How i was able to connect Gratest Hermitage with a

Part one

How I was able to connect Greatest Hermitage Museum with the greatest Mariinsky Theater.

Beginning of July, 2017, Summer. I’m in my apartment in Shopron, Hungary. Most of my time I devote to repair damaged apartment by gipsy people, who moved in it in September with the help of local agency, destroyed all my woodwork I did last Summer during a three months, cleaning all walls from dirt and a color pencil drawings by a child, spraying upper part of high sealing so mold  will disappear from a steam from a bathroom, cleaning destroyed refrigerator, washing machine  brown oily stove, broken windows, and broken lock on a door to my aoartment.

On 8th of July I must start my drawing classes in Shamorin, Slovakia, organized by Irenka Szusova, a director of Art and Music School there. Since we became friends when my son Aleks was 6 years old, went to a Hungarian Camp in a small village and there Irenka’s son Denash, making a life - time friendship, Irenka started to apply for a grant so I will teach  small group of talented students students advanced extensive drawing class for about a week from 9-5 pm. So I did it already for many years because students, who took my classes made real and amazing progress and were able to pass tests in different colleges in Bratislava, even other countries, like Germany, Switzerland, Denmark.
I was looking forward to those classes. Some of those students even joined me on Instagram and Facebook.
But, still being in Sopron, I received an email from Sila Avakum, at that time, main photographer of Mariinsky Theater of Sankt Petersburg, Russia.
She contacted me through a recommendation of another her friend also previouasely ballerina of the same theater, but at the moment living in Italy and Sankt Petersburg.
Who doesn’t  know, there are two greatest Ballet theaters in Russia where the biggest and most popular productions of ballet performed with most outstanding and the best trained dancers productions of the world exist: Bolshoy Theater in Moscow and Mariinsky Theater in Sankt Petersburg.
During our conversation, I expressed my dream of a long time: to take photos of ballerinas of Sankt Petersburg.
Sila said that she knows one new one, who just entered Mariinsky Theater and possibly she will have one free day in her very busy schedule for a donating her time to model for me, if I will be in Sankt Petersburg this Summer. Actually, we even figured out, that Daria (Dasha), possibly will have time on 24th of July.
It made me so happy! I completely forgot about problems of my apartment and put them away! WhilecIvwas going to get tickets from BratislVa Airport, Sila Avakum said that another young Ballerina, agreed to model for me on the same day - July 24!
What a luck!!!! My dream is realized!
I was lucky with my ticket as well! The prize was only $130 around trip!
After I finished my drawing classes in Shamorin, on 18th ifcJuly I flew through Moscow to Sankt Oetersburg.
During a transition from one plane to another, which was flying to a Sankt Petersburg, 4 soldiers, who were checking a laggage decided to take advantage of their power and asked me to put on their table all what I had in my small suitcase and a back - pack.
I silently did that. I had no fear, but silently was observing how they had a pleasure to take each piece of my unusual content and to express theifvlower over an American guy.
s a part of my content I had a plastic bottle, full of brushes, pencils, eraiser, even one nails file, watercolor small block with a 140 lb acid free paper, set of watercolors - gift of my father I had since I was 15 years old. I imagine all what I had in my possession was pretty unusual, relating to what regular travelers had with them - gifts for friends, like shoes, pants, perfume, alcohol, etc. I had nothing like that.
I felt that I can be late for my plane and decide that I have to stop their pleasure.
I must say that I perfectly understand a psychology of people, so, with a quite slice I said: “hey guys, have you heard name Arkady Raykin, by - the chance?”
“Of course we know who this actor is. Everyone knows him”
“So, before I immigrated to the US, I worked with him in his theater for three years. I worked at the time, when MISHA Zhvanetsky, Roma Karcev and Viktor .... also warmed there”
They immediately stopped their searches during stepped away from my case, but I respecting their move, said: “Actually, I have some surprises for all of you. I’m sure you have your girlfriends of wife’s wating for you at home, so, here I have two small sets of make - up and few color pencils for the female I - lashes”
The smiles on the faces of those young soldiers were so brute, that my day became let by inner sun!!!
I quickely put all my things back and went to a plain to a Sankt Petersburg.

Part 2

A CONCEPT FOR A PHOTO SHOOT.

Mariinsky and Hermitage

PART TWO

As usual, I stayed with Tanya Bobrova, sister of Natasha, who is a wife of my brother Misha. They are tweens, but with absolutely different characters and even features are different. Tanya was my student in my pantomime class, organized by Donat Mechic, Founder of an entertainment group for talented students of variety fields of performance, like a “master of ceremony” for variety shows, reading of poetry or prose on the stage, or even pantomime performance.
All Russians know Sergey Dovlatov. But not many know that Donat Mechic is a father of Sergei.

