Later that day we began initial discussions about why we were here. After the lecture, one architect asked, ”Why Samara?” My reply; “Why not Samara? Besides, I was invited”. We were there to introduce a new way of communicating an issue, idea, problem or concern. We were there to introduce the idea of public art. Packed in a hallway, and surrounding the remains of a large architectural model of fantastical bachelor residences, we started our conversation. I made it clear that whatever the issue being addressed by the art, the purpose of project is to initiate a conversation, the beginnings of a dialogue towards change. I posed the question, “What are some of the issues that you are facing in Samara”. The answer surprised me. It was fascinating that these young people, most of who were born in the mid 80s, had a profound concern for preserving their history and culture. It turns out that the incursion of new construction throughout Samara was wiping out the historic, highly decorated wooden houses. Theses houses, each unique, were embellished with symbolic carvings rooted in Samarian and Russian history and folklore. The participants felt that if those houses were gone, so will the essences of Samara. They has to do something about it.
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