From: Brad Allen
Subject: Fw: Ukraine festival invitation
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006

Just received this. Perhaps it could go on the website or into the next newsletter. It doesn't hurt to have some international news, and quite a few OABA members seem to travel.

Brad

----- Original Message -----
From: opolubotko1
To: < Brad Allen>
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 8:21 AM
Subject: Ukraine festival invitation


Dear Canadian friends!

We have the honour to invite you to the participation in the spring
international meeting of artist blacksmiths and the exhibition of
sculptures at the city Art museum which will be held May 5th through
May 7th in Ivano-Frankivsk, Western Ukraine.
For the popularization of the artistic blacksmithing the 4th
International Festival of Blacksmiths and the 5th
exhibition "Ornamental Forging-2006" will take place, and
blacksmiths from 17 regions of Ukraine and other countries such as
France, the USA, Great Britain, Liechtenstein, Austria, Finland,
Russia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany, the Czech republic, Poland,
Italy, Israel, Belorussia, Hungary, Holland will participate in the
event.

Every year we plan a joint blacksmith project that is made during
the festival. This year all persons wishing will be given the
following task: to forge some of your favourite decorative elements
that are 15-20 cm long (they can be nails, horseshoes, animals'
heads, volutes, leaves, flowers etc.). These elements joined into a
bunch will form an original "Master's Bouquet". Each of the created
bouquets will be a constituent of the big composition "Bouquet of
Masters". These small bouquets will be installed on the spiral
surface of the construction according to the inclosed draft. The
composition will be installed as a memorable sign at one of the
squares of the city.

One of the main events of the festival will be the formation and
opening of the exhibition "Ornamental Forging -2006". The author
works of the craftsmen and those of the creative groups are accepted
for the exhibition. It will take place 7th through 20th May, 2006 in
Ivano-Frankivsk.

Within the framework of the festival it is planned to conduct a
conference and slide show of the works of Ukrainian and foreign
craftsmen.

Making of the decorative composition "Spring" for the main square of
the city was the joint project in 2005. All persons who wish to
leave their gift to the city may bring the composition on this topic
(it can be flowers, bouquets, animals, insects, etc.- everything
that we associate with spring, awakening of the nature. The general
dimensions of the metal decorative composition "Spring" are as
follows: 9 x 1.5 m; so the size of the personal panel may be from 30
to 90 centimeters).

For the second year in the row the traditional Artistic
Blacksmithing Festival and exhibition coincide with another
interesting event: the Day of the City of Ivano-Frankivsk and this
is a peculiarity of our festival.

Exactly these days there will be the celebration of the city holiday
with folk concerts, dancing, festivities with traditional Ukrainian
food in the same time and on the same square with the blacksmith
festival! So, this is a unique chance to see new people, understand
another country's character, feel its spirit and to participate in
the artistic blacksmith festival in the same time!
Carpathian mountains are in the West of the country, a place where
you will fully feel and better understand ancient culture and folk
traditions of Ukrainian people because they have been preserved best
in our mountainous part of the country. There is always something to
do and see in any time of the year, both in winter and summer,
spring and autumn!
The festival is held under the patronage of the Department of
Culture of the City Administration, Ivano-Frankivsk Art Museum,
Ivano-Frankivsk department of the Union of Artists of Ukraine, Ivano-
Frankivsk department of the Union of Architects of Ukraine, the
Precarpathian Centre of Ukrainian Academy of Architecture.
We would be extremely glad to see you and your friends at our fest.
Mass media representatives will get the accreditation at the
festival, accommodation including.
We ask you to fill in and send the application form to our address
before April 15, 2006 or to confirm your participation by e-mail or
telephone.
If you need an official invitation or accommodation to be reserved -
feel free to write to e-mail: kf-arma@if.net.ua or
opolubotko1@yahoo.com; or call us: tel/fax: +380 342 55 94 92.
So far, guests from European Union do not need visas to come to
Ukraine.
More information about Ukrainian festivals of recent years you may
find at www.kf-arma.com.ua/ua/news/


Ukrainian Union of Artist Blacksmiths
Sergiy Polubotko, President

The organizational committee of the Blacksmith Festival:
Department of Culture of the City Administration
Carpathian Tourist Board