Katie Roth Photography

23/10/2025

Yesterday I had the privilege and pleasure of being part of the ActionArtPlay Rīga dream team!

We ran an art workshop for families connected to Atbalsta centrs TILTS — a support centre for families who have adopted or foster children.

ActionArtPlay, created by Dale Connelly (UK), is all about combining movement and art — with every activity inviting people to move, stretch, run, and jump while they create. It’s a playful way to boost creativity and emotional well-being, helping everyone relax, connect, and express themselves freely.

This workshop was designed so the whole family could join in — making memories together, meeting others, and sharing the joy of creating side by side. ❤️

Because of safeguarding, we can’t show faces here — but imagine the smiles, laughter, and moments of quiet focus as everyone interacted with the art (and each other).

While the paintings dried, families went exploring through Rīga’s parks and streets, creating new art from the colours, textures, and surfaces they discovered outdoors — from leaves and pavements to the expressive faces and creatures on the Jugendstil buildings.

They returned to a grand exhibition, where we celebrated the day’s creations — even turning snippets of the paintings into framed pieces to take home or give as gifts. 🖼️

Such a beautiful day of movement, imagination, and connection — a reminder that art really can bring people together in the most joyful ways.

Thank you, Dale, Tim, Slavik, and Māris, for being a great team, to Vēsma for inviting everyone and Kārlis for hosting us. Thanks most of all to everyone who participated.

28/09/2025

Vakar svinīgi atklājām jauno Ērgļu tirgus laukumu ar ikgadējo Rudens tirgu! 🎉🍂 Laukumā skanēja Ērgļu pūtēju orķestra mūzika, izskanēja sirsnīgi pateicības vārdi un valdīja svētku noskaņa ar ģimenēm un draugiem. Kā vienmēr – bija daudz, ko iegādāties, sākot no ķiplokiem līdz kaķēniem, burkāniem, koka karotēm un kazas sieram. 🧄🐱🥕🥛

Yesterday we celebrated the grand opening of the new Ērgļi marketplace together with the annual Autumn Market! 🎉🍂 The square was filled with music from the Ērgļi brass band, heartfelt words of thanks, and a joyful atmosphere with families and friends. As always, there was plenty to buy – from garlic to kittens, carrots, wooden spoons and goat’s cheese. 🧄🐱🥕🥛

25/09/2025

🪖 50 years ago today…

A Soviet T-34 tank was unveiled on a hill outside Ērgļi as a “monument to victory.” For 15 years, it stood as a symbol of occupation — until 1990, when Popular Front activists pulled it down.

Now it stands at the More Battle Museum, where curator Anta Brača calls it “a witness to World War II and the violent occupation of Latvia — a warning that peace cannot be taken for granted.”

Read the full story, in English and Latvian, here:

From 1975 to 1990 a Soviet T-34 tank sat on top of Kaļvi Hill.

18/09/2025

Every September, I think of the battle that left Ērgļi in ruins in 1944.

This year I came across a newspaper story written 50 years after the battle, in which one of the teachers from Ērgļi school shared his memories of those days. He was just eleven years old when he was caught in the crossfire. Every paragraph of his story made my heart contract and my eyes fill with tears.

It feels almost impossible to imagine a child going through what he did. And yet, reading his words, I couldn’t help but think of how many children today are still living through the horrors of war.

I’ve shared his account on a new website I’ve been working on, collecting stories about Ērgļi in both English and Latvian: https://erglistories.lv/memories-of-1944-battle/

May we never forget — and may we keep working toward a world where no child has to endure such suffering.

Jānis Bičekvskis was only eleven in August 1944, when Soviet and German forces razed Ērgļi to the ground in a month-long battle. Fifty years later, he recorded his memories for the local newspaper.

03/09/2025

Scroll down for English.

2. septembrī pie Ērgļu apvienības pārvaldes ēkas, Rīgas ielā 10, tapa īpaša brīvdabas izstāde – pagalmu un ietvi pārklāja bērnu krāsaini krīta zīmējumi. To radīja visi 44 Ērgļu mākslas skolas audzēkņi, sākot jauno mācību gadu ar kopīgu radošu uzdevumu.

Mākslas skolas skolotāja Vizma Veipa atklāj, ka ideja radusies skolotāju pedagoģiskās sēdes laikā:
“Otrais septembris mums bija adaptācijas diena. Paši skolotāji ierosināja – sen neesam ar krītiem zīmējuši, varētu pārmaiņas pēc. Visi 44 bērni piedalījās. Mazajiem ir grūti uzreiz ieiet stundu ritmā, bet šādi akciju veida uzdevumi ļauj visiem kopā darīt vienu darbu. Bērni redz, kas mācas citos kursos, iepazīstas, sadarbojas, un viņiem vienkārši patīk zīmēt.”

Krīta darbi pēc dabas ir īslaicīgi, un to izstādes noslēgumu noteiks dabas spēks:
“Izstāde beidzas tad, kad līs lietus,” saka skolotāja.

Līdz tam garāmgājēji ir aicināti baudīt bērnu radīto krāsaino pilsētvidi – prieku, kas iemirdzas uz asfalta un stāsta par draudzību, fantāziju un radošo brīvību.

ENG:
On 2nd September, the space in front of the Ērgļi Municipal Administration building at Rīgas Street 10 was transformed into a vibrant open-air gallery. The paving stones came alive with colourful chalk drawings created by all 47 students of Ērgļi Art School, marking the start of the new school year with a shared creative project.

Art teacher Vizma Veipa explained how the idea emerged during a staff planning meeting:
“2nd September was our induction day. The teachers themselves suggested this activity, as we hadn’t drawn with chalk for a long time. All 44 children took part. For the younger ones, it’s challenging to jump straight into proper lessons, but activities like this bring everyone together to create one big artwork. The children get to know each other across the different age groups, collaborate, and simply enjoy drawing.”

The exhibition is, by its very nature, temporary:
“It ends when the rain comes,” said Vizma with a smile.

Until then, passers-by are invited to enjoy the cheerful splash of colours on the paving stones – a fleeting celebration of friendship, imagination, and creative freedom.

23/08/2025

✨ Šodien man bija prieks fotografēt skaistu ģimenes pasākumu Ērgļu pansionātā. Saule mirdzēja, gaisā valdīja smiekli un ikviens izbaudīja dažādas āra aktivitātes, kas bija rūpīgi un ar mīlestību plānotas. 🌞💛

Bija sirsnīgi redzēt un iemūžināt tik daudz īstu smaidu un laimīgu mirkļu. Milzīgs paldies brīnišķīgajiem darbiniekiem, kuri radīja tik neaizmirstamu pēcpusdienu visiem. 🙌💐

ENG:
✨ Today I had the joy of photographing a beautiful family event at Ērgļi Nursing Home. The sun was shining, the atmosphere was full of laughter, and everyone enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities thoughtfully planned with care and attention to detail. 🌞💛

It was heartwarming to capture so many genuine smiles and happy moments. A huge thank you to the amazing staff for creating such a memorable afternoon for all. 🙌💐

23/06/2025

And finally ... photos from the book launch.

22/06/2025

Photos of the youngest to the oldest folk dance groups at our school's 75th anniversary celebrations yesterday.

22/06/2025

Some colourful moments from the beginning of the Ērgļi School reunion yesterday. It was lovely to catch so many smiles and wonder what people were talking about. More to follow...

05/05/2025

This year's Ērgļi Spring Market seemed to have more stalls and visitors than ever. I always love wandering along, capturing cool moments, and stopping to chat with people.