THE 12th ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE
San Francisco
by Nestor Wolansky
SAN FRANCISCO - The annual Ukrainian Day celebration, this year commemorating the 12th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, was held on August 24 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. A sunny day brought out a large crowd of about 350 people to what has become an eagerly anticipated Northern California ethnic event.
The program included the noted Bay Area activist Zenon Zubrycky, a member of the executive committee of the Stanford University Ukrainian Studies Program, as the keynote speaker and the event's master of ceremonies. Mr. Zubrychy highlighted the efforts of the Bay Area Ukrainian American community to establish a Ukrainian studies program at Stanford.
Konstyantyn Kudryk, a representative of the soon-to-be-opened Consulate of Ukraine in San Francisco, briefly described Ukraine's current hopes and expectations in the U.S. and the world community at large, and commented on its many successes as a nation as well as its failures.
The program included the lively pop duo of Victor Nazarchuk, keyboard-vocalist, and Gelya Gorelic, vocals; the renowned West Coast bandurist Ola Herasymenko; and the Bay Area's three immensely popular sopranos, Ivanna Taratula-Filipenko, Vera Vizir and Maria Tscherepenko, who performed a medley of well-known Ukrainian classical works. Ms. Tscherepenko not only sang, but also served as the event coordinator.
The dancing of the talented pair of Nazar Mishchuk and Lesya Belz, brought repeated and thunderous applause from an ethnically diverse crowd. It should be noted that the young Mr. Mishchuk is a dedicated Bay Area Ukrainian American activist in addition to being a dancer.
Probably the highlight of the program, judging by the oohs and aahs of the audience, was the Sonechko Children's Dance Ensemble from Sacramento, under the direction of Irina and George Arabadji. Many in the audience remembered the Sonechko troupe from their unforgettable performance last year, when they charmed the San Francisco public and entertained the Ukrainian schooner Batkivschyna and its crew. The children, wearing bright Ukrainian folk outfits, stole everyone's heart with their energetic dancing.
Also appearing was the 121-year-old Golden Gate Park Band, under the direction of the venerable Michael Wirgler, which performed Ukrainian melodies.
The 2003 Ukrainian Day was sponsored by the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council in cooperation with the Ukrainian Heritage Club of Northern California, St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of San Francisco, the St. Volodymyr Mission of Santa Clara, Calif., Ukrainian Fraternal Association Assembly 270, Ukrainian National Association Branch 486, Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 107, the Ukrainian Medical Association, and the Ukrainian Professional and Business Group of Northern Califiornia.
On September 7 an exhibition of antique maps of Eastern Europe dating back to the 16th century and depicting primarily the territory of Ukraine and the neighboring lands, including Poland, Russia and Turkey was held at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Center in Santa Clara.
Among the many rare maps were the Dnipro River, with the location of the island of Khortytsia by William Blaeu; "Land of Cossacks," by Christopher Weigel; Ukraine as an independent state by Peter Schenk; the battle of Poltava by Nicolas de Fer; and the siege of the city of Bendery by John Homan. Several unique prints by Sebastian Munster, Joannes Blaeu and other well-known European cartographers and engravers were also on display.
The exhibit was organized by Mr. Zubrycky, Bohdan Steciw and Mr, Mishchuk.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 28, 2003, No. 39, Vol. LXXI
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