On the eve of the celebration of the 157th anniversary of the birth of the talented Yelisavethrad architect Yakov Pauchenko (March 21), who is one of the creators of the unique architectural ensemble of the historical center of the modern city of Kropyvnytskyi, to his memorial house, where his nephew, the outstanding artist and teacher of the first half of the 20th century Oleksandr Osmerkin, and where the museum is now, artists came to pay tribute to the memory of individuals whose work is a bright gem in the history of culture and art of our city.
    Thus, the honored architect of Ukraine Yurii Penyaz, who heads the regional organization of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, during the meeting he came to with his wife, architect Tetyana, noted that exactly twenty years ago, in 2003, the regional award in the field was awarded for the first time of architecture, heraldry and vexillology and decorative and applied arts named after Yakov Pauchenko, of which he is also a laureate, how many authors of objects of modern architecture, heraldic symbols of the regional center and other cities and villages of Kirovohrad region, as well as artists of decorative art during this time were awarded the title of this reward.
    And Olena Kyrychenko, a candidate of art history at the Department of Art Education, Faculty of Pedagogy, Psychology and Arts of the Central Ukrainian    State University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who, by the way, is a laureate of the Oleksandr Osmerkin regional prize in the field of fine arts and art history in the nomination "art history", recalled the original the exhibition of creative works of students "Architecture: Algebra and Harmony", which was presented in the museum in 2018 as part of the youth art project "New Generation". It was a joint action of the university and the construction college, and the curators were Tetyana Penyaz, a teacher of the architectural department of the college and a member of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine at the time. It is noteworthy that the exposition consisted not only of student works in various visual techniques on the topic of architecture, but also diploma and term papers, among which were project proposals for a memorial sign on Heroes of the Maidan Square.
    But especially pleasant emotions were evoked by the museum staff and everyone present by the artistic gift to the museum of the famous Kropyvnytskyi artist and teacher, member of the National Union of Artists of Ukraine Valery Davydov. Having experience in the museum industry, because it was under his directorship that in 2001, the exposition of the regional art museum, which is now called the Art Museum, was opened for visitors, and on his initiative, the quite popular open-air art event "Kirovohrad region through the eyes of artists" was started, knows, so valuable are the creative works of compatriot artists in museum collections, where they are not only preserved for future generations, but also present an artistic slice of our steppe region. That is why he donated to the museum collection of modern Ukrainian fine art his author's paintings depicting the museum building and a portrait of the painter Oleksandr Osmerkin. By the way, in 2008 Valery Davydov, at that time a successful teacher of the art faculty of the University named after V. Vynnychenko, participated in the National  Project "Ukrainians in the World", for which he created five portraits, among them was a portrait of the outstanding artist-compatriot Oleksandr Osmerkin.
    In fact, the museum received as a gift from Valery Davydov, laureate of the Oleksandr Osmerkin regional prize in the field of fine arts and art history in the "national tradition" category, two portraits of painting professor Oleksandr Osmerkin and his building, which is not just a monument of history, architecture and urban planning in 1899 - the house of the architect Yakov Pauchenko, and the real decoration of the street, which, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the architect in 2016, was named Architect Pauchenko. "The exquisite architectural decoration of the memorial building not only attracts the attention of passers-by, but also inspires artists to reproduce its pictorial image on canvas or paper," said during the event the chief custodian of the funds of the Karol Szymanowski Museum of Musical Culture Olena Klassova, who for many years worked in our museum and was personally acquainted with the artist's widow, Nadia Heorhievna Osmerkina, one of those who created the museum and its unique collection.
    This historic moment of the donation of paintings to the museum was captured by the Krypynytskyi photographer Oleksandr Shuleshko, a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and laureate of the Vasyl Kovpak city prize for photo artists. After all, such artistic gifts to the museum's funds during the war are symbolic, because they inspire confidence that the museum exposition will be restored after the Victory of Ukraine, and in the exhibition halls the creative works of modern Ukrainian artists will delight the eyes of art lovers.