24.05.2010

On May 22-23 in R.I.M. Porter Novelli Court on the territory of the Flacon design factory, a design-subbotnik (translation: Saturday [weekend] get-together) of the magazine Seasons took place, which brought together the most creative and not-indifferent city-dwellers. The event took place with the support of Barclays Bank.

Guests at the subbotnik-festival actively took part in the planting of greenery around the territory: they laid grass lawns, planted flowers and created mobile flowerbeds. The strapping lads from Barclays Bank even planted a dozen trees which, as assured by landscaping designer Yulia Nemestnikova, will be both pleasing to the eye and help the city breath more easily for many years to come.

No less attention was attracted by the master-classes given by designers. Mikhail Vorobyev, one of the experts involved in the Lavka.Ogorod project (roughly translated as Vegetable Patch Shop project), for example, showed all those interested how to grow a garden on one’s balcony. Diana Balashova, a designer with the Kvartiriniy Vopros (Apartment Question) TV show, demonstrated how to make a stylish flowerbed out of the wreck of an old Zaporozhets car (a tiny Soviet motorcar)!

Not one self-respecting aesthete and lover of architecture could not allow his/herself to walk past the lecture hall where the famous British architect Alistair Barr was giving a speech on the latest trends and most interesting urban-design projects. And those who prefer more original and unusual things were able to browse a design-market where more than 50 creative teams presented their work.

Towards the evening, in the cinema, documentary fans gathered together. Viewers were shown the film Malishi (Babies) by Thomas Balmes, whose Russian premier was shown on June 3. This sincere, powerful and authentic film – which has collected numerous best-documentary awards around the world – proved most touching to all those present who watched it.

The subbotnik turned out to be a real gala day for children. Kids were invited to take a quick study course in the Garden School to learn how to plant roses, build a cozy dog booth/kennel, to make a tortoise-shaped flowerbed, and lots more.

The climax of the children’s program was the interactive theatrical performance by Arseny Epelbaum and Olga Zeyger of the book The General. These young directors are famous for their Highly Artistic Entertainment for Highly Artistic Children work. The book The General by Michael Foreman and Janet Charters is one of the most eloquent and significant books of English classical children’s literature. This year the book had its 50^th jubilee anniversary. In June, the publishing house Mir Detsva Media with the support of Barclays Bank was the first to present the book to Russian readers. 50% of the proceeds from sales of the book are to go to the UNICEF Children’s Fund.

In just two days – incidentally, accompanied by the factory rhythms of DJ Frank from France – active participants in the subbotnik created a new green area of Moscow, where they can go throughout summer to relax on sun-loungers, sway on hammocks, meet up with their friends, and know that the pretty flowerbeds, plants, green lawns, trees and bushes were all created by themselves.