Catching up on some early May news. . . On May 8, 2021, a team from Annenkirche (St. Anne’s Lutheran Church in St. Petersburg) traveled to Palekh, Ivanovo Oblast, to attend the inauguration of an art center.
While there, the pastor of the church Rev. Raskatov participated in the roundtable discussion “The Future of Palekh” with leading Russian experts in modern art and creative industries.
The town of Palekh is known primarily for the Palekh miniature, a Russian folk handicraft of miniature painting on varnished articles made of papier-mâché (small boxes, cigarette and powder cases etc.) Following the October 1917 Revolution with its outspoken atheist ideology, the Palekh masters of iconography began to paint papier-mâché boxes while applying the same principles they had learned from painting icons.
The discussions were about revitalizing Palekh: the facility where they used to make varnished boxes has been fitted out to house Masterskiye Art Center. It will be developed as an art residence of modern local artists, preserving the cultural heritage of Palekh, the craft of miniature painting, iconography, and architecture.
Pastor Raskatov shared about his experience in preserving traditional culture in relevant forms and offered cooperation to the artists of Palekh.
Cordial thanks to the administration of the Governor of Ivanovo Oblast for their invitation to the inauguration of Masterskiye Art Center!
Photo credits: Oleg Pavlov