NOTES ON PEOPLE (07/29/01)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Jersey businesswoman creates wearable art

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - It took a trip to a textile exhibit several years ago at The Metropolitan Museum of Art for Anna Denysyk to realize the worth of her own creations. Ms. Denysyk, who has a background in fabric art, remembers thinking that while the pieces on display were magnificent, she had textiles in her own studio that rivaled their beauty.

The Morris Plains, N.J., clothing designer subsequently refocused her sewing business onto wearable art, decorating usable items with transplanted family heirlooms, which might otherwise have remained locked in dusty trunks for generations.

Ms. Denysyk's business, Heirloom Transformations, is able to help clients who would like to restore life to damaged garments or fabrics that still hold great emotional significance. For example, she dissassembled the damaged wedding dress of a bride-to-be's grandmother and reworked its designs into a bridal handbag and ring-bearer's pillow for the upcoming wedding. "I take the part that is not damaged, include it with other fabric and create something that is pretty to look at or wearable or usable," explained Ms. Denysyk.

Sometimes Ms. Denysyk's clients will ask her to revive an old stained garment or piece of fabric. If she can't remove the stain by hand-washing, she simply works any imperfections into the design of the new piece.

According to Ms. Denysyk, "If we don't get the imperfections out, that's fine, because they are part and parcel of the history of the [garment]."

To that end, Ms. Denysyk has created beautiful garments out of fabrics that were thought by their owners to be completely ruined and useless.

She urges people to think before they relegate a family heirloom to a lonely trunk in the attic. Why suffocate a family heirloom in a lonely trunk when it can be brought back to life to be enjoyed once more?

Ms. Denysyk, who holds a B.A. in art history and studio fine art, and has begun work toward a master's in textiles and fiber arts, also designs costumes for threater productions and creates special clothes, such as communion dresses and outfits for christenings, that may themselves become heirlooms. She is also a museum consultant and has been a featured speaker at various clubs.

She is a member of the Arts Council of the Morris Area Artists Registry, the Costume Society of America and the Costume and Textile Group of New Jersey.

Ms. Denysyk and her family - husband, Oleh, and children, Ruslan, Dara and Lana - are members of Ukrainian National Association Branches 371, 204 and 88. All are active members of the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization.

To learn more about Ms. Denysyk's wearable art, visit her website located at www.heirloomtransformations.com.

Student wins top awards, graduates as valedictorian

SUMMIT, N.J. - Alexander Lyashchenko, a senior at Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, N.J., and son of Mr. and Mrs. Konstantin Lyashchenko of Newark, was named valedictorian of the class of 2001.

Among his scholastic accomplishments was recognition in the areas of math and science by the National Honor Society. For his achievements he was awarded the Bausch and Lomb Award and the Rensselaer Medal. He placed third in the Merck Sate Science Day competition, fifth in the Chemistry I contest of the New Jersey Science League in 2000 and 13th in the Biology I contest of the New Jersey Science League in 1998.

This National Merit commended student has been an active participant in several academic teams and clubs throughout his high school career, among them the Oratory science teams, Math Club and Math Team.

As a part of the Chemistry II team, along with the help of his peers, he was able to lead the team to a first-place title and the state championship. After his excellent performance, Mr. Lyashchenko came away with the title of first place chemistry student in the state of New Jersey. Individually he also ranked seventh in the New Jersey Catholic High School Math League. This contest encompassed 24 other schools and 400 students across the state.

Mr. Lyashchenko is not limited to success in academics. He was a member of the Ukrainian Club and a strong presence on the Oratory Rams soccer team and cross country team.

He plans to attend Columbia University in the fall.

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