Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation marks Eko's centenary (03/23/03)

Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation marks Eko's centenary

by Oksana Zakydalsky

TORONTO - The Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation - known by its Ukrainian acronym as the KUMF Gallery - commemorated the centenary of the birth of artist and satirist Edward Kozak (who used the name "Eko") with an exhibit of the artist's works and a program about his life and writings. The opening of the exhibit on February 2 was attended by Mr. Kozak's family from Michigan - son Jarema, daughter Natalka Kozak, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The literary program, titled "The Humor and Satire of Edward Kozak," featured a talk about the life and writings of Eko by Prof. Maksym Tarnawsky as well as readings from Eko's works by actors Jurij Belsky and Jurij Kelebay.

Mr. Kozak combined the talents and extraordinary skills of a painter, caricaturist, illustrator, humorist, editor and publisher, author, essayist and film animator. Throughout his long life - he died in Warren, Mich., at the age of 90 - he made friends and had colleagues all over North America. Both the exhibit of Eko's works, which ran from February 2 to 24, and the literary program on February 9 at KUMF, were packed both by people who had known him and by those who, as children, had grown up with his stories and illustrations.

Born in 1902 in the village of Hirne, near Stryi, western Ukraine, Mr. Kozak studied art in Lviv under Oleksa Novakivsky. On completing his studies, he worked as a book and magazine illustrator, authored and illustrated the children's magazine Dzvinochok and in 1926 became at first illustrator and then editor of the humor magazine Zyz and then Komar. Publishing and writing works of humor and satire were a lifelong devotion.

When living in various refugee camps in Germany and Austria after the war, Eko revived the humor magazine under the new name Lys and started it up again after arriving in the United States in 1951. This became the famous Lys Mykyta which continued to be published until 1991. In Lys Mykyta, Eko used caricature, humor, satire and irony - and commented and often criticized, where this was needed, people and significant events of the national, social, political and religious affairs of Ukrainians.

During the Cold War, his caricatures were particularly sharp when aimed at the Soviet occupiers of Ukraine and somewhat gentler but still hitting their mark as he targeted various diaspora "national liberators" and "defenders of the four freedoms."

After emigration from Germany to the United States, Mr. Kozak and his family settled in the Detroit area and he renewed his career in painting, drawing, journalism, caricature and publishing. Professionally, he became a film animator and artist on TV programs for children.

Mr. Kozak was fascinated with the life and folklore of the Carpathian people, particularly the Hutsuls - a fascination - he developed when he still lived in Ukraine and which continued to permeate his paintings in America. He even found his Carpathians in the Catskills of New York state, spending most summers in the Ukrainian enclave in Hunter, N.Y.

An exhibit of his works was held in Lviv in 1990 and on his visit during the show, Eko was made an honorary citizen of the city. A second exhibit in Lviv was held last year, also marking the centenary of the artist's birth.

Eko painted historical subjects such as Kyivan boyars, Kozaks, the Sich Riflemen (Sichovi Striltsi) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), but he is most remembered for his depiction of everyday life in the Ukrainian village and Ukrainian folklore - traditions, beliefs, superstitions, songs and aphorisms - rich material that was stylistically rendered in his works with humor and affection.

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