To this date the opening of the exhibition “We are 3 years old!”, which took place on January 15 at the Central City Library named after M.L. Kropyvnytskyi, was dedicated. Perhaps, for peacetime, the date would seem insignificant. But for war, it is very significant.
Sometimes it seems, says pani Valentyna, that almost two decades have passed since the beginning. So much has been done, experienced, gained, and lost during this time.
"And the main goal was to revive our culture, to unite amateurs. To provide them with support. To help them make their first creative path," says Valentyna Kryvtsova.
In addition to organizing art workshops, exhibitions, and art therapy sessions with the participation of temporarily displaced citizens, family members of the defenders of Ukraine, and the military personnel themselves, the team of the cultural and artistic association has geared its creativity towards a volunteer movement.
"Our special feature was the souvenir amulet products, which were always under the bulletproof vest near the heart in the pocket of our defenders. There was always not enough of them. And then the online project "Challenge: Creative Resistance to War" appeared. Thanks to this project and the support of our library, methodological center and the city department for culture and cultural heritage protection, we managed to find artists from the Mykolaiv region. To help those who needed this help," notes the head of the cultural and artistic association "Art-Spokusa".
Since April 2022 to this day, the Central City Library named after M.L. Kropyvnytskyi has been hosting the “Amulet for a Warrior” campaign with the support of the craftswomen of the Cultural and Artistic Association. Women gather in the Mykolaiv reading room on the occasion of state and religious holidays.
Craftswomen and library specialists weave camouflage nets. Those who can, work with paper materials, do something with their hands, make trench candles. They also knit warm socks, bake various delicacies. Talented residents of the hero city meet the needs of the defenders in balaclavas, blankets and plaids - everything that allows the fighters on the front line to stay warm in the bitter cold.
In total, the Cultural and Artistic Association "Art-Spokusa" has united over thirty masters, women and men. Some of them are in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, they do not stop being creative. The team behind the lines supports them in every way. They get in touch with them whenever possible. Sometimes they manage to involve them in exhibition events. So, over 60 master classes and about 40 planned exhibitions have been held over the course of three years.
"Indeed, today, during the war, and especially after the Victory, the question of how to unite and work together will arise. To restore Ukraine together. To create cultural values together. Therefore, unification, it seems to me, is the most important word in what is happening. I am very grateful to the artists and pani Valentyna for the fact that "Art-Spokusa" is alive. This is a very lively, diverse organism. And the City Council will always support this direction," emphasizes Yurii Liubarov, Head of the Department for Culture and Protection of Cultural Heritage.
Gradually, the creative family of "Art-Spokusa" is growing. Talented residents of the region and the city are joining the association. Valentyna Kryvtsova and the entire team of "Art-Spokusa" are happy to cooperate with them. Last year, the well-known Mykolaiv photographer and graphic artist Oksana Davydova became a member of the public and creative association. She recalls that it was thanks to "Art-Spokusa" that the people of Mykolaiv got a wonderful opportunity and a chance to get acquainted with her numerous talents.
"Because it was she who gave me the courage to share my creativity with people. Because I wouldn't have dared to do it for a long time. Although I've been creative since childhood," shares Oksana Davydova.
At the exhibition "We are 3 years old!" 25 craftsmen and artists from Mykolaiv and the region presented their best works. These are more than 60 original products from traditional and modern art forms: embroidered paintings, artistic painting, painting and graphics, Ukrainian towels, Easter eggs making, carvings, author's motanka doll, quilling, artistic wood carving, interior textile doll, felting, topiary and straw weaving. The exhibition included not only new products, but also those original works that were most liked by the audience and art connoisseurs of "Art-Spokusa".
An unforgettable musical atmosphere of celebration at the opening of the exhibition was presented to all present by Honored Artist of Ukraine, holder of the Honorary Award "Star of Culture of the City of Mykolaiv" Oleksandr Sychov, artist of the Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theater Nadia Shelest, and the middle school choir of Children's Music School No. 2, director Liubov Dragomoretska.
