Photo of the Day for March 11, 2023

Photo survey of the patrimony of Stoubtsy, a district center in western Mjensk Region, 2017. Stoubtsy is another of many smaller Belarusian cities whose fine architectural patrimony suffered under the policy of destruction, degradation or deliberate neglect by the occupying Soviet regime from 1944-1991 and has continued to suffer under the occupying neo-Soviet regime since… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 11, 2023

Photo of the Day for February 1, 2023

Photo survey of the district center of Chervjen’ (Ihumjen) in eastern Mjensk Region 2015.  The city’s historic name was Igumjen (Ігумен) until renamed in shopworn Bolshevik fashion by the occupying Soviet regime in 1923:  Chervjen’ in Belarusian means June, not “redness” as the Soviets assumed from the etymological link between Chervjen’ and chyrvonny (red). Chervjen’… Continue reading Photo of the Day for February 1, 2023

Photos of the Day for March 26, 2021

Photo survey in 2014 of the patrimony of Baranavichy District (Chernikhava Vjerkhnjaje, Jushkavichy, Padljasjejki, Jatvjez’/Jats’vjez’) and Ljakhavichy District (Svajatsichy/Svajatychy, Vjalikaja Lotva, Darava). Фотавандроўка ў 2014 г. па спадчыне Баранавіцкага (Чэрніхава Верхняе, Юшкавічы, Падлясейкі, Ятвезь/Яцьвезь) і Ляхавіцкага (Сваяцічы/Сваятычы, Вялікая Лотва, Дарава) раёнах.       Homeowner next to her pre-war house. Гаспадыня ля сваёй даваеннай хаты.… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 26, 2021

Photos of the Day for February 11, 2021

Photo survey of the patrimony of Polesia:  Pinsk District 2012 (Panjatsichy, Dubaj, Damashytsy, Vjaljatsichy, Vjalikija Dvortsy). Фотавандроўка па спадчыне Палесься: Пінскі раён 2012 г. (Паняцічы, Дубай, Дамашыцы, Вяляцічы, Вялікія Дворцы).     Gable decorations:  (1)  vertical lines symbolizing the hope for bountiful rows of grain; (2) and (3) sun symbol and hope for bountiful rows… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 11, 2021

Photos of the Day for January 9, 2021

Photo survey of the patrimony of Smaljavichy District 2018:  Dubrova, Aljesina, Shypjany. Фотавандроўка па спадчыне Смалявіцкага раёна 2018 г.: Дуброва, Алесіна, Шыпяны.   Vernacular architecture in Mjensk Region. Народнае дойлідства ў Менскай вобласьці.       Nineteenth-century brick and stone barn on the former Dubrova estate. Мураваны сьвіран 19-га ст. на былым фальварку „Дуброва“.  … Continue reading Photos of the Day for January 9, 2021

Photos of the Day for February 5, 2020

Patrimony of vernacular architecture in Polesia (Pripet Marshes):  conservation, loss, change. Спадчына народнага дойлідства на Палесьсі: ахова, страта, зьмена.     Well-preserved barn with thatched roof, Machul’ 2019. Unlike in Poland or western Europe, in Belarus there is little interest in maintaining or reviving the country’s once-rich patrimony of thatched roofs.  It is thus inspiring… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 5, 2020

Photos of the Day for October 28, 2016

Mahiljou 2016 (III/IV):  architecture of former Luteranskaja Street, now Mihaja.  The street was named Luteranskaja when Russian empress Catherine II, who controlled the eastern Belarusian lands as a result of the first partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1772,  granted the local German community permission to build a church there in 1780. Магілёў 2016 г.… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 28, 2016

Photo of the Day for September 14, 2016

Braslau architectural patrimony 2016 (II/V):  vernacular architecture. Архітэктурная спадчына Браслава 2016 г. (II/V):  народнае дойлідства.   End-19th century brick building, Ljeninskaja Street (formerly Grand (Vjalikaja) Street, then Pilsudski Street) 79.  From its style and material, this building was most likely Jewish-owned until World War II. Тыповая местачковая камяніца ў добрым стане з прыканца 19-га ст.,… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 14, 2016