A Birthday Book for Olga
(edited)
“Olga the Painter Lives in Saint Petersburg” 2026. Acrylic.
I made a zine (thank you for the lesson @jompy) for a painter friend in Russia. Over the past decade we have made each other birthday paintings. We mailed them for a while and then oligarchs took over the world. I’ll hold this for her until the last oligarch is vanquished, and we can travel freely as artist peasants with a little cash to spend.
Olga’s birthday painting for me back in January:
Художник Ron Throop, красные кардиналы и Роза 2026. Acrylic, 29 х 41 см
Translation: Artist Ron Throop With Red Cardinals and a Rose
The book before it was folded and glued.
0.03070428 BEE
You speak Russian? The only rectangle I can read is the devilish one.
Those are wonderful presents. I get a gift of my own just knowing that the exchanges are made. But you can't mail it to her now?
Sorry for the late response.
No I don’t speak Russian, but I can copy it from a translator app:)
We used to mail back and forth all the time from 2015-2020. Not just Olga. I had a few Russian friends made through Stuckism. I would show their work in exhibitions in galleries, and at my house/studio (Fuel Gallery). And they would do the same with my work, showing Throop stuff in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. We would also paint together on Skype. Truly a wonderful experience.
I have not been able to post to Russia since 2020. In fact, I have a big box of paintings still that was ready to go to exhibition, and then COVID. I really miss the camaraderie. I remember several happy trips to the Western Union kiosk sending their profits home. Here are some videos of the good times. If you have time out from working the soil:)
I had a show at Sheldon Gallery (my house) for Olga. (Lena Ulanova)
Did some promotional work for her exhibition in the city.
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/152277625
We painted a Moscow cop they got off the street!
We exhibited over 100 paintings in Oswego in 2016. This is the show video:)
Cheers! And Spring!