Yekaterinburg, Russia - Cleaning, helping infirm people – such forms of volunteer activity are traditional, therefore members of UPF, Ural chapter, were happy to meet creative citizens who could offer new ideas for charitable projects and carry out a joint creative project on April 17.
For the people who need care and attention, a series of meetings took place in which they, guided by professionals, could become familiar with art and each of them could try his or her own hand in painting.
The leader of the Eco-Center “NatURALia,” A. Berdova, together with director of the Eco-Center, O. Korniyenko, conducted three charitable lessons in social painting: at children’s home 6; in the orphanage “Otrada,” and in the rehabilitation center for children and teenagers with limited abilities “Talisman.”
Social painting is a combined art of a collective character. A team of participants by their joint efforts create one image on one spacious plane under guidance of an experienced teacher. The theme is discussed beforehand, but concrete images appear in the process of creation by all the participants within one setting in time and space. The level of their skill doesn’t matter, and participants can be of different ages. Through such cooperation, they become closer to each other, and this is really what all of us need in our lives. The painting will be good only if the participants are able to make close contact with each other. This is the meaning of social painting.
It is impossible to overestimate the important role of the instructor. He must internally create the general plan of the resultant picture, be able to help each participant, and create atmosphere of friendship, trust and joy.
There were altogether 40 participants. Their unanimous opinion was that they should meet again. Deputy Director of the Rehabilitation Center, Tatyana Georgievna Moston, said: “The meeting was organized by volunteers in which adults and children together were painting a picture of summer. We all liked this kind of art very much: the process and result give a realistic view of summer!”
Tatyana Azeva shared that after the event she felt inspiration and a growing desire to go on with her creative work. Also she felt well relaxed and happy. Participants expressed their gratitude towards the people who initiated the project and helped carry it out.