Olga Sheymov’s art, like her life, alludes to the extraordinary. Artist, engineer, television producer, graphic designer and researcher, Olga paints in allegorical surrealism, infusing her artistic vision with philosophical and moral implications.

After the fall of communism and the Soviet Union, Olga turned to television, seeing an opportunity to help foster understanding of the Russian people and their fascinating cultural history. In 1995 she created the award winning TV series, Russia Today,

produced in the Washington, DC area. This half-hour program brings Russians and Americans together to share and compare not only differences but also similarities highlighting a common humanity.

Faithful to both her artistic and engineering backgrounds and with a degree in graphics design from Georgia Tech added to her credentials, Olga serves both in the technological and traditional art worlds. The latter, amply illustrated here on the Vladi

Arts site, reveals her distinctive style born of her exceptional talent and life experience. Through the media of oils, watercolor and airbrush, she has expressed her vision and her deeply felt affinity for allegory, music and literature -- by which the human spirit has

always eluded shackles.

Highlights: New York Art Expo, Las Vegas Art Expo,100 Contemporary International Artists 2008, 100 World Artists 2009, Your Source TV, Art in Motion video, “Allegory” Video 2008, Luxor Museum of Art, “The nature of Creativity” Video 2009, Carrousel du

Louvre, Paris, The Museum of Americas, Barcelona, Contemporary Women Artists 2010, Biblioteca de Artistas Barcelona Spain, ArtFest Gallery Dallas Texas, FYR Gallery Florence, Italy, Contemporary Women Artists 2010, Art Dubai 2011, “Inspired by Russia” 2011, 2012.

Olga Sheymov”s paintings are found in private and corporate collections both in the United States and Europe.

More info on www.vladiarts.com

Join Dr. Kenworthy as he explores Orthodox Christianity through the lens of Tikhon (Bellavin), who served as bishop of the Russian Church in North America at the turn of the century before returning to Russia and being elected Patriarch in the midst of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Come chat in Russian. Speakers of all levels and abilities are welcome. You do not have to be a UK student attend. This is a chance to practice your spoken Russian. Давайте поговорим по-русски!

Russian Maslenitsa (Mardi Gras) Celebration. Traditional maslenitsa food, vodka tasting, and silent auction. Reservations required by February 9 to guarantee a place (RSVP to Kari Burchfield, klburc2@uky.edu or (859) 257-1994). Price $25, by cash or credit card. Proceeds will benefit the Russian Education Abroad Scholarship Fund.

Presenters of the University of Kentucky from Latvia, Romania, Russia, and Poland will lead a roundtable discussion on the Palme d'Or-winning Romanian film "4 Months, 3 weeks, and 2 days." This film focuses on two women with unwanted pregnancies in the aggressively pro-natalist state of Romania in the 1980s. The description on Amazon.com reads: "Two College Roommates have 24 hours to make the ultimate choice as they finalize arrangements to meet a black market doctor for an illegal abortion. What follows is their harrowing descent into a world in where danger, darkness and tragedy lurk around every corner." The participants will discuss women's issues in the former socialist bloc in the context of the film. Refreshments will be served. Co-sponsored by the UK Gender and Women's Studies Department.

All levels of Russian speakers are welcome to this Russian-only hour during which you can practice your conversation skills. You do not need to be a UK student to participate; the Conversation Hour is open to all speakers of Russian. Join us. 5-6 p.m. Wednesday 13 February 2013.

Elena Lawrick is Assistant Professor and directs the ESL Program at Reading Area Community College. She received her Ph.D. degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from Purdue University. Her research focuses on bridging the fields of world Englishes and second language writing. In the field of world Englishes, her research concentrates on the sociolinguistic realities of English in the Expanding Circle, especially Russia. Her dissertation, entitled “English in Russian Academia: Uses and Perceived Significance”, investigates an ongoing language change in the Russian scholarly community, drawing on the analysis of sociopolitical factors and empirical data. With Dr. Proshina, Elena founded and co-authored the English in Russia Internet Project and continues to assemble the bibliography of works investigating the sociolinguistic realities of English in the Russian Federation. In the field of second language writing, her research focuses on the impact of the dominance of English in international scholarly publishing on teaching writing in the U.S. higher education institutions. Her forthcoming publication “Students in the first-year ESL writing program: revisiting the notion of “traditional” ESL” discusses the implications of the global spread of English for U.S. writing program administration.

Land of Tomorrow (http://www.landoftomorrow.org/) is on 527 E Third Street in Lexington http://bit.ly/PRwtpl

See the Land of Tomorrow web site for information about parking and the Gallery location.

This event will feature the opening of an exhibit of Russian conceptualist art culled from the personal collections of artists Vitaly Komar and Evgeny Fiks. Included in the exhibit are works generously lent by Emeritus UK Professor Jerry Janecek from his personal collection. The artists will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their works. The exhibit will be open at Land of Tomorrow from 8-22 February. Check with the Gallery for hours.

Vitaly Komar is one of the most famous conceptualist artists to emerge from the Soviet Union. His work is known world-wide and he, along with his fellow conceptual artist Yevgeniy Fiks, are coming to Lexington for an encore performance!

Join us for a program that will include two presentation from each artist: Vitaly Komar - "Komar and Melamid Inc. Souls Project" and Yevgeniy Fiks - "Magnitogorsk Tour of the National Gallery of Art". The artists' presentations will be followed by a mini-panel discussion and audience Q and A. This is a fantastic opportunity to hear these artists discuss their work, contemporary art both in the US & Russia, and their future projects. This event is not to be missed!!

The inaugural Russian Tea will be held in Young Library where Librarians Toni Greider and Gordon Hogg will be hosting. Dr. Hogg will briefly discuss the Library's Soviet poster exhibit mounted in conjunction with the Year of Russia: Reimagining Russia's Realms. Join us for a great presentation, a cup of tea, some Russian sweets & savories, and lots of good conversation. This is an event not to be missed!