Philadelphia Museum of Art presents mosaic of Ukrainian culture (09/09/01)

Philadelphia Museum of Art presents mosaic of Ukrainian culture

by Petrusia Sawchak

PHILADELPHIA - Despite record-breaking temperatures, over 1,000 people flocked to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on August 8 to enjoy a dazzling program of Ukrainian art, music, dance and film as part of the museum's special Wednesday Night Series. The stunning mosaic of Ukrainian culture was co-sponsored by the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) as part of this year's commemoration of Ukrainian independence.

"It is an honor to be able to celebrate 10 years of Ukrainian independence at the Philadelphia Museum of Art," said Laura Henrich, Wednesday Night Programs Coordinator. She added, "I'm moved by the culture and crafts of the Ukrainian people. It's breathtaking!"

Mistress of ceremonies Orysia Hewka, the executive director of the UECC, commenced the program with the traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and salt presented by Dora Pastushak.

Ms. Hewka introduced Marianna Sadovsky, actress and folk singer from Lviv, who also accompanied herself on the harmonium, a keyboard instrument with small metal reeds and a set of bellows. The enchanting Ms. Sadovsky performed songs she has collected from women in villages in the Poltava, Polissia, and Halychyna regions. They taught her not only the songs, but also the stories behind the songs. Ms. Sadovsky said that she then understood how the songs could serve as guides for one's lives. Viewers were able to purchase the singer's CD "Marianna Sadovska: Songs I Learned in Ukraine" (18 tracks of wedding, lullaby and spring songs) recently released by Global Village Music of New York.

Gloria Elizabeth Collins, assistant conductor for the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company, accompanied tenor Bohdan Chaplynsky of Philadelphia who performs for the Piccolo, Rittenhouse and Amici Opera Companies. He presented a classical and traditional Ukrainian repertoire that included the beautiful aria "Bohuna" from the opera "Bohdan Khmelnytsky," music by Dankevych. Mr. Chaplynsky also sang works by Baltarovych, Stetsenko, Hnatyshyn, music by Barvinsky and Kos-Anatolskyj.

Vladimir Shumeikin is the artistic director, and his wife, Galina, is the fashion designer of the fabulous International Ballet Theater of the Performing Arts, formerly the Donetsk Ballet Company. Their program began with a performance by 12-year-old prodigy, Christina Shevchenko, who performed "Kozachok" (music by Yaniwsky and choreography by Shumeikin), "Don Quixote" variation (music by Minkus and choreography by Petipa), and "Walpurgis Nights" (music by Guno and choreography by Shumeikin).

Andrei and Era Jouravel performed "Los Majos"(music by Enrique Granados and choreography by Robert Weiss) and "Reflections on the Pond" (music by David Arkenstone and choreography by Andrei Journavel).

Premier danseur Alexander Boitsov and Era Jouravel gave a beautiful execution of "Rain," (music by Skoryk and choreography by Shumeikin).

Ms. Hewka narrated the fashion show highlighting various regions of Ukraine. Youth from the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center modeled 16 costumes, which were loaned from various sources, and they were instructed and directed by Tonia Katruk, UECC board member.

The models were: Olenka Bobak, Julia Vandervort, Mila and Julia Knihnicky, Ivanka Tymchuk, Julia Lokin, Christina Dukh, Taisa Hewka, Ivan Bobak, Lada Pastushak, Natalia Zitter, Adriana Shembel, Christopher Rianow, Natalia Kuzla, Yaroslav Kovaliv and Dora Pastuchak.

The costumes modeled were from the Poltava, Hutsul, Lemko, Kyiv, Bukovyna, Chernihiv, Borschiv and Zakarpayia regions in Ukraine.

A fantastic outfit from Chernihiv that was made for special occasions made a smashing appearance with its interesting headpiece of upright rye stalks along with a beaded shirt and wrap-around woven skirt tucked up on both sides. (This costume was captured by the photography of Tania D'Avignon in her book, "Simply Ukraine," which was also available for purchase at UECC's information table.

Beautiful coral beads were used with many of the costumes. Especially striking was the gerdan used as part of the Lemko attire. The climax of the fashion show was the wedding dress from the village of Zhabie in the Hutsul region. The bride was covered by a cape called a "guglia." She also wore a symbolic wedding scarf around her neck called a "peremitla." After the wedding, the scarf was wrapped around the head, removing the headpiece of yarn and metal decorations indicating her married state. Both the groom and the bride wore a little "kolach" containing coins for luck in a handkerchief tied around their wrists.

As a finale, and to everyone's delight, the models broke out in dance to the tunes of the "Hopak". The folk art consultants for the fashion show were Evdokia Sorochaniuk, Anna Halamay, Vera Nakonechny and Oksana Tkaczuk.

Julian Kytasty of the Experimental Bandura Trio in New York City, sang and performed on the bandura and the sopilka before an intrigued audience. The song "Banish Misfortune," stroked on the bandura, was taken and combined from two kobzar songs. Mr. Kytasty also performed "Chumak Song" and "Duma."

The Prometheus Male Choir of Philadelphia, directed by Nestor Kyzymyszyn and accompanied by Halyna Mazyrok Reh, completed the musical program with Ukrainian traditional and folk choral music. The 32 singers provided fine, rich voices as well as enthusiasm for the eight songs they presented to the audience, and they received a standing ovation for their performance. Many purchased the choir's CDs after the concert.

In addition to the musical program, other events took place simultaneously during the evening. There was a demonstration and sale of the folk art called Petrykivka by Andrij Pikush from Ukraine. His collection of art also for sale, included roosters, sunflowers and other Ukrainian motifs. Chrystyna Prokopovych, coordinator of the Ukrainian Heritage Center at Manor Junior College, presented a collection of gerdany and pysanky that depicted the various patterns and designs used in different areas of Ukraine.

Completing the Ukrainian mosaic were film presentations in the museum's auditorium: the award-winning documentary "Pysanka" (1976, 14 minutes) and "The Helm of Destiny" (1976, 50 minutes) narrated by Jack Palance. Both films were produced and directed by Slavko Nowytski.

A drawing was held for one round-trip airplane ticket to Kyiv, courtesy of Diaspora Travel Co.

For the palate there was a free sampling of Soomska vodka, courtesy of Spirits of Valley Forge. The museum's chef also prepared sautéed varenyky and beet salad, as well as American food for purchase.

An information table staffed by UECC President Petrusia Sawchak and board member Tekla Andruchiw provided brochures about the Ukrainian center and answered questions pertaining to that night's event.

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