The exhibition is dedicated to the 1930s and 1940s, the most important period in the life of Uglich, when not only his appearance ("face"), but also his essence –"soul") changed. When a sleepy patriarchal town with a lot of churches became the site of a grandiose Soviet construction. These churches and monasteries were disappearing into oblivion, replaced by the power of industrial facilities, primarily hydroelectric power plants. And local artists, like the ancient chroniclers, captured these changes not in words but in images.…
The main part of the paintings at the exhibition are works by a local artist and local historian I.N. Potekhin (1892-1961). After graduating from the Baron Stieglitz Central College of Technical Drawing, Ivan Nikolaevich returned to Uglich and worked in educational institutions of the city (schools and a pedagogical college). The inexhaustible energy of this man was enough for teaching, and for active study of the past of his native land, expeditions, active work in the preservation of architectural monuments, and, of course, drawing. He created more than 200 works in oil, watercolor, ink, and colored pencils.
The hall features paintings by the artist created in the 1940s, when, as the author himself wrote, "the present began to be opposed to the past." Therefore, in close proximity and connection with each other (both on canvases and in life) A hydroelectric power station with a gateway arch and the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist with a unique stepped porch. And even though these monuments are separated by three centuries, they are all part of the artistic chronicle of Uglich, the material embodiment of its cultural memory.
Together with I.N. Potekhin, other artists admired the beauty of Uglich, trying to capture it during this period of great losses and grandiose achievements: P.K. Gusev, P.D. Buchkin, A.A. Churin, G.A. Sotskov. Their work can also be seen at the exhibition.
Completely different, but equally expressing their love for Uglich, the works of artists have become the anthem of the city, which everyone can enjoy here and now.
