I've never been to the Ukraine, but it's a big place, so I'd certainly be doing all the research that I could into any places I'd be visiting on the trip, as there may be great variences between different parts of the country, much like many states in the US would have completely different weather patterns, laws, attitudes, and local customs.

Also there are certain countries I have visited over the years, where if you're lost, and stand out a mile as a a tourist, the locals will just have a bit of a giggle and then help you out, but there have also been places I've visited where I got the distinct impression that the locals would take advantage of such a lost puppy! I remember my taxi fare from one airport I was in was substantially higher than the normal. We only found out after a few days of staying there!! Here again, research will help. When you arrive at the airport, go to the information desk, and ask them how much a taxi should cost, and fix the price before hand with the taxi driver. When you're looking for hotels, look at the reviews that people made about the hotels on trip advisor, as they provide very, very helpful information.

I agree with other commenters here that sending the artwork by courier is probably safer, and I would think also cheaper than bringing it on the flight with you. I would suggest that you try and be there before the delivery arrives if at all possible but that would mean being there for a few days before the show. If you could cover the cost, or get it included from the gallery, it would be worth it.

Congratulations on the invite, and hope it all goes well for you.

I worked with someone doing frames for their gallery. They told me that for their sculptures, they hire a firm that specializes in moving artwork. They must be amazing considering the installations they've had to move. I'm not sure how much they cost, but I believe it's an expense galleries usually cover in moving art to show. Might be worth seeing if they would cover that expense. Your sculptures seem very fragile, so it would be worth looking into.

Nice stuff - saw it on a tumblr blog, and it was one of those less common instances where the source was properly credited... ;-P

About your 'problem':

I'd suggest sending your artwork separately; if you travel with it, even if it survives the flight OK it'll be your responsibility to get it from the airport to the exhibition space; and if you find it's damaged when you get there, airline could try to argue damage happened outside the airport. If you use a courier you will have more insurance and delivery options (obviously slower = cheaper); the exhibitor can arrange someone to take delivery. Ideally arrive a day before exhibition - that way you have chance to make any emergency repairs should the worst happen.

You need to calculate an insurance value: as a bare minimum it should be what it would actually cost to replace that work in materials and labour - personally I'd make sure that number is actually one you're happy to do that at; they'll pretty much have to accept the value you give - it's an original piece of sculpture. Maybe I'm being suspicious, but I'd research both galleries and possibly try to talk to others who've exhibited in the past just to make sure everything's on the level.

I suspect if you can get it at all, insurance to somewhere like the Ukraine won't be cheap (& Jerusalem not much better) so you should ask them to cover some, if not all, the cost. Talk to both, if this is something they do regularly they might have preferred carriers, etc. based on that you should be able to get some quotes.

Not only should they cover your travel costs they should at least make a contribution to your accommodation costs (or provide it). Will your work be for sale? If so, your price needs to allow for your expenses and don't forget there will be their commission (if they're commercial galleries). They may be happy to advise you - commission is usually expressed as a percentage, so it's in their interests to get best possible price.

How long does it take to make a piece? You could even consider asking them to source some books to make a piece locally especially for the exhibition.

MAKE SURE YOU DOCUMENT PACKAGING. i.e. take plenty of photos, including one where artwork wrapped but box not sealed, maybe with that days newspaper, in shot. Take pics of box to show it's condition before shipping.

Stuff like 'In the rose garden' & 'Make time to read' looks a) easier to pack full stop & b) possible to get more than one to a box. As for the other work: do you always use hardbacks? If so that would make it easier to attach it to a cardboard baseplate that fits SNUGLY into box: this should stop things moving around. Ideally it should also be secured so that it can't move vertically as well (e.g. make a second piece of card in a U shape the size of boxes interior, such that sides take up full height of box, cut out hole in bottom of U the size of artworks footprint, insert on top of baseplate), once secure, wrap with bubble wrap and fill empty space with foam chips, scrunched up paper, inflated plastic bags - basically anything that will stop things moving around and getting damaged.

If you can afford it I would send one to a friend far away & then back as a trial run.

Do you have a passport - if not have you researched both that & any visa requirements? Here (UK) passport takes about 6 weeks, ONCE you have all the necessary documentation: birth cert, etc., so in practise it takes a couple of months - especially if it's your first. You'll need travel insurance anyway, but if there's any way to cover your work under that policy as well that's probably A Good Thing.

Finally make sure you, or someone locally, documents work at the exhibition, and make sure you update your CV / blog / bio accordingly. Being exhibited quite often makes you more likely to be asked to exhibit...

HTH, good luck

/sean

Wow , so cool . Make sure they get you a round trip ticket though . Can you break down your artwork and then refold it when you get there ? Get good HARD sided suitcases with a belt to hold it closed , thieves just take a knife and slit open the soft sided ones and the baggage handlers can be appalling . I've watched baggage throw out of planes and see suitcases going up conveyors to planes get caught on the hatch and fall to the ground .