Multidisciplinary artist Si Golraine, born and raised in the east of Ukraine, began her artistic journey at just six years old when she was enrolled in a prestigious classical music school. This formal study spanned eleven years, her fingers learning the piano’s keys intimately, and today she is a remarkable musician. Yet, perhaps as impactful as the world of music itself, song in this early period played the role of catalyst for much more. While excelling at classical piano during those formative years, Si, born Olga Panchenko, explored a range of artistic mediums and materials as a young woman, her curiosity and passion for the most creative sides of life proving insatiable.
In 2012, an exciting door opened when Si won a place in the Future Leaders Exchange Program, and she moved to Texas for a year abroad. There, Si attended a specialized theater school, began painting at scale, and honed her myriad of artistic endeavors through formal and informal education. Inspired and driven, Si moved from Texas to New York City to pursue her dreams.
From her Staten Island-based studio, Si quickly immersed herself in the NYC art scene, pursuing projects small and large, from painting to drawing, sculpting found objects to wood carving, dancing, choreographing, and of course, making music. To our great benefit we met Si in 2019, and the instant chemistry between our art-centric brand and Si’s loves in life was palpable. In no time a five-and-a-half-year tenure as Eatingtools’ creative director and right-hand person to Abe, our founder, began.
During her time with us Si expanded her repertoire of talents to include metalwork, from the forced oxidation of copper using both chemical and heat, to the anodization of titanium. Not stopping there, Si became adept at repairing and sharpening fine chef knives as well. The objects Si has embellished with her unique style include world-class cutlery by makers such as Benjamin Kamon, tea kettles from Japan, Light My Fire titanium sporks and straws, and of course, the stunning TiStix Titanium Chopsticks she brush-anodizes with bold colors and striking patterns just for us. So rewarding was this culinary-driven development in her artistic pursuits that today Si’s primary medium of expression is the colorful ‘painting’ of titanium with electricity. At the heart of her artistic mission is a commitment to creating through unconventional mediums, all while fostering healing and elevated consciousness.
