Great interest among students, teachers, and guests of the Baltic International Academy was sparked by the exhibition of ancient crafts and the art of Old Believers - Pomors, organized in the BIArt gallery by the Latvian Old Believer Society named after I.N. Zavaloko and the Society for the Culture and Development of Old Believers in Estonia.
Opening the exhibition, its curator, member of the Union of Artists of Latvia Valentin Danilenko reminded that its organizer is the chairman of the Old Believer Society named after I. N. Zavaloko, one of the first graduates of the Baltic International Academy, Pyotr Alekseev, who has done much to popularize the ancient culture of Old Belief. Among his long-time friends is the famous Estonian artist, woodcarver, icon painter, and children's writer, hereditary Old Believer Pavel Varunin. He encouraged the Old Believers of Estonia to showcase their works at our academy.
The core of the exhibition consists of unique modern carved icons, among which the portraits of all twelve apostles attract special attention. These are the works of Pavel Varunin himself. Here, visitors can get acquainted with his books and luboks created in the ancient Old Believer style.
No one was left indifferent by the working copy of the printing press of the renowned Gutenberg, on which Old Believers still print the famous luboks today. Exhibition participants could not only view it but also print souvenirs for themselves. They did this after a master class conducted by Pavel Varunin and Estonian folk craftsman Heikke Puldma.
However, the ladies were more interested in the master class on ancient fabric decoration conducted by Marina Varunina. With her help, they learned the basics of fabric printing and made original scarves adorned with ornaments and drawings.
And as the chairman of the Old Believer Society named after I. N. Zavaloko, Pyotr Alekseev, rightly emphasized, this exhibition of ancient Old Believer crafts will remain in the memory of its participants for a long time, as they touched them with their own hands.
Spiritual mentor of the Riga Epiphany Pomor Old Believer community Viktor Sitnikov, welcoming the guests, noted that the Old Believers - Pomors of Estonia set a good example of preserving and renewing ancient Old Believer crafts.
Pavel Varunin sincerely thanked the Baltic International Academy and the BIArt gallery for their hospitality and attention to the ancient culture of the Old Believers - Pomors.
The exhibition is located in the educational building of the BMA at Valerija Seile Street, 1/4 and will last until the end of February.
