Ted Turner and Planting the Future ~ Borsheim Art News
In this issue of Borsheim Art News (June 28, 2026):
- Planting the Future
- Norfolk, Virginia (US): Exhibition and Teaching
- Ted Turner and Vasily Fedorouk
- Fraud Alert!
- Shower and Sea Lady with Dolphin (Nudes)
- What is new on BorsheimArts YouTube channel
- Lay-Away Plan reminder
- Nori's Garlic: Recent (but Sold) Contemporary Painting
- Testimonial from new art collector, charcoal drawing
Dear Art Lover,
There are times in which I try something that feels different from previous works. That is what happened when I decided to participate in a type of Estemporanea (painting competition) that I had not yet experienced. I spent much of the spring participating in these on-site painting experiences. Here is my first and the story of her existence may be found here:
https://borsheimarts.com/collections/acrylic-paintings/products/planting-for-the-future-original-painting
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Norfolk, Virginia (US): Exhibition and Teaching
I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a workshop on creativity on Saturday, September 12, 2026!
To see the materials list and details, go here:
https://DevelopingCompositionIdeas_Masterclass.eventbrite.com
Also, I will have an exhibition space in the same gallery location in Norfolk, Virginia. The setup happens on the first of September, and will continue through 21 December.
d'Art Center
740 Boush St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
Tel 001 (757) 625-4211
https://d-artcenter.org
Hours: Closed Sundays and Mondays
Tues-Sat*: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Ted Turner and Vasily Fedorouk
Media mogul Ted Turner died on May 6, 2026 at 87 years old. Perhaps you know a lot about him. But do you know about his connection to a Ukrainian sculptor Vasily Fedorouk, whose art I represent?
Ted Turner was far more than a businessman and television producer. He was also a philanthropist and creator and primary backer of the Goodwill Games. He established the games in response to Olympic boycotts in 1980 and 1984. His goal was to ease Cold War tensions between the US and the Soviet Union.
The first game was held in Moscow in 1986. The following event was in Seattle, Washington, in 1990 from July 20-August 5. The Seattle event brought over 2,300 athletes from 54 countries to compete. Speakers at the opening ceremony included former US President Ronald Reagan, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ted Turner. Musical performances by the Moody Blues and Gorky Park were part of the event, too.
Sports were not his only vision to bring people together. Turner also orchestrated about 1,300 international artists to the Goodwill Arts Festival alongside the games. The majority of those were from the Soviet Union. The events paved the way for peace between nations as host families got to know their Soviet guests. And apparently, the artists got some eye-opening experiences seeing the very different way of life in the US.
Vasily's wife Dilya related to me that it was Ted Turner himself who wrote a letter of appreciation to Vasily after he gifted two sculptures to Seattle. Turner's letter was instrumental in helping Vasily leave the Ukraine and move to the US. He brought his son and wife over once he got settled a bit. As of this writing, Dilya has not yet re-found the specific letter in all of the documents she has, but she feels grateful to Mr. Turner for his vision and assistance with obtaining the proper visa that changed Vasily's family's lives.
Caption on the front of the brochure with a line drawing (by Anne Carr) of Vasily's stone sculpture:
Exchanging Visions
This sculpture was inspired by the 1990 Goodwill Games. It was created and given to the citizens of Seattle by Ukrainian sculptor Vasily Fedorouk as a lasting tribute to the spirit of peace and love among people of all nations.
Dedicated December 15, 1990.
Inside the brochure:
[Article below and portrait of Vasily in this brochure are both by Anne Carr in 1990, Seattle.]
The Story Behind the Sculpture
Three days after the closing ceremonies of the Goodwill Games, Vasily Fedorouk emerged from a plane, tired from the long journey from Moscow. In his hand he carried a bag filled with gifts; in his heart he carried a dream. He was a sculptor, one of four artists from the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev who had brought their art to exhibit in Seattle.
"Bring me a large stone," Vasily said to his new friends in Seattle, "and I will carve a sculpture which will capture the feelings of peace and friendship which have been created in the hearts of the people everywhere by the Goodwill Games."
The search took him to the long-abandoned Wilkeson sandstone quarry, from which the stone for many of Seattle's original buildings was taken. Among the stone remnants lying scattered about, Vasily found the right pieces, quarried decades ago and now covered with lichen and ferns.
For the next three weeks, sometimes for as long as 8 or 10 hours a day, Vasily measured, sawed, chipped, hammered, and sanded on the sandstone. Where the set of hand tools he brought with him was inadequate, he improvised or borrowed. With the passion of one possessed, he labored. While his colleagues toured the sights of Seattle and the Northwest, he declined offers to accompany them with, "No, I must work." In the evenings he would fall wearily into bed, arms aching from the long hours of constant pounding.
As the sculpture took shape, the ground around it became littered with the debris of discarded stone chips. The air filled with dust from his sanding. Curious neighbors came over to investigate. A local television station heard about his project and featured his story on the news. Seattle became aware of this labor of love by the "sculptor from the Ukraine." Only two days before his scheduled departure, Vasily put down his tools for the last time.
Vasily and his colleagues have since returned to the Soviet Union. For the people involved in the Goodwill Games, the experience has now become a memory to be cherished. But in the future, thanks to the vision and dedication of one man, and the help of his many friends, all who visit this city will be reminded of how powerful the dreams of each of us can be. Vasily's sculpture stands as silent tribute to the realization of the dreams and efforts of many: the visionary Ted Turner, Father William Sullivan, Bob Walsh, and the producers of the Games, the athletes, their coaches and families, the volunteers, the host families, the spectators, the many other unsung heroes, and all others whose lives have been and will be touched in some way by the Goodwill Games.
