The icons featured are the work of my older brother Andrew who is a graphic designer and an icon painter . Andrew has undertaken many public and private commissions for various churches, chapels, institutions and individuals
His work is based on Byzantine and Russian images,  but he has also composed many new icons to meet specific devotional functions. These contemporary interpretations are an opportunity for the continuity of the universal spiritual precepts of icon painting.
Andrew has studied the various parts of mainland Greece, Northern and Southern Cyprus, Istanbul, Ravenna and Sicily in order to explore Byzantine art and icons.
As well as exhibiting Andrew has also taught groups and individuals the medieval techniques necessary for icon painting; gesso preparation, gilding and the particular use of egg tempera. This practical tuition is in relation to the art historical context of icons and emphasizing the need for continuity of tradition, spiritual function and above all, presence.
Andrew is currently working on a large number of exhibitions planned for this summer.
He has also  been invited to show his work to the public at a few major Cathedrals and of course, being his little sister, I would condescend to let him join us at our “Catch..”at Covent Garden…;-))
Magdalena

It is always nice to hear about success of our fellow artists.Congratulation to Michael John Griffiths on his amazing exhibition of paintings along with the poetry.

“’Painted Poetry’ is a labour of love, executed over twelve years. My work charts the journey of the soul.”  Michael explains.
The exhibition runs from March 2nd to the 30th, 2009. Located at the heart of Leeds city centre, in the historic building of Leeds Central Art Library,

Meanwhile Helen Kaminsky being chosen as a finalist of the First of Aesthetica  Creative Works Competition.Aesthetica Magazine is a  British- based arts publication with bi-monthly  issues covering art and other culture related events.The magazine could be find at WH Smith shops nationwide.We wish you the  best of   luck  Helen!
http://aestheticamagazine.blogspot.com/

At  the beginning of May 2009 Magdalena Rutkowska and Janina Grinevich will be working on 10 meter high murals on the walls of  CBR museum and home of  Marie Currie.The murals will symbolise the history of the building used today as a  museum,library and also as a  government meeting place for monthly conferencess between proffessors and MP’s who represents cultural and educational activities in the EU.

We would like to welcome Alice Castle to the forum.

Alice Castle is a national newspaper journalist, blogger and writer. Her first novel, Hot Chocolate, is being published in German this summer by prestigious publishing house Ullstein.And because she is a long-standing friend of the Catch… exhibitions, she agreed to write a few words.

I’ve known Magdalena, the inspiration behind Catch by the Eye, Save in the Heart, for many years now and seen her develop the concept of the exhibition gradually, year by year. She has a very generous spirit and is always eager to bring on new talent and introduce it to a wider audience – and this extends to the general public, who are always encouraged to express themselves at Catch exhibitions on the canvases provided. These pictures provide a unique reflection of the moods of people in different countries and varying parts of the city of London and are worth coming to see on their own. Together with the professional exhibitors Magdalena  draws around her, every Catch exhibition reveals its own unique reflection of the times in which we live. Who knows what our current global mood, of introspection, fear, trepidation and the first tremblings of courage, will inspire? I look forward to finding out.

By Alice Castle