Programs and Events 2009
Exhibition of Portraits by Irena Baruch Wiley – An Artist at Large in the Diplomatic World
From February 5 – 26, the U.S. Embassy celebrated the 91st birthday of the Republic of Estonia with an exhibition of portraits by Polish-American artist Irena Baruch Wiley who was the spouse of John Cooper Wiley - a U.S. diplomat in Estonia in 1938-40. Because of Irena Wiley's Polish origin, the opening was co-hosted by the U.S. and Polish Embassies.
A large crowd of young and old alike warmly greeted the opening of the exhibition at the National Library of Estonia.
On March 5, the same exhibition was opened at the Laidoner Museum outside of Tallinn which is dedicated to former Estonian diplomat and military leader Johan Laidoner who, with his Polish-born wife Maria, had become close friends with the Wileys in pre WWII Estonia.
On March 5, ETV evening news Aktuaalne Kaamera broadcasted an interview with Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Karen Decker at the opening of the exhibition at the Laidoner Museum. In April, Irena Wiley's works will be displayed at Kondas Art Center in Viljandi in south Estonia.
Prior to arriving in Estonia, the collection of works which was discovered in Washington D.C. in 2007 by Gold Leaf Studios, was first displayed at the U.S. Department of State exhibit hall.
After almost 70 years, Irena Baruch Wiley visits Estonia again through her portraits which are visual records of the people she and John Wiley encountered on their diverse diplomatic postings around the globe.
For the Estonian public, the exhibition revives the history of U.S. diplomatic relations with many countries, including Estonia.