City unveils eccentric art collection

Crescent City is sponsoring an exhibit showcasing the eccentric art from Ukrainian Val Polyanin. Entitled SAFEKEEPING: The art of Val Polyanin, some 900 paintings, sculptures and non-traditional expressions of this former Crescent City resident will be on display at the old Bank of America building at 240 H St.

The city will display the collection the first Friday each month, through October 6.

Polyanin fled the former Soviet Union in 1986 due to political repression. After jumping off a cargo ship and swimming to the Japanese island of Honshu, Polyanin, Polyanin ultimately made his way to the United States and ended up on Highway 101 South across from the harbor where he built his studio and expressed his non-traditional art from 1988-2022.

Property owner Hambro Group ended up with the collection as Polyanin had no means to store it. Hambro Group offered the objects to the city, which accepted the donation.

The city is utilizing $8,000 of economic development funds plus an additional $2,000 of its general fund budget to host the first Friday-only art exhibit for the next six months.  

According to SAFEKEEPING website, The city touts this event as an economic stimulus and a recognition of artistic freedom.