Winter in Primitive Art

Today’s session of the GABFEST Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was planned as a Ukrainian Christmas session and its aim was to introduce relevant topics for the discussion.

To create a Xmas atmosphere the Club’s moderator has introduced the topic “Winter in Primitive Art”. This topic allowed to introduce to the foreign club members world known Ukrainian primitive artists.

We started the discussion with viewing several videos about the recent exhibition of Maria Prymachenko in Kyiv.  The peculiarity of the display was the 3D exhibits of Prymachenko’s creatures made from straw by a Russian sculptor.

Other Ukrainian primitive artists were introduced in a slide show “Winter in Ukrainian Primitive Art”. The works of Marfa Tymchenko, Ivan  Skolozdra,  Elysaveta Myronova  impressed the audience with their vivid colors and fantasy style images of humans and animals.

The American Primitive art was introduced to the club members through the works of a world known artists Grandma Moses. We have watched several videos about her life and enjoyed her works. The simple realism, nostalgic atmosphere and luminous color with which Grandma Moses portrayed homely farm life and rural countryside won her a wide following. She was able to capture the excitement of winter's first snow, Thanksgiving preparations and the new, young green of oncoming spring.

Gay color, action and humor enlivened her portrayals of such simple farm activities as maple sugaring, soap-making, candle-making, haying, berrying and the making of apple butter.

In person, Grandma Moses charmed wherever she went. A tiny, lively woman with mischievous gray eyes and a quick wit she rarely failed to do a little painting every day even at the age of 100 years.

The second part of the session was dedicated to the traditions of Orthodox Xmas celebration in Ukraine. We have explained to our foreign friends what are the typical Xmas dishes.

At the end of the session the numerous newcomers introduced themselves and listened to the introductions of the regular club members.

The session was very educational and was enjoyed by all the participants.

Participants – 23 persons.

Have a look at more pictures, please