BALALAIKA

BALALAIKA is the second of three prints in our Around the Samovar series. Balalaikas are a Russian three-stringed instrument with origins in central Asia. The name is inspired by the Russian word for chatter and the instruments were widely played by working class peasants and wandering artists. It was common for someone to play one around a group gathering, including a samovar, while others socialize with the high pitched notes of the balalaika in the background. Limited Edition of 5 Production Each print is cut, sewn, and screen printed by hand in our Pilsen studio with water-based inks on 100% cotton. They’re ready to hang using two corner loops – no framing or extra materials required, but they do fit nicely in standard size frames. Care instructions: Iron on back using cotton setting temperature to rid of folds and wrinkles. Do not machine wash. Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches Material: 100% Cotton, Screen Print  Gucha Gucha (East Pilsen) ぐちゃぐちゃ / Gucha Gucha is a Chicago-based low waste studio founded in 2019 by Maksim Barkhatov (he/him) and Kasumi Chow (she/her) — a creative duo with backgrounds in design. The shop name is an onomatopoeia of something being sloppy, messy, or messed with. Our printed experiments reclaim the diasporas of being 1st generation Americans of immigrant families.