One of several fabric artworks created by Russian students was photographed recently by Kimberly Henry at the Parma Meetinghouse Museum. The story book atmosphere of Russian art is very evident in the students' designs. They will be shown in Rochester schools later in the year as part of the city's Sister Cities program.

Parma remembers its roots with displays on immigration

The contributions of many other nations to Parma's growth and development are portrayed in a new exhibit in the front display window at Parma Town Hall and a student exhibit at the Parma Meetinghouse Museum.

Town Historian Shirley Cox Husted, Rochester's City Historian Ruth Rosenberg-Napersteck, Kimberly Henry, Olga Phillapova, a 17-year-old artist in Novgorod, Russia and young students in Novgorod schools worked together to create the displays.

The town hall exhibit features Husted's text and Phillapova's artwork, along with a child mannequin from the museum wearing an embroidered peasant dress. Items reminiscent of the influences of families with roots in foreign lands are also displayed. The window exhibit: "A Mosaic of History," traces the town's settlement by British pioneers followed by the many later influences of families from many countries, including the most recent contributions of Slavic immigrants.

Partial funding for the exhibit was received from the New York Council for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. To frame the exhibit, Phillapova painted panels depicting Russians and Americans, depicting clothing styles, occupations and common customs. She began the artwork while a student in Rochester and completed it after her return to Novgorod.

At the Parma Museum, quilts received through a Linkages quilt exchange program between Rochester and Novgorod schools are currently on display. Free tours are available to schools, organizations and individuals through an advance appointment. Call 392-3410 to book a tour.