The Llano Earth Art Festival (LEAF) celebrated the holiday season with international flair with a “White Russian Christmas Party” and artist meet-and-greet featuring renowned Russian sculptor Dmitrii Klimenko, while setting the stage for the unveiling of a major artwork planned for LEAF 2026.
The party, held December 20 at The Falls in Llano, brought together local residents, artists, and supporters of the festival to welcome Klimenko to the Texas Hill Country. The event served as a fundraiser for the 2026 festival, scheduled for March 27-29 at Grenwelge Park.
Klimenko’s visit was made possible through his long-standing connection with Joaquin Cortez, a fellow master sculptor on the international sand sculpting circuit and a LEAF artist and organizer. Cortez said the idea developed just a month before Klimenko arrived in Texas, when the two were traveling together in Florida and sharing photos of recent work. Klimenko’s previous work on a driftwood deer inspired the idea to commission a similar piece for Llano.
