With respect and kindness — from Polotsk

We have learnt about the creative plans of Svetlana Boltrushevich, whose unique panel picture was presented to the President

Five years ago, Svetlana Boltrushevich from Polotsk changed her profession from a lawyer to a creative one. Today, the original works of the deputy director at the Polotsk District Centre of Crafts and National Culture are recognised far beyond Vitebsk Region. One of them — a panel picture with views of ancient Polotsk made in the traditional patchwork technique — was presented as a gift to the Head of State at a meeting with active members of the Belarusian Women’s Union in spring. Now the craftswoman is getting ready for her first large personal exhibition. 

Let it serve as a talisman

“There is deep significance in the fact that Aleksandr Grigorievich [Lukashenko] was presented with the panel picture My Ancient Polotsk by the Belarusian Women’s Union,” noted Svetlana Boltrushevich, a member of the Belarusian Union of Folk Art Masters. “This land is inextricably linked with the birth of our statehood and the name of St. Euphrosyne. The heavenly patroness of Belarus, who selflessly loved people and the Motherland, laid the foundation for the women’s movement on the Belarusian land. It took me a month and a half to make the panel picture. I wanted it to serve as a kind of talisman: with respect and kindness — from Polotsk. I am very glad that our President now has this piece of art.” 
Her hometown with more than a thousand years of history is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Svetlana, “Strolling through the ancient yet modern city of Polotsk, you get charged with cool energy. You want to live and create! My mobile phone is always at the ready — I take photos of the beautiful things to later transfer them to a new panel picture.”  

Talent by inheritance 

An active Polotsk resident — a seamstress by education, a construction materials technician, and a lawyer — is not used to sitting idly by. Svetlana with her husband Aleksandr restored old furniture, made a collection of New Year toys of cotton wool for the home Christmas tree, and even got excited about the idea of mastering the Richelieu technique. According to the craftswoman, she draws so much inspiration from the world around that there are not enough hours in the day to implement all ideas. It is not surprising that Svetlana Boltrushevich has a lot of victories under her belt, including at international competitions. Although she joined the Centre of Crafts and National Culture not so long ago, all her life has been associated with creativity — thanks to her grandmother Sofia Kozhemyako from the village of Yachnoye, Stolbtsy District. The seamstress, famous throughout the district, instilled in her granddaughter respect for and interest in labour, so that the girl could create beauty and cosiness with her own hands. For Svetlana Boltrushevich, her grandmother embodied a myriad of talents, “She sewed outfits for the whole district, embroidered and knitted amazingly. One of the bright episodes of my childhood is when my granny tasked me with an intricate embroidery of a peacock. Years later, I found out that the overseas bird ‘flew’ from the painted carpet ‘malyavanka’ by Belarusian primitivist painter Alena Kish. It turns out that my grandmother saw it somewhere and copied the plot.”  
Doll clothes marked Svetlana’s breakthrough in sewing. Now outfits by the craftswoman can even be sent to haute couture fashion shows. When Svetlana showcased her linen collection — dresses and suits complemented with ethnic gerdan decorations [narrow braided beaded strips worn around the neck] — at the regional festival-competition Fashion Divertissement during the Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk International Festival of Arts, it was a real sensation! The most frequent question from the guests of the festival was: ‘Is this for sale?’ 
Knitting was tricky for Svetlana at first, but over time, she could easily knit chic cardigans for herself and her three children. The eldest son Ivan is an officer now and serves in a military unit in Slutsk, daughter Sofia studies at the Military Academy of Belarus, and the youngest Kolya is nine and dreams of becoming a rescuer fireman. 

Grannies lead the way 

Svetlana Boltrushevich considers granny dolls to be her creative feature. Around five years ago, she decided to take part in the Zabava traditional toy and doll competition, “I wondered if I could surprise the jury with cute granny dolls, whose image has been with us since childhood. I worked hard for several months to make a collection of my 30cm grannies. Each one had its own character and appearance: some of them wore national clothes, some followed the fashion of past years. Neat kerchiefs, aprons and belts, tiny felt boots, fur coats and shawls... How many kind, heartfelt stories are associated with these dolls! Once, a visitor at an exhibition was impressed to tears: ‘This is my granny!’” 
Not long ago, Svetlana formalised her craftsmanship activity and now offers her products for sale. Notably, granny dolls are among the most popular items. One granny unexpectedly became the star of the Grandma Has Arrived! Belarusian-Russian project. The craftswoman recounted that she had given the doll, named Sofia Vasilievna, to a teacher from Lyceum No. 590 in St. Petersburg. Later, touching photo greetings began to arrive in Polotsk — the teachers of the lyceum, having introduced the children to the doll granny, took to sharing memories of their own grandmothers. During the labour lessons, they even made objects for Sofia Vasilievna that always come in handy for the diligent housewife. How do you like the miniature wooden rolling pin for pies, which, as we know, are always tastier at grandma’s?    

BY THE WAY 

Svetlana Boltrushevich’s personal exhibition is planned to open next year in Vitebsk. The craftswoman will present works of art created based on the panel picture given as a gift to the President. The exposition will certainly include handmade dolls, including those dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory.

By Anna Naumova
 
Photos from Svetlana Boltrushevich's personal archive