[Caption of the photo of Vasily with his stone: "In every sculpture I create there dwells a part of me."]
[Caption under the portrait of Vasily by Anne Carr: "If the heart of even one person looking at my work is opened to that of another, my dream will have been fulfilled."]
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Fraud Alert!
Some months ago, Dilya and I discovered a seller on eBay who listed for sale Vasily's sculpture Shell, carved from Texas Rattlesnake limestone Vasily received when he and I taught stone carving at my home studio in Cedar Creek, Texas, 2005 and again in 2006.
The problem is two-fold: That seller DOES NOT HAVE THE SCULPTURE! In fact, in July 2025, I flew to Chicago and spent four days photographing Vasily's works (because he died in 2009 and the images he took are too low resolution for today's requirements). "Shell" was among the many.
The other mystery (besides the seller identity) is where did his images come from? The sculpture in the images are definitely the original stone carving by Vasily. But neither Dilya nor I recognize the photos! And I have known Vasily since 2001 and been working with his wife's collection of images and information since at least 2009.
The seller even has the GALL to reference Vasily's Web site (created by me, even before he died) to lend authenticity to his listing. However, if anyone were to try to buy the artwork, they would lose their money because Dilya has the art... and no copies or imitations have been made. Also, Texas Rattlesnake limestone is impossible to replicate as it contains fossils. Even using a stone cut next to the piece that Vasily used would not have the same fossils in the same positions as any other part of the stone.
Dilya has contacted eBay to have them remove the fraudulent listing. However, it is still online as I write this newsletter. I do not have the sculpture in my possession, but I think it is time for me to take the next step. Neither of us wants anyone scammed because s/he tried to buy Vasily's art.
I would like to assure all of my readers and audience that it is only I who put Vasily's work online. I put his work onto Saatchi gallery, but otherwise sales are made directly from Vasily's site or my own. It is ONLY Dilya who owns the unsold artworks (2-d and 3-d) made by her husband.
And a note to my loyal collectors and enthusiasts who prefer to buy only art that I have created. Thank you. But do know that I do a lot of work for market Vasily's work, as well as the other artists' work on my site. I receive a commission for each sale, because I have earned that! So, buy what you love, please.
To this end, I would like to present two of my new postings on my site of Vasily's original stone carvings:
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Shower and Sea Lady with Dolphin (Nudes)
I love this playful tabletop sculpture Shower. I think it could be fun displayed in or out of any beautiful bathroom.
- 12.5 h x 11 x 3.5 inches
- one-of-a-kind creme limestone sculpture
- copyright 2005 Vasily Fedorouk
- Payment plan available
- Shipping to US included, contact us for international rates
- https://borsheimarts.com/products/vasily-fedorouk-shower-sculpture
This sophisticated composition of a woman with long flowing hair riding a dolphin whose tail wraps around her leaves my jaw dropped open.
It is the kind of work that gives awe and the question, "Wow, a person made that?" Everything is beautifully proportioned and full of ocean-life wave movement.
She could be YOURS!
- 25 h x 7.5 x 8 inches, about 150 pounds (70 kilos)
- one-of-a-kind white marble sculpture
- copyright 1995 Vasily Fedorouk
- Payment plan available
- Shipping to US included, contact us for international rates
https://borsheimarts.com/products/vasily-fedorouk-sea-lady-with-dolphin-marble-sculpture
To find all of Vasily's artworks that I have thus far posted on my site, just go to any page there, look for the little magnifying glass icon, press it, and add in to the search bar "Vasily."
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What is new on BorsheimArts YouTube channel
Planting the Future Estemporanea painting where I show how I improved the painting after the competition was over:
https://youtu.be/xrOuqVSCgD4
My Second Estemporanea this year (San Piero a Pieve, Tuscany, Italy)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hptrt0mZajQ
My third Estemporanea (Pratovecchio in Arezzo, Italy):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfl1Ne1gSU0
And my fourth and likely last Estemporanea (Gambassi Terme, Tuscany):
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/hxJlw66c_to
This last one is a short video and I have yet to decide whether or not to rework that effort.
Go here to find the channel and many videos on art topics:
https://www.youtube.com/@BorsheimArts
You may even choose by general subjects under "Playlists."
https://www.youtube.com/@BorsheimArts/playlists
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Lay-Away Plan reminder:
I want you to enjoy living with art, especially things that I create. To that end, I have always offered a great Lay-Away Plan. YOU determine the amount you want to pay each month (how can I know what works best for you?) and you set the date that makes your life easier to pay monthly. No interest charges.
This pastel painting is currently being purchased "Nori's Garlic."
Another short video of the work in progress:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dMfU71Nc3I
Cheers to art!
Kelly
Luminosity, diptych (sold separately or together) with artist Kelly Borsheim
Photo credit : Paul Edwards
P.S. I have two shops on Etsy... the second one sells only my figure studies, male and female anatomy drawings, paintings and even sculpture. I sold a small charcoal Sketch of Valentina and received this feedback:
5 out of 5 stars
"Gorgeous! Can't wait to find a spot to hang it. I am going to have to switch out the frame color to suit my bathroom." -- Angela
Find my shop on Etsy here: https://www.BorsheimArtsStudio.etsy.com