Monday, August 30, 2010

The Decorative Arts in Russian Architecture - Part I

Stained Glass Window Project by Artist Kupchinskaya

Digging up my digital archive I found few very interesting sketches dated 1905-1907.

I'd rather prefer to quote William Brumfield than write in my own words to describe this period and movement:

"The revival of the decorative arts in Russia during the latter half of the nineteenth century played an important role in the development of an innovative architectural movement centered in Moscow and St.Petersburg at the turn of the century.

Known as the style moderne, or simply the "new style", this protean movement corresponded in the broadest sense to its contemporary art nouveau, although in specifics it resembled more closely the Secession and occasionally incorporated elements derived from the arts and crafts revival in Great Britain and Finland.
For all of the obvious borrowings that contributed to the style moderne, the major impetus for a renewed appreciation of the design-in both architecture and the applied arts-originated in local Russian centers of the arts and crafts movement, first at Abramtsevo in the 1870s and then at Talashkino in 1890s. Both colonies continued their work into the first decade of the twentieth century, and thus provided not only an early example of the revival of the applied arts but also a contemporary source of creative ideas linking traditional craftsmanship with modern design."

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Purslane - Portulaca oleracea

When hot weather hits this common weed is all over the garden. Not so many people know that this delicious edible plant is a perfect source of vitamin C and has other useful properties. May be it sounds strange but this post is about eating weeds.



In Georgian it's called danduri. Harvest this delight of your edible landscaping in the morning.



Purslane with vinegar (from Sulakvelidze).

Remove big stems and roots from the purslane and wash in a salad spinner. Bring salted water to boiling point and cook purslane for 7-10 min. Drain through a colander. Mix with chopped garlic and vinegar according to your taste.
Serve when it's cooled.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Summer Savory

You won't find this herb in any supermarket. The only place where you can always buy it - Union Square Farmers Market in NY. It's sold potted, so you can use top of the branches to spice lamb and beans in any form. It's funny but Germans call this herb Bohnenkraut which literally means 'herb for green beans'. Many people use dried and grounded summer savory as a replacement of black pepper if they are allergic to it.

Since I moved to rural area I grow herbs to use fresh in a spring/summer/fall seasons or dry in winter.


Here is the Satureja hortensis - It plays an important role in Georgian cuisine and is called qondari.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Followers