Jan 28, 2020
Yulia is a working artist from Moscow with an incredible story.
We dive into Russia's perspective of the US and what our culture
has brought to them. Her family has made heartwarming sacrifices
for her to be here and she's rising to the occasion. Her work is
truly one of a kind. Make sure to follow her on
Instagram!
She had previously written her reason for coming here and I
wanted to share it with you!
My Reason
It has never occurred to me that I would travel abroad and live in
another country until I was about 17 years old. My High School
graduation was approaching and the time had come to decide where I will be pursuing my
higher education. I did not know what specific college or
university I wanted to go but I have always known that I wanted to
pursue an art career. Along with studying in regular high
schools I have been
attending the High Art School in Moscow, Russia. It was my favorite
place and the only school I have actually liked.
The decision to study abroad and to
study in the United States was mutual
between my parents and
myself. My father
sold our
apartment to have funds
for sponsoring my life and education in America.
I was accepted and granted a scholarship from the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Immediately
after approval of my
visa and finalized
traveling paperwork, I was
getting ready to start my new journey pursuing my family’s nurtured
“American Dream”.
No one in my family are artists or have
any special talents in the arts. However many members of my
family have an acute awareness of the surrounding
political climate and the reality of living in Russia. My
parents knew that pursuing an independent art career in my home
country would most likely have led me to poor and ostracized
existence. My mother and especially my father are big admirers
and fans of the American culture.
They have always shown love and sympathy for the western
lifestyle and, most importantly, for the idea of empowered civil
rights and freedom of speech granted to American citizens. As a
young adult I was in a whole-hearted agreement with my family to
leave Russia and study at a
university in the United States.
I left Russia 6 years ago. I have never been back since I left. I
have not seen my dad or
my grandmothers or the rest of my family in 6 years. Only my Mom
has been able to pay me visits every year and share the news from
home. I miss my family and friends very much. Talking to them on a
phone or texting is a different experience than seeing in person.
Not being able to feel, touch, smell or embrace loved ones for a
long time is excruciatingly difficult. The complicated political relationship between
the US and Russia makes travel between the two countries difficult
and that reflects back on shared negativity towards taking
international journeys especially for Russians.
On the bright side immigration
facilitates me with fulfilling the higher purpose of me and my
family’s whole sacrifice: to become a free artist/woman. I have
always wanted to live my life the way I want to, be able to support
myself, establish my own family, make friends, and grow
to be a strong, kind
and open-hearted woman. I will fight to pursue my goal of becoming an American citizen
and to provide my family
and parents with a better future.
I have to mention that a number
of people who are great artists, teachers, and compassionate
individuals partook in making my life in their county a reality
and, most importantly, accepted me as part of their family: Mary
Lou Zelazny, Tony Fitzpatrick, Susanna Coffey,
Chris Batte, Fiona and
Raymond McEntee and many of my other dear friends and supporters.
As for an immigrant, my new “family” is my wealth and a precious
asset that I have been gifted in this world.