NCCA Kronstadt Artist Residency Archives

For my Muse

Softly, softly touch my forehead

lovely and holy you look upon me

for when I was soft with youth

you were there

for when I was old and worn

you were there

Kindly, kindly cover my head

benevolent and with compassion

you look towards me

for when I was cold and aloof

you were there

for when I was lava and fiery

you were there

Gently, gently cross my chest

forgiving and loving you see me

for when I was alone and a cast away

you were there

for when I was a cajoler and praised by many

you were there

Warmly, warmly you touch my feet

closing my casket the same way you rocked my cradle

you are here

by Anja Marais

By Anja Marais|2017-05-02T12:57:05-04:00July 13th, 2013|

Folk the Great

– Somewhere in a park in St Petersburg, Russia

We are all sitting around

Peter the Great.

At his feet memorial flowers still

holding on to its faded glory.

Folk songs braid with bird song

up in the tree tops.

The children carousel the heavy bronze,

even the sailors loosen their upper buttons.

Peter still proudly commands the

heavy putty grey ships,

anchored in front of his metal gaze.

The fleet stares back at the commotion

and sigh for a job well done.

we sing without pretense

we play without inhibitions

we enjoy the sun without being vain

Later as the accordion notes and the collective voices

ebb and clash with birds, footsteps and breeze –

the soldiers return unwillingly to their bunks.

by Anja Marais

By Anja Marais|2017-05-02T12:57:05-04:00June 21st, 2013|

Inside the Artist Studio: Russian artist Alexei Vermishev

Artist: Alexei Vermishev
Born:1954
Located: St. Petersburg, Russia
Background: Alexei Vermishev was born in Saratov and worked as an artist in the Saratov Theater and studied at the Saratov Art College. He worked for an extended time at the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. He is a traditional trained oil-painter that approaches his subject of objects and the female model with a modern style. Alexei lived and worked in various places including Finland, Barcelona and other parts of Europe, where he came in contact with the work of European modern painters.

Alexei’s studio was an array of humor, wit and a tinge of innocent madness just like that of its inhabitant. Apparently he enjoys working in his studio in the presence of a cat, the rumor goes that at one point this painter had 20 street cats that will regularly come and visit him in his studio! The below slideshow is an exploration of the surroundings of his studio.

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By Anja Marais|2017-05-02T12:57:05-04:00June 17th, 2013|

The white night’s ink

the white night’s shadows

run like spilled ink down

the hills and drip its puddles

from pedestrians feet

the trees cypher light in broad strokes

of brushed sumi liquid over the earth

jumping puddle, river and streets

black mercury pools of shapes

and lines of gestalt fingerprints

a display on the absolute of gravity

and when the rain comes

the pools reflect the pedestrians shadows

back up like grounded butterflies

by Anja Marais

By Anja Marais|2017-05-02T12:57:06-04:00June 15th, 2013|

Inside the Artist Studio: Russian Icon artist Yury Stupitsa

Artist: Yury Stupitsa (Юрий ступица)
Born:1954
Located: Kronstadt, St. Petersburg, Russia
Background: Yury Stupitsa is an Icon painter registered with the UNESCO international artist federation. He started his studies in theater at the Odess School for Theatre & Art and later at the St. Petersburg Repin Institute of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. Today he does commissions and restoration work mostly for the Russian Orthodox Church. His work is displayed internationally in collections in Germany, France, Brazil, Israel and Finland.

Yury’s studio was bright with a view over the city that included Cathedrals where his work is installed in. He loves to collect items that brings history into his studio for companionship. You can view photographs in the below slideshow which was taken in this ‘sacred’ space.

{EDIT: I originally had his name as Tupitsa but is name has been changed to Stupitsa}

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By Anja Marais|2017-05-02T12:57:06-04:00June 14th, 2013|