Whitewash means spring in the city
I happily observe the first signs of spring in the city – the whitewashed trunks of trees. That’s done so that all kind of bugs and pests do not chew on the trees, right? For what reason though do the concrete curbs on the sidewalks get whitewashed too?? Please, enlighten me on this one; even though a Ukrainian, I am still bewildered, hm.
Tags: Kyiv
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April 5th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
I thought painted treetrunks was so carlights at night would better reflect the tree to not run into it. Another theory held out by an older, single, highly respected American man was that it was easier for drunks at night to take a leak. I dunno.
Like your blog theme of art, I don’t count whitewashed treetrunks as art!
April 5th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Hi, Kristina, thanks for stopping by on my blog!It’s true, perception of art can be very personal.
I admire the expertise of an older, single, highly respected American man. Alas, the trunks get painted only once a year – in spring. Can he extend his reasoning on what the poor drunks to do the rest of the year?
April 8th, 2007 at 9:58 am
hi – enidd saw some concrete telephone posts painted white in the ukrainian countryside last weekend. she was bemused, because like you she thought it was about insects.
April 9th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
About two weeks ago my business partner and I had a meeting somewhere in the region of Artema Street in Kyiv. In deed the white washing of trees had begun. But not only of trees, but also of the curbs and anything else, local works were order to cover in the white substance. Be it the little cement borders around the earth that these trees were planted in, or the curbs.
In fact the crew of about a dozen people took up the whole side walk with their Belarus tractor, trailer and about ten buckets of the white substance they had to use to do what they had been ordered to do. Actually, the whole thing appeared quite chaotic, like many of the things in this country unfortunately.
Whitewashed tree trunks are not unusual, even in the gardens or orchards of diaspora Ukrainians and those living in the villages throughout this land. But it seems to me that the people who have to do the job here in Kyiv or in any other city are simply following orders like oh so many people do here without questioning the logic or lack of logic behind what they are being told to do.
April 12th, 2007 at 5:00 am
yes, the jolly (not) workers did the whole city whitewashing in “subotnik” style. In the soviet times employees and students were invited (forced) to spend one day each year, usually a Saturday, on improving the territory of the enterprises, public parks, plant trees, paint fences,etc., working for free. The free workforce disappeared, but the attitude remained.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Dear olechko. I have noticed EVERYTHING is being painted. The green fence hiding an empty block next to megamarket was recently painted green (and the sidewalk there is very narrow, I usually end up brushing against the fence – but there were no ‘Wet Paint’ signs! Luckily I saw him painting it). The railings going down to the metro are being painted grey or black, the metro stairs have all been closed off one at a time, so the babushka could give them a really good, soapy scrub. Even some game people were painting on Prospekt Peremohy – standing on the road! Talk about brave.