Days 1-4

Day 1

September 1

Was delivered to Jackson International at 4pm.
The new International terminal had me at the gate in 30 minutes.
The flight was full.
Emotions are running high leaving Atlanta. Separation anxiety.

Day 2

September 2

Arrived for a 12 hour lay over in Frankfurt at 9am to a strike at the airport by Luftansa employees. It was a mad house.
Finally found a money exchange and working ticket machine and jumped the train into Frankfurt.

Frankfurt is alive. Such a beautiful city on the Main River.

 Visited the popular Romerberg area and had a "frankfurt".

Saw the Jeff Koons Show and headed back to the Central train Station.

Rested for 2 hours at the BierSalon. The train station is a modern wonder.

Back to the airport and bordered the plane for Nizhny at 10pm.

 For more images from my time in Frankfurt visit

 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4523881212792.2188308.1163715478&type=1&l=cee0f06b71

Day 3

September 3

I was met at 4am at the Nizhny Airport by Irina. She and the driver dropped me off at Hotel Nikolo.

She returned at 2pm and we walked to the Kremlin and down to the Volga River for a traditional Russian lunch. Discovered Kvas..a traditional Russia drink. Good stuff.

The entire city is under construction preparing for this weekends city festival and the 2018 World Cup of Soccer.

Then back to the Kremlin and the Arsenal - The National Contemporary Art Center.

 I was introduced to the Director of Cultural Affairs for the city, the Center Director, many music Conductors and the staff.

We prepared for the artist talk which was well received. Good questions and a bit of excitement regarding my project which will involve all who attended.

Walked back to the hotel. Quite a first day in Nizhny.

Day 4

September 4

Met Irina at 10am at the Arsenal. Still jet lagged.

We went for a 3K architecture and history walk along the banks of the Volga. Passing the aviator sculpture, walking along the Volga and various structures both refined and crafted.

Purchased art supplies for the workshop and met with the Director of Construction regarding the installation and location of my project.

The Nizyniy Novgorod Boys Choir will be giving a concert Friday night with music provided by a Berlin DJ...so I will attempt to have a part of the installation up for that performance as to generate more buzz about the final install.

Today  the workshop went extremely well - crossing so many boundaries.  There was much discussion about the current situation. From Pussy Riot, skin heads and gender issues to the emergence of extreme religion,  no topic went untouched. 

After the workshop when everyone had gone, I found myself all alone - in the Arsenal - in the Kremlin - in Russia. The whole place to myself. I took a moment to reflect.   22 years ago I would not have been  allowed into the city.

Walked back to the hotel in the rain.