Stratis Eleftheriadis - called "Teriade" - was born in that town on Lesvos (Mytilene), but left for Paris to study law. His passion for painting, however, made that he worked with editors of art books and magazines. He then established his own publishing house and a magazine 'Verve' to which many famous writers, painters and poets contributed. It was fascinating for us to see his illustrated books with illuminations from the medieval manuscripts contrasting with early 20th centry paintings. He donated his collection and the museum to the Municipality of Mytilene.
In the Museum some works made by Theofilos (used in the exhibitions Teriade organized for the folk painter), are also exhibited. Teriade had 'discovered' this naive art painter from Lesvos who only got recognition after his death. Apparently, he was a rather non-conformist person and basically made his living from mural paintings in cafeterias etc most of which are lost. Theofilos received his own modest museum (on the same site), both are located in an old olive grove with a spectacular view over the bay of Mytilene.
I insert here below a copy of his work "Perikles justifies the expenses for the Akropolis" from 1928 which, we thought, reveals a good sense of humour and fits well into our bike tour's diary after having visited the breathtaking Akropolis Museum in Athens. It also gains a astonishing actuality in the aftermath of the Greek debt crisis....
You realise that we were 4 on 3 bikes, rather than 2 on 1 bike. Lina and Nico joined us for the island trip. We enjoyed our picknick lunch next to the Museum after admiring the paintings. Unfortunately Heidi dropped the titan portable fork when washing it into the fountain - a five cm diameter hole. It lay 40 cm below barely visible but Nicolas after trying with all available materials for about an hour managed to rescue it! If he accepts a challenge he can manage to master it, so there is still lots of hope for his gap year turning into a very enriching experience ;-). Lina will actually continue with us to Istanbul. We take the ferry to Turkey (Ayvalik) tomorrow - to 'Asia Minor' as the Greek say, quite a few have some family roots there.
Crossing the Gulf of Geras near Mytilene, Lesvos
