Szalma-Kincs-Tár

These days, we grieve with straw artists, folk artists, and others who have known Morgyn Owens-Celli around the world. A world has lost the exceptional man.

An open-hearted and bright-souled Morgyn has dedicated his entire life to the straw art. Morgyn was the founder of the American Museum of Straw Art and a leading expert in the field. Owens-Celli traversed the globe amassing a collection of some 10,000 pieces of artwork crafted from straw. Lithuanian straw gardens also hang in the Museum. Morgyn continued the family tradition himself, and made straw hats, and was very fond of wearing them in his everyday’s life.

We are glad that last year we had the honor to organise the International Straw Art Festival in Lithuania, the inventor and pioneer of which was Morgyn. Even then, his health was poor, but he could not miss the opportunity to meet again with the world's straw artists, and he was very eager to visit Lithuania again. Throughout the week of July last year, Lithuanians and straw artists from all over the world lived together in the spirit of straw art, shared a passion for this material and its uses, got to know other traditions and left Lithuania being grateful for what they experienced and already waiting for the next festival in some other country.

Today, we remember those days and feel special because the Straw Art Festival we organised, which exceeded all Morgyn's expectations, became the last one in which he managed to participate.

We believe that even after Morgyn Owens-Celli left this world, his works and initiatives will be continued, and he will be remembered as the gentle soul, humble man, particularly devoted to the traditions of straw art.

We pray Morgyn’s soul a peaceful journey to Heaven and express our deepest condolences to the family of Morgyn, their relatives and all those who have known him.