Press Release

Unique project combines two Russian art forms

A classic Russian folk tale, "The Snow Maiden," has been captured in a unique exhibit at Waterville Valley’s Town Square, thanks to the efforts of master decorative artists Tricia Joiner of Waterville Valley and Slava Letkov of Zhostovo, Russia, with the assistance of 10 accomplished volunteer artists.

"This is the culmination of a long-time dream of mine," says Joiner.  Owner of Tricia’s Legacy Designs and the I Dream of Beading store in Waterville Valley, Joiner has traveled to Russia many times to study painting. "I really hope to bring Russian painting styles and stories to life for the general public," she says.

The exhibit consists of eight panels, each four feet tall by 32 inches wide, depicting scenes from the well-known fairy tale. The panels were displayed in the shop windows storybook-style, with text next to each one.  They tell the story of Father Frost and Mother Spring, who create a daughter made of snow.  Her friends are the animals of the forest, and the Spirit of the Woods protects her from the Sun God who will melt her if she ever falls in love.

The panels combine the Zhostovo style of decorative art technique with the story-telling theme of the lacquer miniature painting from Palekh.  Zhostovo painting is named for the village outside of Moscow where it originated and is usually done on metal trays.  Lacquer miniature painting is done with egg tempura on papier maché boxes and generally features fairy tales or historical scenes. This art form developed in the Russian village of Palekh when the Soviet government banned icon painting, for which the village was previously known.

Combining the two art forms in a large number of paintings was an enormous task. "Zhostovo is a three-layer technique that takes a lot of time," says Joiner. "The project was so big, I knew I’d never be able to get it done by myself." To accomplish the task, Joiner asked volunteers from her advanced painting classes to come to Waterville Valley and take part.

Ten artists volunteered and were hosted by Waterville Valley in local condominiums while they did their work. Joiner developed the designs for the panels, and the volunteer artists each picked one to work on, completing the first stage of the process, the base painting. In exchange, the students received a free master painting class.

Joiner and her daughter Molly Lamson—herself an accomplished artist and graphic designer—completed the panels, which Joiner estimates took 700 hours. For the finishing touch, they added Swarovski crystals to the characters’ clothing and the stars in the sky.

The Snow Maiden paintings will be on exhibit in and around Town Square locations in Waterville Valley throughout each winter season (November through April).