Decorum Art Shop, Skhidnytsia

Decorum is a small art shop in the very heart of Skhidnytsia, on Zolota Bania Street close to the central pump rooms and the resort's promenade. Google Maps lists it as an art gallery, and that fits: instead of the usual souvenir mix, paintings hang on the walls, glass and ceramic pieces line the shelves and every item has a maker. In a resort where identical stalls of fridge magnets dominate the promenade, a shop like this is a welcome exception.

There are still only a few reviews of Decorum, but all of them give it top marks. Visitors appreciate the feel of a little gallery where you can take your time looking at the work and choose a gift that will genuinely remind you of the Carpathians.

Why drop in

Decorum is the place to find something special to take home from a holiday in Skhidnytsia. It is easy to pop in between treatments or after a walk to the springs: the shop occupies a building with large shop windows on the resort's main street. It does not advertise workshops or tours, so it is first and foremost a shop-exhibition selling work by local and Ukrainian artists. If you are looking for something specific, such as a painting of a certain size or a gift set, call ahead.

What you can buy

Judging by photos from visitors and from the shop itself, the range includes:

• paintings — vivid autumn and summer Carpathian landscapes, village houses and decorative folk-style canvases;
• fused glass — glass flowers and tulips, decorative plates and quirky serving trays made from “melted” bottles painted with ornaments;
• painted ceramics — plates, wall panels and ceramic magnets with funny figures;
• painted wooden boards, small religious-themed pictures, bead jewellery and other small gifts.

The selection reflects contemporary Ukrainian craft well: traditional motifs such as flowers, cottages and mountains combined with newer techniques like glass fusing. A glass plate made from a bottle or a small landscape of Skhidnytsia or the Beskids is a good alternative to mass-produced souvenirs and a way to support local makers. Stock changes, so pieces seen in photos may already have found a new owner.

Choosing a gift

Before buying, ask about the artist and the technique: in small shop-galleries the staff are usually happy to tell you who paints the landscapes and who works with glass or clay. Glass and ceramics are fragile, so ask for careful wrapping if you still face a bus or train journey. An unframed canvas is the easiest thing to carry and can be framed at home. A small original landscape or a painted plate from Skhidnytsia is a souvenir that will long remind you of walks in the Beskid forests and the taste of the local mineral waters.

Practical information

• Address: 5A/3 Zolota Bania Street, Skhidnytsia (resort centre, in the same building as the Panetteria bakery).
• Phone: +380 97 445 7794.
• Hours: not published; phone before you go, especially out of season.
• Prices: not published; they depend on the artist and technique, from inexpensive magnets to original paintings.
• Getting there: Skhidnytsia is 15 km from Truskavets and 7 km from Boryslav; the shop is a few minutes' walk from the bus station and the central pump rooms. Paid car parks are available in the resort centre.

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

At a glance

• Address: Skhidnytsia
• Opening hours: Hours not published; please phone ahead
• Season: All year round
• Phone: +380974457794

Please confirm by phone before your trip.

Photos: lh3.googleusercontent.com.