ZOOM IN ON PLEIN AIR CREATIVITY is the second of the Friends of Pskov monthly gatherings over Zoom curated by Iliyana Nedkova and aimed at constructing a bridge built on the foundations of contemporary art, over the rivers flowing through the twin cities of Perth, Pskov and Tartu.

In times of restricted movement and restraints on gatherings indoors, let's head to the great outdoors to re-discover the international tradition of plein air residencies for artists. Let's reclaim the word zoom and together zoom in on the International Plein Air in Pskov and Izborsk which has been a popular creative residency destination for the artists of Perth and Kinross since 2003.

ZOOM IN ON PLEIN AIR CREATIVITY features:

Andrew Hunter, artist and designer, Vice Chair of Perthshire Open Studios and Twin City Ambassador at Friends of Pskov. A participant in Pskov Plein Air 2013

Iliyana Nedkova, cultural historian, curator of the ZOOM IN ON initiative at Friends of Pskov and founding curator of Threshold artspace, Perth (2005-2020)

Oleg Tsvetkov, artist, director of Pskov Art School and Curator of the International Plein Air in Pskov and Izborsk

Mare Tralla, artist, activist and author of Protected – a series of plein air painting performances set in the surveillance cityscapes of Edinburgh, Graz and London

Moira Gavin, Property Manager of Perth Creative Exchange as part of WASPS Trust providing workshops and artists studios across Scotland

Serafima Zibnitskaya, plein air artist and illustrator who participated in the 11th International Plein Air in Pskov and Izborsk, June 2019.

Barbara Pease, artist and recipient of Friends of Pskov bursary to attend the 11th International Plein Air in Pskov and Izborsk, June 2019

Svetlana Rodionova, musician based in Pskov's twin city of Tartu, Estonia, who once performed at the Pskov Plein Air and now exclusively live for this gathering

Dave Hunt, photographer and participant in Pskov Plein Air 2013 followed by a solo exhibition at Pskov Art School in 2014

Sally Bonnar and Meg Luckins, founding members of Friends of Pskov

ZOOM IN ON PLEIN AIR CREATIVITY is in association with Pskov Art School, Perthshire Open Studios, Perth Creative Exchange and Rossotrudnichestvo, London.

Part of the ZOOM IN ON monthly gatherings which started on 15 March 2021 as an initiative of Friends of Pskov Association, Perth marking the 30th anniversary of the signing of the twinning agreement between Perth and Pskov. The ZOOM IN ON initiative is supported by Perth and Kinross Council and the UK Twin Towns and Sister Cities Foundation

To experience our inaugural ZOOM IN ON PUSHKIN AND SOUTAR evening of spoken word, live music and poetry in Russian, English and Scots with our Friends of Pskov Twin City Ambassador Jim Mackintosh and friends, please visit: http://www.friendsofpskov.co.uk/drama/zoom-in-on-pushkin-and-soutar/

Image credits

Izborsk Birch Trees – watercolour by Barbara Pease, artist and recipient of Friends of Pskov bursary to attend the 11th International Plein Air in Pskov and Izborsk, June 2019

Protected – a series of plein air painting performances by Mare Tralla set in the surveillance cityscape of Edinburgh as part of Edinburgh Art Festival, August 2008

For further details, please visit:

Friends of Pskov http://www.friendsofpskov.co.uk/

Iliyana Nedkova https://iliyananedkova.wordpress.com/

UK Twin Towns & Sister Cities Foundation https://uktwintownsandsistercitiesfoundation.org

Perthshire Open Studios https://www.perthshireopenstudios.com

Perth Creative Exchange https://waspsstudios.org.uk/