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Limited-time art exhibit invites visitors to share their message of freedom and leave it behind in an old bank vault The art exhibit, “Safekeeping: The Art of Val Polyanin”

Jun 30, 2023 - Oct 6, 2023

Limited-time art exhibit invites visitors to share their message of freedom and leave it behind in an old bank vault

The art exhibit, “Safekeeping: The Art of Val Polyanin” features the art of a Ukraine born artist who escaped his home country under Soviet rule in 1986 to freely create his art without punishment. The temporary gallery, located in an old bank building in downtown Crescent City, will be open special hours on the fourth of July as part of the citywide 4th of July Festival & Fireworks celebration.

The former Bank of America building in downtown Crescent City is housing a temporary art exhibit which showcases over 900 art pieces by Ukraine born artist, Val Polyanin, who fled in 1986 by jumping off a cargo boat and swimming to the Japanese island of Honshu. Polyanin made his way to Crescent City over 35 years ago and has continued making his art free from oppression and punishment. The limited-time exhibit is a powerful and articulate expression of freedom as the war rages on in Ukraine. As part of an interactive art experience, the public is invited to share their notion of freedom and leave it behind in the old bank vault at the exhibit for others to see at the next exhibit opening. 

Some might remember Polyanin’s roadside art studio and makeshift gallery made up of multiple shipping containers flanked by unusual sculptures along Crescent City’s Highway 101 until 2022. The City of Crescent City and a group of volunteers saved the art from going into a dumpster in June of 2022. Polyanin donated the entire collection of over 900 pieces to Crescent City when he was no longer able to house the art himself. The City accepted the gift and safely secured the art in the former Bank of America building in downtown. The City Council graciously agreed to donate the commercial space of the former bank to house the temporary exhibit until October 6, 2023. 

EXHIBIT HOURS: Every first Friday of the month through October 6, 2023 as part of Crescent City’s First Friday celebration in downtown. Additional exhibit opening hours include July 4, 2023 from 2:00-4:00 P.M. and July 11, 2023 from 5:00-7:30 P.M.