Season of Russian crafts

Students from Year 8 and 9 were very excited to welcome Oksana Sekacheva, founder, organizer and educator of "Season of Russian crafts", a workshop that encourages the interaction of Russian and British cultures.

We learnt about handmade clay toys, sculptures and whistles made by the best artists in the field from different regions of Russia such as Filimonovo (Tula Oblast), Abashevo (Penza Oblast), Hludnevo (Kaluga Oblast), Kargopol (Arkhangelsk Oblast).

The project demonstrates the diversity of this peasant craft, its uniqueness and expressiveness and to understand the Russia of ordinary people through folk arts, colour, shapes and symbols.

We were lucky enough to take part in a masterclass where students had a go at clay modelling themselves and hand painted their own whistle in the authentic Russian style of Filimonovo.

Year 9 student, Eva said "It was a very nice experience to have a Russian lady visit and teach us about origins of different styles of Russian toys. It was very interesting learning about the history of ceramic art and it was fun making toys."