By Sophie Works, Florida State University
Hello everyone! This is Sophie Works writing from the beginning of my third week in Riga, Latvia. In this post, I’ll be talking about some hurdles I have had to overcome and how they have influenced me and my research.
Sophie Works (left), Russian (Slavic) Studies and International Affairs Major, Tyler Center for Global Studies Undergraduate Research awardee, Edna Ranck International Studies awardee, and Global Scholar with Yamila Borsyani (right), International Affairs Major with a concentration in Russian, wearing traditional Latvian flower crowns from the central market for Jāņi, the summer solstice, 6/23/2025
To start, for the first week I was in Riga, I had an extremely difficult time feeling comfortable and confident enough to approach strangers asking for interviews and the opportunity to photograph their Russian lacquer pieces. In fact, the first person I actually mustered up enough courage to ask was Ukrainian–not Russian, knew nothing about lacquer art, and wanted nothing to do with my study. She was very kind in declining my invitation, but I could tell that she did not want to touch anything Russian with a ten-foot-pole. Her store in the central market was beautiful, though. It was filled to the brim with colorful matryoshka dolls, painted kitchenware, and intricate pavlovo posad shawls. However, I came to find out that all of these items are actually Ukrainian-made!
Pictures of the Ukrainian Lacquer Stall in Riga’s Central Market, 6/23/2025
And so, while this interaction was uncomfortable, made me feel horrible, and slightly discouraging, it taught me a very important lesson. I have previously spoken in earlier blog posts about reforming parts of my study to be more culturally sensitive to an Eastern European audience, but this interaction significantly broadened my perspective in a way I was not expecting: I needed to create various options for various participants–even if they do not fit my expected demographic. From there, I went back to my student apartment and wrote several new versions of my project’s information sheet, each serving a particular audience while still being clear on what I was researching, why, and what participation would look like. Now, before each interview I have, I alter my information sheets and questions based on who I am interviewing, where we will be meeting, and what items they possess.
Russian Version of the First Half of the Recruitment Information Sheet for General Participants (left) and English Version of the Second Half of the Recruitment Information Sheet for a Specific Antique Store in My Area (right), 6/23/2025-7/10/2025
After this interaction in the central market and a rebranding of my approach technique, I began focusing on pursuing more antique stores for lacquer boxes. So, I picked the closest one to my apartment and went inside on a random Tuesday after my morning Russian classes. There, I saw the most magnificently beautiful antique store I had ever seen. If anything, it was more so an auction house/gallery. With huge 15,000 euro porcelain chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a giant trunk of Napoleonic-era porcelain sitting on a Roman marble table, and an exquisite collection of Russian Orthodox Icons littered across the walls and display cases, I was beyond nervous. The mere prices of things in the shop were making me sweat uncontrollably. And to make matters worse, the shop was completely empty–just me and the one receptionist who spoke very limited English. I had a walk around looking for any signs of Russian lacquer art but saw nothing. So, I asked the attendant if they had any. She looked at me with a very confused look and said, “что?” Basically, “what?” and was desperately trying to understand me. So, I said to the best of my ability, “вы продаете Русское лаковые шкатулки здесь?” or, “Do you sell Russian lacquer boxes here?” However, she still looked incredibly confused and said “нет”–I don’t think I need to translate this one. But then, just as I thanked her and was turning to leave, she motioned me to follow her to a cabinet near the front of the store. She opened the cabinet’s bottom storage doors, reached into its pitch-dark corner, and pulled out two 19th-century lacquer boxes from Fedoskino–one of the most famous Russian lacquer art villages. My eyes instantly widened, but my mouth dried up. She juggled them in her hands like they were just any other item. I wanted to say so much, but couldn’t. So, I thanked her and started on my way home.
19th-Century Fedoskino Lacquer Boxes, 7/4/2025
But, not even a quarter of the way into my walk, I stopped myself and thought, “what am I doing?!?” So, I turned around and went back inside to look for the attendant to ask if she would be interested in participating in an interview and allow me to photograph the lacquer boxes. However, instead of her greeting me at the door, a young man speaking perfect English approached me and asked what he could do for me. As I start to explain, he invites me into the store’s office to speak in a more quiet place. He offers me pastries and tea while listening intensely to what my project is about, why I am here, and what my mission is. He immediately said yes and even offered to let me use their professional photography equipment to do it. So, two days later, I’m back in their store interviewing him while using expert-level lighting and a backdrop to take my photos. Additionally, he brought out a lacquer-style plate from the late 19th century depicting the most famous Russian folktale, “Ivan, the Firebird, and the Grey Wolf” just for me to photograph.
Wooden Lacquer Plate, “Tsarevich Ivan and the Gray Wolf,” 1899
The above and beyond kindness and willingness of this interviewee reignited my spark to find more participants. As a result, I secured four more interviews/photography sessions in antique stores in just one day for this week alone and am already planning to visit several Orthodox churches at the start of next. And on 7/9/2025, I was generously gifted a textbook on Palekh, the most famous Russian Lacquer village and school, by another one of my interviewees. The strong desire among my participants to help my project despite not knowing me personally has been incredibly heartwarming and life changing. I have most definitely been inspired by my interviewees to have more confidence and open-mindness to opportunities that may not be initially obvious.
Palekh. The State Museum of Palekh Art, my two favorite art pieces in the book so far, a gift from one generous interviewee, 7/9/2025
And so, even though that first interaction I had in the central market was likely the worst case scenario in regards to recruiting participants, I have definitely also experienced the best case scenario. Plus, that first experience taught me something that my most recent interview wouldn’t have: audience awareness, sensitivity, and understanding. Despite feeling very bad at that moment, I am so thankful for the hurdle it threw at me. Without it, I don’t think I would have secured as many interviews in the places I have found.
But that’s all for now! Thank you for reading, and until next time!
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