A mosaic from an abandoned Don farmstead has found new life.
В Rostov region Enthusiasts have restored a Soviet-era mosaic panel that adorned a bus stop in the village. Cherkessk, Oryol District, the most remote, bordering on Kalmykia. Now there are no buses going there anymore, and the decorations that no one needed have fallen into disrepair.
How a mosaic was rescued from an abandoned farmstead
The panel consisted of six fragments. Some depicted flowers and trees, and three depicted Don horses, as the region was renowned for its horse breeding. These are the best-preserved sections.
The idea to save the panel came from community activists Mikhail Goncharov and Ivan Chernenko.
They found local investors and specialists in restoring the lost smalt in Podolsk, Moscow region. The slabs were dismantled and taken to a workshop near Moscow.
“The dismantling began in March of this year in order to have everything done during the warm season, — says Ivan Chernenko. — It took almost four days to complete. They rushed because they were afraid that in the deserted steppe, random people might damage or plunder the panel."
Restoration of the panel in Podolsk
In a workshop in Podolsk, the mosaic was dismantled and reassembled on a new base, after which it was delivered to the newly built bus stop—preserving the old one was impossible.
"We took it upon ourselves to redesign the architectural design of the bus stop so that the mosaic would look better and be visible from different angles. We ended up using two walls instead of four, but the bus stop and mosaic are now visible in all their glory to those driving along the highway." — Ivan Chernenko said.
The main work is already completed, but the roof remains to be finished. The final work should be completed before the winter cold sets in.
