Monday, March 26, 2012

Telling the story, Rosie's book

This notebook is special in many cases. It keeps a deep and very personal pages from Marcia's family history. It shows courage and strength of Katie. I wanted to add my intimate story too. 


    This pic tells the story of our wonderful summer 1986, summer after Chernobyl tragedy. Bilberries were so big that year. We used to eat a lot in Belarusian forests. We didn't know that time cancer, thyroid disfunction, hard allergies will follow our family members.
    In memory of Chernobyl 1986, NATO bombing Serbia 1999 and Japan Earthquake 2011.

7 comments:

  1. I am not sure why Governments don't just 'bite the bullet' and tell people when they are in danger. It makes me wonder how many awful things happen here which are kept quite and brushed under the carpet. It makes me sad because it is so avoidable.

    I suppose the berries grew large that year due to the radiation. I have noticed plants give it their all and produce many more seeds when they feel they might be poisoned.

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    1. Bella, I think the same about telling the people. Irony is that my Mom worked as an ecologist (!!!) that time, but they simply had nothing to check radiation level. It took three years to understand how bad the situation was, to make a decision to leave.
      Yes, you are right, bilberries were the size of cherries. We were happy and amazed and ate a lot.

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  2. Masha, I have been away and only just seen your new entry. We have friends who are closely involved (for many years) to help in Belarus. This is just a quick response to the emotion that I felt to see your words. Thank you for continuing the story.

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  3. Your story is so chilling. It is so sad. So enraging! Telling a difficult story doesn't erase the pain, injustices, or lifelong affects of tragedy, catastrophe, or illness, but it does begin to erase helplessness and servitude. Your drawing is SO POWERFUL and the color, fittingly radioactive.

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  4. Your drawing has a charm that that is a such a huge and ironic contrast to the horrors of the Chernobyl Disaster. Your telling of the story is a reminder of the ongoing need for help in so many areas of the world.
    Our friends are trusties of http://www.chernobyl-children.org.uk/home/about-us/the-team-in-the-uk. We have quite often met people from Belarus who are staying in U.K. for a few weeks with their children and have learned something of their lives.
    Perhaps we as artists can try to use our work to make some sort of contribution to efforts to help?
    Last year I took part in an on line auction of art/craft work in aid of Japan and would be pleased to explore any ideas.

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  5. Your drawing has a charm that that is a such a huge and ironic contrast to the horrors of the Chernobyl Disaster. Your telling of the story is a reminder of the ongoing need for help in so many areas of the world.
    Our friends are trustees of http://www.chernobyl-children.org.uk/home/about-us/the-team-in-the-uk.
    We have quite often met people from Belarus who are staying in U.K. for a few weeks with their children and have learned something of their lives.
    Perhaps we as artists can try to use our work to make some sort of contribution to efforts to help?
    Last year I took part in an on line auction of art/craft work in aid of Japan and would be pleased to explore any similar ideas.

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  6. Masha,
    Your drawing is both charming and a little frightening. The green and orange next to each other read to me a little bit radioactive. I am also reminded of the fairy tales of Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel. There is both innocence and an ominous feeling. Even the ferns could be spider like creatures lurking in the woods to pounce on the carefree child.
    Well done! I love it!

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