Vladimir:
Vladimir Yarish, a master, award-winning basket maker, has worked with birch bark for more than 24 years. Born in Qaraghandy, Kazakhstan, he moved to Novgorod Province. He has been teaching birch bark basketry at his studio in the Cultural Palace of the city of Veliky Novgorod since 1993. Beginning in 1997 Vladimir has been invited to teach classes all over the US.
Vladimir has published many articles on birch bark and traditional basket making for both academic journals and popular magazines. He is currently researching the history of traditional birch bark basketry, haunting, as permitted, every relevant museum and archeological site in Russia.
His works have been featured in the Hamburg Museum of Ethnology, Germany, the St. Petersburg Toy Museum, and the Novgorod State Museum of Architecture, History, and Fine Arts. He has participated in numerous exhibitions and won awards at home and abroad for his basket-making talents.
Ann:
In 1994, Vladimir was asked to go to the US to take part in an international event in Virginia where he would teach hundreds of children and give talks to interested groups. The High Country Basketry Guild was asked to help with the teaching, and Ann was among the volunteers.
The following year, a group of Americans were invited to take part in the cultural celebration in his city. Performing dance groups and artisans came from all over Russia and other parts of the world. And Ann too had reservations and said “no” the first time asked. But luckily, she was persuaded to go. She taught Indian dream catchers at the fair and at several schools—the dream catcher was and continues to be extremely popular. And the group met wonderful, generous, warm people everywhere.
Later, the idea to have Vladimir teach at a convention hit Ann. Using snail mail to make arrangements, he came in 1997 was the first of many conventions and visits. They have progressed from letters to emails, visits of a few weeks to a few months. Ann works out all the details for classes, traveling, and conventions. She helps with editing, writing, and now web stuff. She would much rather weave or quilt than do computer-related work...
Photography by:
Judy Kramer.
Although Judy has been involved with the photographic medium for more than thirty years, she is always learning something new. Her vision of the world through the camera's eye has grown, and she is always exploring new locations and experimenting on new ways to show viewers her impressions of the world. Auto junkyards, botanical gardens, destroyed buildings and objects--there is always something new to see. Judy also enjoys travel photography, and she's been fortunate to be able to travel in the last few years to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Galapagos Islands, Greece, Scandinavia and Russia (15 times).
Each year since November 1992, Judy has accompanied groups of healthcare professionals, artists, artisans and performers to Velikiy Novgorod, Russia, as the official photographer of the Novgorod Alliance. The Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the community of Velikiy Novgorod with humanitarian aid, improved communications, medical education and cultural exchanges. Judy's photographs from these trips have captured the interest of many people and have helped generate the support of many private sector businesses and individuals. Judy has had four photography exhibitions in Novgorod and one in Modena, Italy.
In addition to artistic photography, Judy has been photographing two- and three-dimensional art in her studio for professional artists.
For further information contact Judy at:
6909 Langley Place Phone: 941-351-1812
University Park, FL 34201 E-mail: fotofan716@comcast.net
Lance Keimig
