West Meets East in Novgorod
The celebration of Velikiy Novgorod’s 1150th jubilee this year was the impetus behind the Artist’s Exchange project and exhibition “West Meets East: The Faces of Art”. Judy Kramer spearheaded the organization of this project. Three Sun Coast artists were invited by Judy to join her and the Novgorod Alliance for this two week trip to St. Petersburg and Velikiy Novgorod. Joanna Coke, a mixed media artist, Susan Cooper, a basketry artist, and Susan Covert, a painter, eagerly accepted Judy’s invitation. Six Novgorod artists were invited to join the Florida artists in this collaborative exhibition and week of art events.
The exhibition opening receptions were well attended and the work was well received. Several artists were interviewed by the press and coverage was shown on Novgorod TV.
The reception at the Novgorod University Campus was attended by many of the University administrators, speeches were plentiful, and there was even a performance by a folk group from the University!
The Florida artists volunteered to teach art classes to children at the Cultural Palace for Creative Activity. The students, at first shy about having an unknown teacher, took instruction well and produced successful pieces of art…..self portraits, mixed media collages, dream catchers and photographs using point and shoot cameras. All the supplies for the classes were donated by US vendors and were given to the Russian children or their art teachers to continue progress with their newly learned skills.
Tours of the important sites and art exhibitions in Novgorod, visits to artists’studios, dinner with a family and a fabulous concert by a folk group from Arkhangelsk filled the US artists’ time.
Our final weekend in Velikiy Novgorod was filled with a cacophony of activities surrounding the celebration of the 1150th Jubilee—thousands of Novgorodians filled the streets, performance stages were melodious with Russian music and beautifully costumed performers, artisans’ booths lined the Yaroslav court with demonstrations and handcrafted items, an agricultural display highlighted the diversity of products grown and cultivated in the Novgorod oblast….fireworks and a laser show filled the skies and pedestrian bridge on Saturday night, reenactments of ancient Russian games excited the crowd. Every time I think about the excitement of those two days, my mind is filled with so many visions – proud people living in a city which showed its past, present and future face to the world in high fashion during that weekend!
Plans are progressing to continue this artists’ exchange. Judy, Joanna, Susan and Susan are searching for a location for “East Meets West”, an exhibition of work by these ten artists in 2010-11. The dialogue which was established this past September will continue – better understanding between the Russian and American people through the international language of ART!
Judy Kramer, Photographer
This Russian and American artists’ cultural exchange proved to me that we universally share in the same desires, concerns and delights of our profession. Touring their private artists’ studios showed me their work ethic and depth of talent.
Being able to attend the Novgorod Alliance trip can be described best by saying it was a privilege for me. Traveling with a wonderful group of talented people, participating in activities designed for our enrichment and joy and sharing our own individual gifts with others made this a once in a lifetime experience. I continually felt like I was on the receiving end of all the hard work the Kramers and everyone else had planned. I can remember that moment when Alex was introduced to us in St. Petersburg or the entire staff was waiting for our van on the hotel steps in Novgorod. All those moments made all the planning I did as an individual worthwhile. I hope what I did was more than enough.
The trip presented many contrasts. All the faces that I can never forget, all the landscapes, all the conversations, all the van rides, all the walks will be with me. The highs and the one low will never be forgotten. The experience of working with Russian artists and sharing a meal they prepared for us in their home was so amazing. Whoever gets to do that?
When all those artists and doctors come here, I hope to share with them in the same way. I can only extend my thanks for the opportunity and my hope that the time with those wonderful Russians will be a positive memory for them. I am so happy to have given to the orphanage. If nothing else, that one thing touched me. I will carry each face in my heart.
Thanks to you all.