More than 400 young artists and teachers from regions of Russia, countries of the former CIS and abroad became guests of our town and "Alexandrovskaya Sloboda." Moscow Region, Perm Krai, Udmurtia, the Komi Republic, Estonia, Armenia, Serbia, the Donetsk People's Republic, Belgorod, Yaroslavl, Vladimir — this is an incomplete geographic palette of places from which the children arrived as part of the implementation of the multinational plein air project for young artists. (Its organizers are the Interregional Youth Public Organization "House of Peace"). The event is held with the support of regional ministries of internal policy, education and youth policy, the regional Public Chamber, the Russian Academy of Arts and the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs.
This year Plein Air-24 was dedicated to three dates — the 80th anniversary of Vladimir Oblast, the 1000th anniversary of Suzdal and the 100th anniversary of the writer Vladimir Soloukhin, in whose honor the event was named "Along the Vladimir Lanes." "Alexandrovskaya Sloboda" — the historical capital of Russian statehood — thus our town was thematically designated for the whole region.
More than 400 people — teenagers, their accompanying teachers and organizers — entered the grounds of the Alexandrov Kremlin on the morning of August 18 as a creative contingent. The museum staff arranged an equally creative theatrical welcome for the talented guests. On the central Kremlin square they were solemnly and sonorously, as befits their rank, greeted by Tsar Ivan the Terrible himself with his wife. Dressed in rich historical costumes and delivering original words of greeting against the backdrop of the Raspyatskaya bell tower, they immediately brought an unmistakable medieval color to the proceedings. Their greeting became a true mini-performance.
It was taken up by Marina Konstantinovna Rybakova, the current mistress of the "Sloboda...", serving as acting director of the museum-reserve. Observing the tight timing of the event, she literally, in an express format, told the young guests in 15 minutes about the historical uniqueness of the place they had come to.
"We are glad to receive such distinguished guests. The main part of the plein air participants are here in the Sloboda. They will capture the most interesting historical locations. Later all the works will be presented at an exhibition, and we hope that now people in many different corners of Russia will learn about us," said Marina Rybakova, acting director of the Alexandrovskaya Sloboda museum-reserve.
Anna Vasilievna Kuznetsova, head of the Administration of Alexandrovsky District ("its mistress," as M.K. Rybakova introduced her) spoke about the sense of pride felt by the inhabitants of our ancient land,
"...blessed, hospitable, picturesque. Its history is written by illustrious names; it is not only Ivan the Terrible, but also Marina Tsvetaeva and Osip Mandelstam. Being here, you will feel the whole range of emotions that great people experienced at different times on our land. And we are very proud of this,"
The welcoming part concluded with a speech by the deputy head of the Alexandrovsky District administration, Svetlana Vyacheslavovna Povalaeva; she, in a military-like manner, clearly familiarized the large creative delegation with the schedule of their stay on Alexandrov land. At the end of this pleasant meeting — a group photo and numerous photo sessions with the colorful historical characters of the Sloboda — Ivan the Terrible and his tsarina.
And then until the evening — pencils, paints, easels, sketches and the emerging beauty of the medieval capital city on the canvases and in the drawings of the young talents.
