Ukrainian Art evolution
(BUCKLE UP, THIS IS GONNA BE BLOG STYLE)
Visit (2021 for the spark notes version)
Red Boot Suitcase, 2019
When Baba and Gido found out what mom named me, they scrunched their noses and said “What kind of a name is that?! It doesn’t sound very Ukrainian”. To make up for that misstep, I was enrolled in Ukrainian Dance at age 4, and didn’t take a break for the next 17 years. Throughout this time I danced with Troyanda, Tryzub, and understudied with Cheremosh. There was a point in my life where I thought I was going to teach Ukrainian Dance (the traditional stuff, with less ballet) so I travelled to Ukraine 3 times to study culture, and choreography. I won’t muddy this up with too many details, but I am thankful to have had Vincent Rees (Ukrainian dance choreographer / culture enthusiast) as an influence in my life for so many years .
My decision to quit dance was not for lack of love, more so of an acceptance that I was too introverted to blaze my own trail in that world.
I missed it terribly.
Anytime a Ukrainian song would play on the radio (a regular occurrence in Alberta) I found myself tearing up. One time during Heritage days I happened to stroll by Shumka performing on the Legislature grounds, and as soon as my friend was distracted by the performance, I started to quietly sob.
I longed for the imaginary world that Dance offered. The red boots, woven belts, and Hutsul slippers that I worked for so many years to understand. Telling stories about about the old country through collaborative movement felt like a special obligation, considering everything my ancestors had been through
after graduating from University, I decided it was time to start making art about one of the most influential parts of my life. (do I even need to say it?)
Tracing Footsteps (Mile Zero Dance 2021)
In January 2021, I was given the keys to the Mile Zero dance window space for a month “residency” as visual artist. I filled the windows with a display of paper dancers erupting from suitcases, as a display of culture and heritage.
The residency ended with a live performance of me combing through memorabilia collected over my 17 years as a Ukrainian Dancer.
PysankY for Peace
6’ tall Pysanka painted freehand over the course of a week for a Ukrainian Canadian Social Services fundraiser.
Perun
is the Ukrainian god of lightning, the world, and and the sky. The Slavic equivalent of Zeus who is represented by a sacred tree, usually an oak.
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I was invited to participate in the Razom for Ukraine Fundraiser titled #ukrainianhalloween. The goal, to raise $100,000 for generators in Ukraine in preparation of a long winter, and further attacks on the power grid.
Sow our spring (VESNA), 2022
Painted for a fundraiser auction at the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts, and produced into prints / postcards for an additional fundraiser.
Doll I, 2021
This painting was created for a fundraiser auction at the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts. It was auctioned online through Waddingtons.
