FOLK ART OF THE SOVIET UNION

1989. 168 pages, one map, seven regional commentaries by curators and researchers of the State Museum of Ethnography of the Peoples of the USSR, Leningrad. ISBN No. 0-914155-06-7.

FOLK ART OF THE SOVIET UNION — Reflections of a Rich Cultural Diversity of the Fifteen Republics was organized and presented by Mingei International in conjunction with the Soviet Art Festival, City of San Diego. This exhibition had Soviet curators and was held at the B Street Pier Cruise Ship Terminal as part of the Museum's outreach program. Following its presentation at Mingei International Museum, this exhibition traveled to the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum.

The exhibition provided the first opportunity outside the Soviet Union to view over 700 folk art objects from the 18th to 20th centuries, on loan from the State Museum of Ethnography, Leningrad. These objects used in daily living, included: rugs from Central Asia; Ukrainian glass and ceramics, weavings; textiles; furniture; clothing; jewelry, etc.

Excerpt from the book

Foreward Martha Longenecker,
Director, MINGEI INTERNATIONAL

Here is a unique first opportunity outside of the Soviet Union to see an overview of historical and contemporary art of the people living within the vast and varied geographical areas of the Soviet. Union.

This nation covers approximately one sixth of our world's land surface, stretches from the Arctic North to the deserts of Central Asia and extends almost 7,000 miles from the European borders in the west to China and the Pacific Ocean in the east. Within this vast territory are more than one hundred different ethnic groups, each with its own language, customs, and unique cultural traditions embodied in a wide variety of art forms.

The selections were made by MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM from the collections of one of the Soviet Union's largest museums, The State Museum of Ethnography of the Peoples of the U.S.S.R. in Leningrad.

Each object has been chosen for its aesthetic quality, craftsmanship, and regional character. All are indigenous art made by and for the people, in contrast to objects commercially produced for tourist consumption. Of unsurpassed beauty, they are used in daily life and reflect continuing changes in living traditions.

This documentary publication of the exhibition, Folk Art of the Soviet Union, is presented in the spirit of MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM'S continuing dedication to furthering understanding of the arts of people from all parts of the world.

INTRODUCTION Dr. O.A. Kondratyeva

The exhibition displays some 775 characteristic objects, dated in the 18th to 20th centuries. All are real masterpieces of folk art, chosen to present the unique features of the national cultures within the Soviet Union (the Russian Empire of the pre- Revolutionary period.)

This is the first time that the Museum has sent abroad such a large collection of rarities. The collection includes items of different origins. Some were made by professional artisans in -large centers of artistic crafts, located near the natural sources of raw materials, for sale in the Soviet Union and many other parts of the world. Others were made by folk masters for local everyday use by a limited number of people. In both categories will be seen typical traditional pieces together with "one-of-a-kind" masterpieces of folk art. Many materials and techniques are present, including articles made of wood and metal, carved ivory and ceramics, embroidery and carpets, textiles, furs and decorated clothing.

Most products of the folk were made for daily use; house utensils, agricultural and other implements, children's toys, furniture, musical instruments, clothes and various kinds of home furnishings-all were made by the hands of folk masters and are genuine creations of art. Their elegance, decorativeness and color demonstrate the eternal striving for beauty that is characteristic of humankind. In folk life and folk art, beauty goes hand in hand with the useful and expedient; the harmony of form and function is certainly one of the major characteristics of good folk art....