Their journey that began fifteen years ago represents a true leap of faith. Lyuba, Sasha and Lyuba's parents chose to move to the United States, but Sasha's father, mother and two brothers remained behind and still live in Russia. Having earned their Master's Degrees from the Leningrad (St Petersburg) University of Fine Arts, the young couple was just beginning the process of establishing their professional careers. Sasha had been invited to teach oil painting at Leningrad University and Lyuba found her niche there in the newly established History of Culture Department. Sasha had also been selected as a "Member of the Guild of the Artists of the USSR," a distinct honor for one so young. By contrast, coming to the United States demanded monetary and emotional sacrifice. The status under which they left meant they not only left their homeland on a permanent basis, but they could take only a few personal possessions. Sadly Lyuba recalls, "No item we brought could be created earlier than 1947, so we had nothing to remind us of grandparents or older family members. Because of additional restrictions, we arrived in El Paso with only $50 in cash and ten paintings and sketches."
However, no government could take their most valuable asset - their artistic talent. An autobiographical painting entitled, "New Beginnings," a poignant reminder of those days, will greet guests as they enter the exhibition. In it, a young artist (Sasha) carries a framed picture and holds a sketchbook in his hand, while his lovely companion (Lyuba) clutches a bouquet of white lilies symbolizing their hopes for the future.
Shaking his head in wonder, Sasha reflects on how quickly those years have passed. The couple's family now includes two daughters, Anya who will turn 15 later this year, and 11-year-old Nina. The girls, who both show artistic promise, have been invited to hang several of their paintings alongside those of their parents at an exhibition in Carmel, California this summer. Responding to the love they feel for their new homeland, Lyuba and Sasha also became US citizens in 1999. Sasha confides, "Coming to El Paso made it possible for us to make it here in the United States. People in the West still believe in the pioneer spirit - if you have talent and are willing to work hard, you can achieve whatever you want. When we participate in national shows in other areas of the country, friends ask us why we don't live in cities such as Chicago or New York that are recognized art centers. I just tell them, ‘El Paso is home. We have the best of both worlds here.’"
Away from the competitive national art scene, Lyuba and Sasha have also found the freedom to try new directions in their art. Originally depicting the sparkling light, which danced in the treetops of the wintry forests of his native Siberia, Sasha's dazzling snow scenes now find their inspiration in the landscapes of Southern New Mexico. When asked if the location matters to collectors, Lyuba answered by saying that the Embassy in Amman (Jordan) recently requested one of Sasha's winter paintings for display in their country. "People relate more to the universal experience of snow and winter rather than specifics." Moving beyond what he describes as "beautiful calendar" scenes, Sasha has begun to experiment with dramatic landscapes that also tell a story. Visitors to the exhibition will delight in the image of a powerful thunderstorm breaking over the mountains, which bears the title, "August 2006."
Lyuba's cultural heritage remains apparent in her highly detailed and colorful figurative works, which find their roots in Russian folk tradition. However, the death of her father in 2004 motivated her to search for deeper meanings in her paintings as well. Recently she has been focusing on more still life compositions. In one painted for the exhibition, a vase of flowers is juxtaposed against a mountain backdrop (the view from their studio window). "Rather than painting random objects, I am also trying to introduce themes which tell a story. For example,
based on the emotions I felt after my father's funeral, I want to paint a series of empty vases that convey the message that even though you can no longer see the flowers, the memories which remain are still very real."
The couple emphasizes that one of the major reasons for scheduling this museum show is to thank all the people in El Paso and Las Cruces for believing in them and to celebrate the positive attitude of the city and its people. "We want to share some of our best paintings with the people of El Paso before sending them off to one of the eight galleries across the country which represent our work." An exhibition in this particular museum also has a special significance. Lyuba explains that one way they began to earn a living when they first came to El Paso was by giving art lessons, and coincidently those classes were at the museum on Montana. "Now is the perfect time to remind people how beautiful this building is and to celebrate the fact that it has remained a museum," she emphasizes.
Listening to the joy in their voices as they speak about their experiences in El Paso, it is clear that while nationally acclaimed artists such as these could live anywhere they choose, Sasha and Lyuba have made a commitment to El Paso. "There is a comfort and character to this city which makes it an ideal place for us to work and raise our children. Hopefully our being here will also be positive for El Paso. At the turn of the century ten painters settled in northern New Mexico. A hundred years later, consider how the presence of the Taos Masters shaped the artistic reputation of the Southwest. Our dream is that the same thing will be possible here in El Paso,” Lyuba says.
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