up. This work of art is also referred to as the Florentine Mosaic. The authors of the composition are artist L. Sadauskaitė and designer R. Martinkus.

In 2001, the visitors of the museum were introduced to Gėlių kalendorius (Lith. the Flower Calendar). The plot of land was divided into 12 parts, each of which represents a month. Each part is planted with flowers that only bloom during a certain month.

In 2004, the museum unveiled to the public and its guests the restored statue by Petras Mazūras – the horizontal sundial called Vėžlio gyvenimas (Lith. The Life of a Tortoise), created in 1987. During restoration of this sundial, the coordinates of all other sundials, present in the courtyard, were also corrected – 55°42′ N latitude and 21°08′ E longitude.

Source:

The Klaipėda Clock Museum: [interactive]. [viewed on May 29^th, 2015]. Retrieved from: http://www.ldm.lt/KLM/Laikr_muz_kiemelis.htm.