July 5, 2021, in the creative space "Artinov" (Vinnytsia) the opening press conference of the project "Revival of traditions of Bar ceramics v.2.0", which is implemented by the public organization "Bar City Amateur Theater" together with the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture and the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies, with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation and Department of Culture and Creative Industries of Vinnytsia Regional State Administration.
The press conference was attended by: Project Manager, Director of Barsky Moscow Art Theater Roman Grigoriev, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Creative Industries of the Regional State Administration Valentina Troyan, director of the Barsky Moscow Art Theater Irina Dedova, Barsky Mayor (in 2015-2020) .) Artur Tsytsyursky, Honored Artist of Ukraine Volodymyr Tytarenko, heads of the studio-studio "BarVinOk" Maxim and Tetyana Binkovsky, well-known in Podillya master potters Victoria Nikolaeva, Lyudmila Filinska, Mykhailo Didenko and Olga Tsybulya.
As Roman Grigoriev, Director of the Barsky Moscow Art Theater, noted: “The project“ Revival of Barsky Ceramics Traditions v.2.0 ”is a continuation of the project of the same name implemented by our team with the support of UKF in 2018. This time, we decided to create a pandemic. trilingual virtual 3-D museum of Bar ceramics, which will collect previously discovered samples of products and those that will be found and recorded during research expeditions in Vinnytsia and museums of Ukraine, where the project team will go this summer. In order to promote Bar ceramics as a Podolsk brand, a portfolio of souvenirs and educational products will be developed. The culmination of the scientific component will be held jointly with the Kharkiv State Academy of Culture and the Ukrainian Center for Cultural Studies September 12, 2021 All-Ukrainian online conference "The place of Bar ceramics in the pottery heritage of Ukraine" and a video series of thematic lectures and workshops.
Why is the theater engaged in the revival of this traditional artistic craft? The answer to this question within the press conference was given by the deputy director of the NGO "Barsky Moscow Art Theater", the main director of the theater Irina Dedova: "Theater is an art that unites and brings back to life. Bar ceramics are worth learning about not only from the pages of textbooks. She deserves to be! And to be not only preserved, but also revived and renewed. And the theater can do it. "
"National culture is based on customs, rituals, traditions, etc. - that is, for intangible cultural heritage, - said the Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Creative Industries of the Regional State Administration Valentina Troyan. - Historically, we have lost a lot in terms of the development of Bar ceramics. That is why today the project team is doing a very important job to preserve this artistic center in Podillya, in the city of Bari. Intangible cultural heritage is one of the most promising areas of development of creative industries. This contributes to the sustainable development of territorial communities. And I am sure that this project will be of great importance not only for the city of Bar, but also for Vinnytsia and the whole of Ukraine. I think that this will be a very significant contribution not only to the promotion of domestic intangible cultural heritage, but also to the development of national culture of Podillya and the representation of Ukraine around the world through a bowl or jug, seemingly small but unique in history and essence.
Honored Artist of Ukraine Volodymyr Tytarenko spoke about Bar Ceramics as a brand that not only has a rich history, but also a powerful potential for revival and development. "I am incredibly pleased with what is happening in Bari. These projects, these activities, these people who have gathered and united, - Mr. Volodymyr shared. - All this is logical and sooner or later it should have happened. This required momentum. And here are just gathered people who took this first step towards a common cause, put their hands, their faith and indifference. And it all definitely works and is gaining momentum. This is the aesthetic core of Bar ceramics, which has been created over the centuries, today it is becoming an impetus for the revival of cultural life, so that children and young people are proud of the heritage they have. And they will be proud, because this project is doomed to success. "
The master potters, who reproduce the famous Bar ceramics in different parts of Vinnytsia, were asked a common question: "Where did Bar ceramics start for you?". Victoria Nikolaeva admitted that it was "love at first sight" which for four years doesn't let her go and Victoria passes this love to all who are not indifferent to pottery and national culture. "It happened thanks to Volodymyr Tytarenko and his book" Bowls of Podillya ", as well as while working in the regional center of folk art," said Mykhailo Didenko. - Bar is a very bright pottery center of Podillya, stylistically integral, distinguished by a high level of skill and developed guild pottery. The products are very high quality, with interesting plots, traditional forms. It is extremely interesting to reproduce these things, because it was necessary to choose the technology, to find this special green copper color, to practice in calligraphy of painting. For Olga Tsybula, the impetus for starting work in the technique of Bar ceramics was the first project of 2018 and the subsequent work of Bar residents on the revival of their traditional pottery. Lyudmyla Filinska shared that she came to Bar ceramics because of studying a traditional Podolsk toy, with which the master was introduced by her mentor Oleksiy Lutsyshyn. "To recreate your authentic ceramics and bring it to a high level - barchans, you fully deserve it," - summed up the performance of the masters, Ms. Lyudmila.
A key factor in reviving the traditions of Bari ceramics is the creation of a pottery center directly in the city of Bari. Currently, the Binkowski family of artists, who are the heads of the BarVinOk studio, is engaged in this work. "We are grateful for the faith, support and help of our experienced colleagues from all over Vinnytsia, for access to originals, modern products, photographs," said Mr. Maxim. - It is much easier to start something when there is already a foundation and a real result that can be taken in hand. This inspired us and we, having nothing to do with clay before (although working in many art techniques), decided to give it a try. We work on hand-made circles, we experiment with our local clay, because bar products are interesting because they are made of local material, which differs in weight and other indicators. We managed to find it, burn the first products (so that it even kept a pile), and from this, in fact, it all began. Then we began to dive deeper into the theory, the technological process, they believed in us and children began to come to us even from the age of three, who are already interested in touching clay and making their first products. We are happy that thanks to the project we managed to join the cohort of artists who sincerely support the revival of Bar ceramics. "
The meeting was summed up at the press conference by Svitlana Travneva, a well-known poetess, journalist and teacher, member of the board of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the Union of Slavic Writers of Ukraine: Very simple words, but they probably touched everyone's heart. So, why does this "pile" stick in the bar? Because they are alive. And if they set to work, then everything will work out for them and everything will "stick to the pile" in Bar. May God make you all shine, barchans. I bow low to your talents, which are only in Bar, and, most importantly, people.
For reference: For the project team, this is the fourth cultural initiative in the Bar Territorial Community, supported by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. In particular, at the expense of the Barsky Moscow Art Theater Foundation, together with the Barsky City Council, they implemented the first project "Revival of Barsky Ceramics Traditions", staged the play "One Hundred Thousand", played by ATO participants, and implemented the Equality Theater project. on the socialization of visually impaired people. The total amount of grant support in 2018-2020 amounted to almost UAH 1 million.