I called Sila Avakum and we discussed our project, where, how and what equipment will be used to take photos of those ballerinas. When she found out, that I brought my IPad only, Sila was very disappointed: “It is absolutely unprofessional to take photos with Ipad. I even can not mention to anyone, that you do not have real professional camera. This is outrages! I spent so much energy finding volunteers, ballerinas from the best ballet company in the world and you do not pay respect, bringing professional camera!!!! I do not understand it!!! Perhaps we can rent camera so you will hold in your hands good camera? “ I refused, saying, that I will feel comfortable shooting with the IPad and I’m not going to change my mind.
Next question was: where do I want to shoot my photos. Maybe we need to rent professional studio with all lighting equipment, with some assistance there to stage lights, change linses, change filers, put special background, etc.
I declined all those offers. Everyone does that and all photographers repeat each other constantly.
I want something VERY DIFFERENT, something, that not many can do, but I have to think about it.

Sila said that one young couple agreed to model as well, but only after 5:30, but the same day - July 24.

Perfect!!!!! The Universe is watching above!

I was always thinking, how can I achieve originality in my photo shoot.

Finally, morning on 24 th of July, I waked up and started my meditation, as I usually do, visualizing my day. My meditation lasts until I find a solution for a project.

YES! I ‘ve got a solution - I want to photograph ballerinas in Hermitage Museum!!!!! There is nothing more original, than that.

At 8am I call Sila and share my idea.
“Unfortunately, it won’t work, because I have a friend, who is a main photographer in Her rmitage and even he can not get permission to take this kind of photos there!”
I can not argue, but my thought is getting stronger and stronger.
I got dressed, took my back pack with the IPad and copies of few letters from a father of a present director - Boris Borisovich  Piotrovsky and his son - present Director - Mikhail Borisovich Piotrovsky. Those letters are my keys from all doors in Hermitage.

When I still worked with my pantomime company in greatest theater of Arkady Raykin, I booked our independent from his theater performance in a small and a very unique theater of a Hermitage Museum. It was built very long time ago by an Italian Architect Quarenghy. Since 18th century it was not repaired. All structure of a stage was weak, lighting equipment was pretty old, curtained were not in a good shape and because all of that, theater and ballet performances were rejected.
Piotrovsky was not once watching Raykin’s performances and liked our program. This why I was invited to perform there without any obstacles. We had our floor, minimum lighting, we did not ware heavy shoes, preforming bear foot.
Our performance was well received there and Michail Piotrovsky wrote very positive letter of appreciation which I took with me.
Another letter I had with me was written already by his son, present director, when he received as a gift to Hermitage my Art Book “REFLECTIONS”, with the hand written calligraphy by Erika, now my x - wife, poetry is written by an American poet and previously teacher of an American literature - Florence Freedman.

It is a relatively big book, individually made by hand with an embossed leather printing on a cover and artificial leather of a velvet quality wrapping front snd back and loose pages and all 17 etchings, linocuts and embossing done on high quality acid - free Italian paper.
The letter is signed by M. Piotrovsky.

At 12 noon two ballerinas will come to the Dvortsovaya Plaza and will be there to meet me and Sila Avakum.

Universe still was watching me from above. Day was warm, Sunny  and absolutely beautiful!!!!!

It took fir me about an hour and 15 minutes to reach Hermitage from metro MOSKOVSKIE VOROTA than I exited at GOSTINYI DVOR and walked through Nevsky Prisoect  and across DVORTSOVAYA PLOS HAD. It was long line of people to get into HERMITAGE trough a main entrance.
After evaluating a situation, I walked further another 10 minutes, until I reached an entrance for people, who work in a HERMITAGE. 
Few steps up, guard checks my back pac and in the corner of a pretty big hall, behind a wooden well built border another women sits, checking guests, asking if some need help and giving an advice on where to go and what to do.
I explained her a goal of my visit and pulled from a back pack copies of letter I took with me m, with the signatures of previous director and his son - present director. The oldest letter was signed by Boris Mickailovich and present - appreciation for donating book REFLECTION to a HERMITAGE, signed by his son.
That right away changed our communication. As a result, we start to talk about the life in Russia, in comparison with life in the US;  we even mentioned family condition, etc.
as a result of warm and not official talk, I feel, she will help me to get right person so I can get permission to take photos here.
The first person on the second floor right away refused to help me. I returned back to my nice attendant and she called to a main lawyer of Hermitage, saying the probably it is better choice to talk to her.
Pretty young, close to 30 years old, attractive layer came over and with the friendly attitude, suggested me to write an explanation, where I must express the reason of my visit.
I had no paper for a writing it and my new “friend” began to look for a clear shout.
It was not easy as I was observing situation should was checking all droids and all shelves but could not find any. Finally she pulled from somewhere just one page.
With the ball pen I wrote finally a long letter about a reason of my visit and clipped to it copies of two pages with the signatures of both directors of this Museum: father and son.
Immediately after that I went to an big office, where an elderly women with a grey , nicely commend hare,  asked me to sit at her table, while she will read my writing.
By the way she was reading it, I was observing her body language. All was fine, she respected my story and I felt that outcome will be positive.
I looked at the big clock, staying in the corner. 11:45. At 12 noon I have to be on the other side of this museum. It will take for me exactly 15 minutes to walk there.
“Excuse me please, is it possible, that Ibwill see  Mr. Piotrovsky and will take a photo of two of us?”
She backed on the door of his cabinet. He opened door, while putting his rue on a white shirt.
The secretary introduced me to him, explaining a situation briefly.
He shook my hand and apologetically said that he is in incredible rush and must fly immediately to London.
From one side, I was  glad to meet him, but from other, sorry that I was not getting a photo with him.
Secretary signed my paper in a corner of my letter and I run outside to meet my models.

