Moscow, Russia—UPF’s International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP) organized a webinar titled “I Am Near,” featuring an exhibition of a well-known Russian painter.
The event was held on November 28, 2021, in celebration of both Mother's Day (celebrated in Russia on the last Sunday of November) and World Children's Day (November 20).
The online event attracted approximately 1,000 views.
UPF-Moscow Chair Dmitry Samko, as the moderator, spoke about the importance of traditional family values and the role of art in promoting the family.
He presented an exhibition of paintings by Ekaterina Samitina titled "I Am Near," which is on display in the Mother and Child health center in the city of Samara.
Two representatives of the Mother and Child health center spoke: Svetlana Tupikova, head of the marketing department, and Vladimir Boltovsky, head of the pediatric department. Mr. Boltovsky thanked the organizer of the exhibition, Mrs. Samitina, and added, "These paintings will remind us of the smiles of children and will delight not only us, but all visitors of our clinic!"
International guests also addressed the meeting with words of welcome. Jack Corley, the chair of UPF for Eastern Europe, wished success to all artists and expressed the hope that soon it will be possible to travel again and to meet in person at various exhibitions. Jacques Marion, the co-chair of UPF for Europe and the Middle East, conveyed warm greetings from Paris, which is considered by many to be the cultural capital of Europe and even the world.
Among the speakers were representatives of the Alliance of the Peoples of the World: Dr. Alexander Shapiro-Suliman, secretary general of the alliance and a UPF Ambassador for Peace, and famous Israeli artist Irina Markova-Chagall, whose works are in public institutions and private collections around the world.
In her closing speech, UPF-Russia President Maria Nazarova congratulated all mothers on a wonderful day and quoted the words of the UPF founder: “The mother is a fortress that protects the family. No matter how society changes, the family will remain healthy and strong only if the mother is ready to serve others."
At the end of the webinar, author and musician Sergei Patsanovsky performed the “Hymn to Peace and Friendship.”