Gallery
Untitled
Larisa Samarina, adult
Volgograd, Russia
Editors Note: This painting addressees the ecological impact that the dam at Volshki has had on the Volga River. Because of the tempeture increase in the Volga River (5 degrees since the dam’s creation) the population of the sturgeon is almost extinct. their spawning was greatly curtailed because of this increase. The three figures are shown with empty plates to symbolize that the sturgeon is all but gone. the fire in the front of the painting depicts a forest fire that took place the summer of our visit That took out many acres of hardwood trees.
Gallery
Still Life
Sergei Krylov, adult
Volgograd, Russia
This is a simple half a glass of water. no one thinks about a half a glass of water but someday this half a glass could save your life.
Editors Note: When we visited Sergie in his studio he was working on aseries of painting called “The loneliness of Everyday Objects”. The idea was to paint a new still life every day and imbue the work with personal feeling so that the still lives become a sort of diary of his life. I was amazed at how Sergie integrated the river painting in with the series he was working on.
Artist Gallery
Beauty Will Save The World
Helen Orlova, adult
Volgograd, Russia
This painting by Helen Orlova reflects the pristine beauty of certain places alon the banks of the Volga River. Some spots on the river are restricted to keep people from trodding on the sensitive flora and fauna. We where lucky enough to visit one of these restriceted areas with a professor from the ecological institute. The beach we went to had a field of wild flowers which i am reminded of when i study this painting.
Artist Gallery
Portrait of the Volga River
Bernice Davidson, adult
Summertown, Tennessee USA
The bio region of the volga river in Volgograd is a fertile area known as an alluvial fan. The river breaks up into many tributaries and the soil is so rich and black it is known as the “Kitchen Garden” of Russia.
My painting shows this fan formation of the river . The images found in the river are inspired by designs made by an ancient tribe of warriors known as Sematrians who lived in this area around 2,000 B.C. They were a matriarchal society of fierce warriors. We learned that the women of this tribe had to have performed successfully in battle before they were permitted to marry.
Artist Gallery
Swimmer
Katya Samoilenko, age 15
Volgograd, Russia
Water….fresh and clean water, clear feeling
man, nature, and under water world are a united whole.
We must love everything that surrounds us.
Editors Note: There was a great controversy over swimming in the Volga River when we where in Russia. One of the first questions we where asked at a press conference was “Will you swim in the Volga river?”. We answered “No” telling them we had heard that the Volga was quite polluted due to all the industries along it’s shores from St. Petersburg to the Caspian Sea. Some people present got very vocal at this point some yelling that the Volga was fine for swimming and others yelling that no one should swim in it. Katya shows the joys of swimming along the river despite the industries along its shores.
Artist Gallery
Volgograd
Elena Menshenev, age 15
Volgograd, Russia
It is my city, Volgograd
In the summer green sea infinite Blue Sky
and of course cries of the gulls accompany
the ship floating along the Volga.
My home is not far from this river.
I paint my city.
Let people in the city understand in the end
we are the losers if the environment has no more meaning.