Being in a hurry, I passed now even bigger line of people waiting to enter Hermitage, went all the way around a block and went to Dvortsovaya Plaza to another entrance, not too far from a marble sculptures, supporting a portal.
Two ballerinas (anyone immediately could recognize that they are ballerinas by a postcher they had), already were waiting for me and Sila there, leaning on a pole.
“Hello, I’m the  artist/photographer, you are waiting for. My name is Grigory Gurevich, friend of Sila Avakum. I’m sorry, if I’m too late. How long ago did you come here?”
“No, all is fine. We came here only a few minutes ago. Very nice to meet you. Sveta already told us about you and we are happy to have a photo session with you!”
“I was really looking forward to meet you as well”.
“I’m Dasha and she is Leah. I’m 21 now and Lea is 23. Both of us were graduated from famous Choreography school on Zodchego Rossy”.
Exactly this moment Sila/Sveta, joined us.
She looked happy and greeted us with the smile.
“Is all fine? Where do we have a shoot? Did you get a permission to take photos in Hermitage, or we must find some other spot for photography?”
“Yes, all is great! I have 4 passes for all of us to get there free of charge.”

“I can not believe it!!!! It is so exciting! I had newer thought, it would be possible! My good friend - a photographer of this Museum, told me, that to take photos of this sort, is absolutely prohibited!!!!

I’m so thrilled we can do that! Actually I will call him right now and let him know that we are here!”
She dialed a number, “will you believe it, four of us just coming inside and, if you have time, we can meet somewhere inside!”

He suggest us to meet there in a cafeteria for people who work in Hermitage.
“That is perfect! I exactly, wanted to suggest to get a breakfast, because I had no time to grab something and all of you, probably, did not have food as well! I invite you for a breakfast!!!! Let’s go! We are not allowed to start our session, before we have some food in our stomachs!”

We passed guard with no obstacles, presenting passes I got from the director’s office and Sveta new how to get to a cafeteria.
We have to pass a maze of corridors, steps up and down, before we entered a food place. It was line there, but it moved pretty fast.
Sveta’s friend - photographer joined as there. He looked like a real Russian artist, beard, mast-age on pretty young face. He was very friendly and was very curious: how it was possible to get permission to have photo session in this greatest and most amazing Museum of the world?
I explained, that my pantomime company performed here in a small theater and I have a letter, written by B. Borisovich Piotrovsky, who watched our performance and liked if a lot! Besides, I have with me another letter, from a present director, his son, about my personal donation of my art book with the original calligraphy, done by my x - wife Erika and poems, written by Florence Freedman - American born poetess - teacher of American  literature in Hunter College, New York, but now retired. Book has my 17 original art works : Lino cuts, etchings, combination prints, dry points and embossings. The name of it: “REFLECTIONS”.
He looked at me and said, “The artist, who’s work is in Hermitage collection, can completely retire, if he wants and doesn’t have to worry about anything any longer. His carrier is on the wide highway!”.

I do not feel that, being honest.I’m fighting for my survival every minute of my life. I do not have a representation in any prestigious galkery, my work had no record of any big auction and my name is not familiar to Sotheby or Christie’s Auctios.

Our line moved to a cashier and I asked members of our group to select food from pretty big variety of dishes here. When I paid for all, we set together and concentrated on food.
Right before we were living, someone screamed: “Anyone left a computer here?” 
Naturally, it was my IPad!!!!
It could be a great session without it, if I would left it in any street cafeteria!!!
We went again through a maze of corridors and different rooms until we’ve reached real exhibition spaces.
Our Hermitage photographer gave to all of us friendly wishes and left.
We were ready to start our wonderful journey throug any exhibition space, secured by a signature of a director’s secretary!

Sent from my iPhone

To be continued.



Copyright: December 20, 2020, Jersey City, NJ, USA.