PRESENTATION OF A UNIQUE BLACK SEA STAMPS COLLECTION AND DISPLACED KIDS’ ART EXHIBITION ON THE EVE OF THE BLACK SEA DAY

On the eve of the International Black Sea Day (31 October 2022), we invite you to two interrelated events:

1.Presentation of a unique Black Sea stamp collection

Date:               28 October 2022 (Friday)
Time:              14:00 – 15:30
Location:       Odesa Main Post Office, 10 Sadova St., Odesa

This September, the EU/UNDP-funded project “European Union for Improving Environmental Monitoring in the Black Sea” (EU4EMBLAS), jointly with the art gallery “Dialogues,” started an extraordinary art and science school for displaced kids called “Black Sea Diary.” The idea of the school was to bring some scientific knowledge about life in the Black Sea to the kids offline, and, at the same time, support their creativity and self-confidence and give them the opportunity to express themselves through art. In total, 29 kids, mainly displaced from the city of Kherson and Kherson Oblast, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk Oblast, and originally Odesa itself took an active part in it. Over six weeks, marine scientists made special presentations for the kids, and professional artists supported them in creating their masterpieces in rare techniques of collage, assemblage and graphics. In the end, 38 artworks were created. The works demonstrate deep tenderness towards the creatures living in the Black Sea and understanding of its complicated marine ecosystems – as well as sadness at not being able to be as close to the Black Sea as before because of the war.

Several children’s works were selected for the Black Sea stamp collection, which will be officially presented at Odesa’s main post office.

2. Opening of the kids’ exhibition “Black Sea Diary – 2022”

Date:                29 October 2022 (Saturday)
Time:               14:00 – 15:30
Location:        Art gallery “Dialogues”, 2 Soborna St., Odesa.

The next day, the complete “Black Sea Diary” kids’ exhibition will be presented in the art gallery. The ceremony will include presenting awards to the participants as well as a commemorative book of the artworks and stories.