Monument to the Rune Singers (Runonlaulajapatsas) (sometimes called the Petri Shemeikka Monument)

Karelskaya St., 22, Sortavala, Republic of Karelia, Russia, 186790

A monument by sculptor Alpo Sailo, installed in Vainamoinen Square in Sortavala, Republic of Karelia. The monument is dedicated to Karelian rune singers; the image of the rune singer depicted in the monument is collective but was created by the sculptor based on Petri Shemeikka, one of the last representatives of the rune-singing dynasty from Suistamo.

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The official name of the monument, as indicated in both Finnish and Russian sources, is the "Monument to the Rune Singers" (Finnish: Runonlaulajapatsas), but some authors call it the "Monument to Petri Shemeikka" after the rune singer who served as the model for the monument. Sculptor Alpo Sailo met the famous Karelian rune singer Petri Shemeikka (1825–1915) in 1908, who at that time was already advanced in age and had lost his sight. Sailo took several photographs and drew portraits of the rune singer[3]. In 1916, a year after Shemeikka's death, Sailo proposed erecting a monument for him, but no funds were found.

In 1926, the All-Finland Song Festival was held in Sortavala, with all proceeds directed towards creating a monument to the rune singers. That same year, lawyer and statesman Karl Gustav Berg bequeathed 25,000 Finnish marks for the same purpose.

In 1927, Eliel Vartainen informed Sailo by letter that funding for the rune singers' monument had been found, but the sculptor had not yet been decided. Vartainen suggested that Sailo participate in the competition, and Sailo ultimately received the commission. In his workshop, he created a plaster model, from which the bronze sculpture was later cast.

The monument was unveiled on June 20, 1935, as part of the centenary celebration of the first edition of the epic "Kalevala" and the All-Finland Song Festival held in honor of this event. The layout of the triangular square around the monument was designed by architect Uno Ulberg and landscape architect Bengt Shalin.

By decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR dated August 30, 1960, the monument was recognized as a monument of monumental art and placed under state protection as a cultural heritage site of national significance. After the collapse of the USSR, its status was changed to a cultural heritage site of federal significance in Russia, and it was registered in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage (EGRKN) on October 7, 2015.

The sculpture is installed in the center of the triangular square of Väinämöinen Square in Sortavala. It stands in front of the Bank of Finland building, with its back to it and its face toward the intersection of Lenin and Karelian streets. The bronze sculpture on a granite pedestal has a total height of 4 meters and depicts an elderly man seated in a chair covered with elk (according to other sources, bear) skin, wearing traditional summer Karelian outerwear. The bronze rune singer's head is bare, with long hair and a beard falling onto his shoulders and chest, his face bearing a calm, inspired expression. He is ready to play the kantele resting on his knees — his hands are raised above the strings.

The image of the rune singer is composite, despite being based on Petri Shemeikka.

Sources:

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Памятник_рунопевцам

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