I was beyond thrilled when, on February 14, 2022, we turned on the “Mi-e Dor De Tine” art installation on the District Pier at the Wharf, in Washington, DC. It has been a dream of mine to have this art work in my home town here in the U.S..
The Wharf, Washington, DC, February 14, 2022. Photo: Cristian Ianculescu
For lots of us, Romanian Americans, family is our friends, our neighbors, and our community. Therefore, we’ll embrace any occasion to reconnect to Romania!
I have met Andi Daiszler, the President of Daisler Association, creator of Lights on Romania project two years ago. I was at the time Executive Director of RUF and we were working to bring “Mi-e Dor De Tine” artwork to Chicago. It took some work from a team of people for a more than a year.
That’s why when, at the launch in Chicago in November 2021, both Andi and I shared our intention to bring it to Washington, DC, we were no taken too seriously. Given the history, it seemed impossible. But we went ahead, Andi put his trust in me on the ground, while coordinating this from Cluj Napoca. I didn’t know how; I knew that I wanted it in DC. We started working at this mid-November and here we are. But we were fortunate. My friend Silvia Dumitrescu whispered to me that Southwest Business Improvement District might be interested. And the rest is history.
We launched the installation on February 16th, 2022 with a small gathering at the Dockmaster Building in the Wharf, in the presence of H.E. Ambassador Andrei Muraru, Dorian Branea, Director Romanian Cultural Institute in the US, representatives of SW-BID and The Wharf, members of the Romanian American Community in DC area.
There was excitement in the air and it was a beautiful, warm evening that allowed us to go into the pier afterwards and take pictures with the art installation.
I asked a few friends that were present at the launching event on February 16, 2022 to tell me what it means for them this art installation. Here are their thoughts:
Corina Pop, Daniela Kammrath, Doina Dascalu. Photo: Nandor Nagy
“Having these words on display here, in Washington DC, the place where I have been living for half of my life it brings back soothing memories of childhood vacations on The Black Sea coast, the lasting friendships started in High School, my grandmother’s jokes and morning Turkish coffee she made for us, the family that I constantly long for. It brings a little bit of Romania, its people and its culture and also, yes, the pride of being part of the American nation with Romanian roots. Thank you, Andi, Daniela, partners and sponsors that made, this possible. Thank you for such a beautiful initiative!” Doina Dascalu
““Mi-E Dor De Tine” … I am so proud to see this sentence “lighting out loud” in plain Romanian here in D.C., far away from its home. It brings to “light” an avalanche of eclectic traits. The “dor” speaks with tears and smiles, with pain and joy and with all the mnemonics gusting us in time. Andi Daisler brilliantly concentrates in an apparently simple statement the quintessence of living in two worlds. We would not be complete without “doruri.” We are all longing for people, places, food, aromas, noises, past-times and, so often, for being “there” though physically elsewhere. It is for the “dor” that the back-home stories will never end for us. Andi’s work offers common ground and beautiful art therapy to all of us with tales of two selves. I am looking forward to his next work.“ Corina Pop
Daniela Kammrath & Oana Cojan. February 16, 2022 Photo: Nandor Nagy
“Seeing "Mi-e dor de tine" here in DC hits me with a flood of emotions - mostly a deep love for the dear people in my life living in Romania. It brings back cherished memories and closeness! I am proud to see such a beautiful Romanian phrase written for so many to see and connect with in one of the most popular are in DC - the Wharf. I know and hope the sign will continue to travel around the world and bring a little comfort and a sense of belonging to the many Romanians that are so far away from their homeland! I miss you, Romania! Mi-e dor de tine, Romania! Well done!” Oana Cojan
Lucian Purcareanu, Daniela Kammrath Photo: Nandor Nagy
“I'm impressed that I can see a message in Romanian, in a public place, here in Washington DC. "Mi-e dor de tine" reminds me how much I miss my family and friends, my city Bucharest and the landscapes of my country.
It is a message that arouses my nostalgia and pleasant memories. This installation and message surely trigger very powerful feelings.”
Lucian Purcareanu, Cultural Attaché Romanian Embassy in the US
“Distance, warmth and longing came to mind as I stood on the wharf and looked out across the dark water at the words ‘Mi-e Dor De Tine’ inscribed in light against the pier in Washington DC. I thought of being far away from loved ones, missing them and in turn, I thought of their deep longings for my presence. It was as if the words in light formed a magical bridge that allowed for me to touch those that are so far away in space and time.” Geoff Desobry, artist
Jennifer Currie (The Wharf), Steve Moore (SW-BID), Daniela Kammrath, Amb. Andrei Muraru, Andi Daiszler Photo: Nandor Nagy
My personal thanks go to Steve Moore, Executive Director of Southwest Business Improvement District, Jessie Himmelrich, Director of Public Space at SW BID, and to Jennifer Currie, Director of Programming at The Wharf. They really wanted us in the Southwest DC, they did everything in their powers to make it happen. They are true Romanians At Heart in my book.
Thank you, CEC Bank Romania, Romanian Embassy, Romanian Cultural Institute, SW BID, The Wharf. Thank you Nandor Nagy and Joanna Ciucur, our photographers. Thank you Emil Moldoveanu, our videographer. Thank you Andi Daiszler for your partnership.
Photos: Ioana Ciucur & Nandor Nagy for Lights On Romania, Cris Ianculescu