From pea soup to art in Venezuela with Mai Reet Vomm Järve

How could a bowl of soup lead a family to safety in war-torn Europe?

Find out in the latest episode of EstoCast, where we met with Estonian-Canadian artist, award-winning community volunteer, and self-described people person, Mai Reet Vomm Järve.

Mai, who left Estonia as a little girl 80 years ago, with her mother Benita Vomm and brother Ants Erik Vomm, has an extraordinary story that takes us from a crowded train in Tallinn, to Germany, across the ocean to Venezuela, and finally to her artist’s life in Canada.

In this episode of EstoCast, hear about:

🎨 the studio her mother Benita Vomm opened up to teach art in Caracas, Venezuela

🏅 the time she received a medal from Queen Elizabeth II

🥘 making sült (meat jelly) in a hotel room as a family of refugees

🇪🇪 and much more

Things mentioned in this episode include:

-Mai’s bio and art on the Toronto Estonian Virtual Art Gallery site: https://www.tevag.ca/team/mai-reet-vomm-jarve/ 

-The Suurpõgenemine / Great Escape as explained by BaltHerNet: https://www.balther.net/the-great-baltic-escape-and-the-armada-of-boats-that-saved-so-many/ 

-Eesti Kunstnike Koondis Torontos (the Society of Estonian Artists in Toronto): https://www.estonianartiststoronto.com/ 

-more about the Pallas Art School (in Estonian): https://opleht.ee/2019/10/eesti-esimene-kujutava-kunsti-korgem-kool-sundis-tartus/

-Ado Vabbe, the teacher of Benita Vomm: https://kunstimuuseum.ekm.ee/en/syndmus/ado-vabbe-wunderbar/ 

-Hilda Mikkelsaar: https://digikogu.ekm.ee/eng/new_category_tree/estonian_art_in_exile/canada/painting/oid-4819/?&offset=1 

-August Vomm, her father: https://www.tevag.ca/team/august-vomm/ 

-Benita Vomm, her mother: https://www.tevag.ca/team/benita-vomm/ 

-Ants Erik Vomm, her brother: https://www.tevag.ca/team/ants-erik-vomm/ 

-El Museo de Bellas Artes de Caracas, where Mai’s brother exhibited at age 19: https://iamvenezuela.com/2015/04/museo-de-bellas-artes-de-caracas/ 

-Stephen Roman: https://mininghalloffame.ca/stephen-b-roman/

-The Willys Overland Company: https://www.kaiserwillys.com/willys-overland-company/ 

Socials:

➡️ @estonianmusicweek
https://www.facebook.com/EstonianMusicWeek

➡️ https://www.facebook.com/vemu.ca

➡️ @eestielu.ca
https://www.facebook.com/eestielu.ca/events

➡️ @vemu.emc
https://www.facebook.com/vemu.ca