On November 3, the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes joined the All-Russian cultural action “Night of Arts” that was held in our country for the second time and became a kind of an autumn version of the “Night at Museum”. An interesting program was prepared for visitors that evening.
An opening ceremony of the display “History of One Exhibit” started the event. In the parvis of the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral, everybody could see a hand-written book of the early 19th century “The Life of Saint Basil the Younger” donated to the museum by musician and collector A.D. Lipnitsky in 2000. It is the only manuscript from the holdings of the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes that contains so many colourful pictures. Photos of the most interesting water-colours were presented on a touch screen.
At the interactive lesson “A Letter in Russian Ligature Script” that was conducted in the administrative building of the museum, visitors were told about such a type of Cyrillic ornate lettering as Vyaz or the ornamental script. They tried to read inscriptions in the ancient icons and even made up a continuous ornament of letters writing down this or that name.
The “Night of Arts 2014” certainly culminated in the master-class of the artist Alexander Pesterev working in the aesthetics of modern art with classical materials. The one-man exhibitions of the painter, graphic artist and sculptor were held in the museums and galleries of St. Petersburg, New York, Kostroma, Vologda, Cherepovets, and Totma.
During more than one hour and a half, guests from Moscow, Vologda, Cherepovets and local residents of Ferapontovo watched the master create his work of art. Sometimes he was so absorbed into the creative process that he seemed to forget about the people around him. Alexander Pesterev even didn’t spare his easel that had to be sawed for convenience of work in the room with the low ceiling. The master-class produced a great impression upon the visitors of the museum who thanked Alexander Pesterev for an opportunity to see what not many could see.
Besides, one of them became the winner of the lottery and was given this picture where the artist depicted a very picturesque corner of ancient Vologda – the Church of St. Elijah the Prophet in Kameniye. This small stone church built in the late 17th century is surrounded with wooden houses and branchy trees. 
