EKKT’s 70th anniversary exhibition
October 24-26, 2025, Latvian Canadian Centre, Galerija Hall
EKKT artists at the 70th Annual Art Exhibition opening reception on Oct. 24th, 2025. Photo: Jaak Järve
Opening Remarks for the EKKT 70th Annual Art Show – “From Exile to Expression”
We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Good evening everyone, and welcome to the 70th Annual Art Show of the Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto — “From Exile to Expression: 70 Years of Estonian-Canadian Art.”
It’s truly special to see so many familiar and new faces gathered here tonight at the Latvian Canadian Cultural Centre, as we celebrate seven decades of creativity, community, and cultural continuity.
Since 1956, the Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto — or EKKT — has been a bridge between generations and geographies, connecting artists of Estonian heritage across Canada and beyond. What began as a small collective of exiled artists has grown into a vibrant community that continues to reflect both our roots and our evolving place within the Canadian cultural landscape.
This evening is not only about the art on the walls, but about the stories and spirit behind them — the resilience, adaptation, and shared expression that have shaped our identity.
To open the evening, we’ll begin with a short film prepared by Kaisa Pitsi, which brings together archival material from EKKT’s rich 70-year history. This film will also be featured on our website as part of our ongoing effort to preserve and share our collective story.
After the film, Elva Palo, EKKT’s former president, will share a few words of reflection.
And to conclude our opening ceremony, we’re delighted to have Blumarelo performing live — bringing music, movement, and celebration to this milestone occasion.
Thank you all for being here and for supporting Estonian art in Canada — for helping us carry this creative legacy forward into the next seventy years.
- Maarika Lepik, EKKT President
EKKT 70 - A film by Kaisa Pitsi, 2025
EKKT 70th Exhibition Remarks
Lugupeetud Külalised / Dear Guests,
It was inspiring to see the foundations of this art group presented through the form of an arts’ film by EKKT secretary Kaisa Pitsi.
Seventy years ago just after the massive changes of WW II, a small group of Estonian-born artists in Canada had to forge ahead with what they knew most about. Their art education was from Estonia and notably many were educated at the distinguished Pallas Art Academy. As refugees, they had left with the cultural memory of their society.
Author Bernard Kangro wrote (Kangro, B., Eesti Rootsis Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv, Lund 1976, p. 161):
“Although the artist’s brush easily glides over the language barrier, in exile the artist misses…at least in the beginning…their people more than others do. For the artist is homeless, because their former work is left behind where it was remembered and appreciated. In a new country they are unknown.”
This sense of loss was intuitively beginning to heal when they could create in the presence of each other.
What comes to mind are the words of Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, who wrote:
“In times of pain, when the future is too hard to contemplate and the past is too painful to remember, it is best to pay attention to the here and now. Each moment will then have its beauty.”
These Estonian artists, newcomers to Canada, felt that sometimes it could be lonely to create on your own. I think this sentiment holds true even with many present day artists. Although art is personal, sharing it can open possibilities. Creating in a collective in our outer world can inspire us to notice how we each connect to our inner world. Like our founding members, each generation since then has understood that our creativity reflects our thoughts and feelings and has the power to be transformative, much like music.
By the 1950’s, Toronto was a gathering place for many groups of Estonians, all focused on the here and now, with goals of keeping their cultural and national identity alive. The art club that had gathered together finally became a formalized association in1956 when Woldemar Päts wrote the EKKT Constitution. Päts was the brother of the pre-war Estonian President Konstantin Päts, and worked as the Assistant Minister of Education. He thought about the future of the Art Association as a way for immigrant Estonians to keep the identity alive. He said:
“Kui saatuse tahtel surevad mõned eesti kunstnikud, siis jääb elama siiski eesti kunst ja need kunsti jüngrid kasvavad juurde”.
“If fate decides that some Estonian artists must die, then Estonian art will survive and new artist disciples will grow in place again.”
At first the art reflected a certain nostalgia for that which was lost. But interestingly, through the decades, Estonians have used image to voice their emotions about what is important to be both Estonian and Canadian. This beautiful country we call Canada provided a place to set down roots and grow.
Former Minister of Canadian Heritage, Latvian Sarmite Bulte has said that artists and creators are our social architects. Former Federal MP, Estonian/Dutch Peter Van Loan said that art is important in living a full life, especially in our Estonian character.
EKKT continued to grow as it provided an opportunity for more artists from greater distances to come to the Toronto area to exhibit at an annual show and sale. It is remarkable that the autumn art exhibitions have been a consistent event, even during the pandemic from 2020 to 2022.
For many years, much credit goes to Benita Vomm and Mai Vomm-Järve for organizing these exhibitions. Ants Vomm and Jaak Järve also spent many years on the executive assisting with the logistical documentation of artist members and other responsibilities. The executive is important as it continues to help with membership, finances and volunteering.
Connecting with Toronto Arts’ Week assisted EKKT artists to become better known in the general community. Guest artists from many backgrounds were encouraged to exhibit, as stated in our Constitution, so we could share and exchange creative voices. Through the generosity of art patrons, many scholarships were awarded to new generations of artists with an Estonian heritage in the 1980’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. The Estonian bank and the Estonian Foundation of Canada (Eesti Sihtkapital Kanadas) were often generous with grants to have special events and art albums published.
The Erika and Osvald Timmas Memorial Fund helped to establish a working art studio at the Jõekääru Estonian Children’s Camp. The Timmase Kunstitare is there to provide space for the development of art for youth and for EKKT members to use for workshops and events.
In 1991 we experienced a full circle moment. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania regained their freedom from Soviet occupation. Something new happened for artists to share their creativity again. As art historian Tiiu Talvistu noted in the book Estonian Art in Exile, the Estonians who developed their creativity abroad were also doing this through the lens of the culture of the country they grew up in. Travel to Estonia opened and EKKT was able to have an exhibition at Tallinn’s Kastellaanimaja Galerii in 1996. Then later, in 2009 during Laulupidu in Estonia, EKKT was invited to KUMU to present some historical context for EKKT’s longevity. As a result, we organized a week-long summer art school in Haapsalu, Estonia. It was meaningful to visit artists’ studios and discuss their perspective on art making. The takeaway was the notion that for all artists, art speaks about people, places, nature, culture, politics and spirituality. We are connected by realistic and abstract expressions, metaphors and symbols, as well as traditional and cutting-edge technology.
What I have come to understand during my involvement with EKKT for the past 33 years is that people are here to support each other. This has been a cornerstone of the group’s longevity and success. We are thankful for patrons old and new, several of whom have passed on, and others like our Honourary Member Robert Zeidler. Rob has helped sponsor an artist exchange with Canadian and Estonian artists, including our guest artist print-maker Kadri Toom this year. For eight years the Cotton Factory in Hamilton has provided space for a month-long artist residency. Kadri is expecting to be here tonight too to meet all of you.
All the artist members know that it requires time and energy to devote to annual events, new projects, and the general well-being of the art association. We salute the current executive, Maarika, Ashley, Kaisa and Chloe. Each of you makes this a very special group to belong to. Our founders would be very proud of how you have modernized it, especially as Woldemar Päts had wished, so that we would grow, change, and continue.
Finally, we thank all of our guests tonight for helping celebrate this remarkable milestone of 70 years.
Elagu! Sveiks!
Elva Palo, MSc, RP, RCAT, DTATI
October 24th, 2025