On December 7 through 11, 2009, within the confines of the Program for the Implementation of State Policy of Russia concerning the compatriots abroad for 2008–2010, adopted by St.Petersburg Government in 2008, a delegation of Russian compatriots visited our city.
On December 7 through 11, 2009, within the confines of the Program for the Implementation of State Policy of Russia concerning the compatriots abroad for 2008–2010, adopted by St.Petersburg Government in 2008, a delegation of Russian compatriots visited our city. They came from 6 countries to participate in master classes on traditional Russian decorative arts – totally, 60 people:
Belgium – 2 persons
Germany – 6 persons
Lithuania – 18 persons
Norway – 1 person
Ukraine – 7 persons
Estonia – 26 persons.
These workshops were organized by the order of St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations at the St.Petersburg Academy of Postgraduate Paedagogical Education.
This educational project on arts included the sections devoted to Russian folk handicrafts and decorative and applied arts as an integral part of arts in general. Study of these sections is linear, from simple to complex, from single elements to the composition and artistic image. At the master classes, presented was a method of teaching the art of painting, the system of assignments and exercises for its mastering.
The purpose of master classes is to introduce and initiate of our compatriots abroad into folk art of Russia, its traditions and heritage. During the master classes, the following tasks were done:
- Reveal the origins of folk art and the role of arts and crafts in the society;
- Form an idea of a folk artist as of a creative individual, spiritually tied with the culture;
- To master the basic techniques of painting on wood.
Master classes were run by professional educators with extensive experience in the field of traditional Russian art. The participants were offered the following topics:
- Arts and crafts in Russia:
• Traditions in folk art. The origins of folk handicrafts.
• Formation of the crafts, the semantics of natural forms, the language of painting. Tools and accessories.
- Theory and methods of teaching the brush painting:
• Gorodets-style painting. Peculiarities of the composition and color solutions.
• Khokhloma-style painting. Peculiarities of the composition and color solutions.
• Volkhov-style painting. Peculiarities of the composition and color solutions.
• Petersburg-style painting. Peculiarities of the composition and color solutions.
– Graphic decoration:
• Mezen-style painting. Peculiarities of the composition and color solutions.
At the master-classes, all participants were provided with information and visual aid that include abstracts of master classes, assignments for practical exercises, texts to work with, and methodological recommendations.
Upon completion of training, each trainee received a certificate of attendance of 18-hour refresher course in Russian traditional applied arts.
In order to inspire the most enthusiastic impression about the contact with the culture of St.Petersburg among the participants of this unique project, a sightseeing city tour and an excursion to the State Russian Museum were also organized, as well as visiting a performance «Gala Concert of Ballet Dancers» at the Mariinsky Theatre.
With this and other similar feedback from the participants of the project given, it was decided to run similar workshops in 2010 too. From January 2010, St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations will receive and consider the applications from our compatriots abroad – professionals in Russian traditional applied arts – on participation in such master classes.
Source: Committee for External Relations of St.Petersburg