#with_love_to_ukraine

Blacksmiths around the world have been making crosses to express their hope for peace for Ukraine. This gesture came about when, shortly after the war began, in 2022, the Ukrainian blacksmith, Sergiy Polubotko, received a cross from his Slovak colleague, Daniel Miclos. The cross carried the inscription “for peace and hope for Ukraine”.

It gave Sergiy the idea to ask all the blacksmiths around the world to make a cross to commemorate the many victims of the war in Ukraine. The call #WITH_LOVE_TO_UKRAINE resulted in over 200 crosses made of steel, about 500 mm high, combined with copper, bronze or brass, sent from 27 countries. The crosses are made with passion, creativity and craftsmanship, with warm hands and hot hearts and have a soul. The exhibition is travelling around and departed to Norway, and from there, to the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and beyond.

Australian blacksmiths had the honour of hosting Sergiy Polubotko, a highly esteemed blacksmith worldwide, when he was invited to run the masterclass at the Artist Blacksmith’s Association NSW “Forging in July” event in Port Macquarie in 2012.

THE EXHIBITION RUNS FROM 1 DEC TO 15 DEC 2024 IN “THE BARRACKS” AT THE HISTORIC LOCATION OF FORT SCRATCHLEY IN NEWCASTLE.

The official opening of the exhibition will be at 12 noon on Sunday 1st December.