A PIECE of Russian culture is on its way to Warrington following dialogue between the Mayor of Warrington and the Russian Embassy.
Last February Konstantin Shlykov, Head of Press and Culture Office from the Russian Embassy wrote to the Mayor of Warrington Cllr Geoff Settle, saying “The renowned Russian sculptor Leonty Usov from Tomsk has approached us with the proposal to donate his wooden portrait of the Russian Nobel prize laureate in Literature Mikhail Sholokhov to a town in Britain.”
Mr Usov is an acclaimed artist, who has had a number of international exhibitions, including in Britain. Previously he donated his wooden sculpture of Shakespeare to the Shakespeare birthplace Trust in Stratford. As it happens Warrington has an Avenue named in honour of Shakespear whose birth 400 years ago is currently be celebrated. Another coincidence is that Shakespear Grove backs on to Cossak Ave and Sholokhov, best known for the epic “And Quiet Flows the Don”, which he wrote about the fate of the Don Cossacks.
Cllr Settle said: “I was delighted as we already have two famous sculptures in the Town Hall lobby one of Lord Winmarleigh and one of Gandhi. I thought that if we could accommodate the sculpture of Sholokhov we would have a wonderful addition. I googled the artist and the Nobel Prize Laureate and realised the exciting potential and provisionally accepted.”
The Mayor had recently opened a new Russian Language Saturday School at St Wilfrids CE Primary School in Grappenhall and asked their advice.
Yuliya Crane immediately wrote back saying “I am very happy to hear that the sculpture is likely to find its place in the Town Hall, which is a wonderful location for it. Warrington Russian Language School would be very happy to join unveiling ceremony for this sculpture (and if appropriate can prepare a song/dance/poem reading by our pupils).”
Konstantin Shlykov informed the Mayor that “2016 has been declared UK-Russia Year of Language and Literature, run jointly by the British Council and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This gift is a fantastic opportunity for a friendly and non-political gesture that such a donation would represent.
The Mayor has sent a formal letter of acceptance and received the following reply from the Russian Embassy “This is excellent news indeed. We are now talking to the sculptor to find out when exactly he’ll be in Britain – most likely it’ll be in late May-early June. As soon as we have specific dates, I’ll get back to you to arrange the donation.”
The Mayor at the opening of the Russian language school in Grappenhall.
