Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago showcases photos of Orange Revolution (03/06/05)

Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago showcases photos of Orange Revolution

by Mariya Klimchak

CHICAGO - "The maidan will be in our hearts forever!" That is how the international observers began explaining their experiences as eyewitnesses to the historic presidential election that took place in Ukraine. They all gathered on Sunday, January 30, at the Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago at the invitation of Adriana Kovalsky. Ms. Kovalsky was an observer of the Orange Revolution and captured it in every poignant photograph that she exhibited at the museum on December 17, 2004, through January 30.

The drama that unfolded in various locations throughout Ukraine was visible in every one of Ms. Kovalsky's photographs - 40 of which were exhibited. Ukraine became front-page news throughout the world, and over 300 guests viewed these photos of history in the making. Many first-time visitors to the Ukrainian National Museum came to show their support for the freedom loving people of Ukraine.

Ms. Kovalsky pointed out that today there are few people who have not heard of Ukraine.

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Ms. Kovalsky is a 26-year-old second-generation Ukrainian American. Her first language is Ukrainian and it was her grandmother's stories that opened her eyes and heart to the most beautiful country on earth - Ukraine.

Ms. Kovalsky saw Ukraine through those eyes when she first visited her relatives as a schoolgirl. She came back to Lviv with her father and other Ukrainian American doctors who were on a humanitarian visit to area hospitals and orphanages. Beginning her journalism studies at Northwestern University did not stop her from vacationing in Ukraine.

"This is the fountainhead of my family," Ms. Kovalsky explained as we sat recently at a table in an outdoor Viennese café. We had met by chance in the center of Lviv on a glorious September day, and we reminisced. I smiled, remembering that I had taught Ms. Kovalsky Ukrainian culture in Saturday school. Now, on a sunny afternoon in my home city of Lviv, we chatted as friends in a city that had become so familiar to Ms. Kovalsky.

Hers is not an idealist's view of Ukraine. As she strolls the streets of Lviv, she has become familiar with all aspects of life here as many of her friends liver here. She blends right in with her peers, differing only in her habit of stopping every so often to raise the lens of her ever-present camera, which continually captures fleeting images of Ukrainian life. Her passion is photographing faces wherever she finds them. And in those faces we see happiness, sadness, warmth and honesty - all the emotions and feelings of Ukraine.

* * *

"I traveled to Ukraine as an international observer for the second round of the elections, and I was sent to an election district in Lviv," Ms. Kovalsky explained at her photo exhibit.

We look at her photographs. There is Lviv's Ploshcha-Rynok on a cold, snowy, gray morning. A trolley bus painted bright orange shows harried residents spilling out of its doors to cast their vote for truth and freedom. Another photo reveals a sea of people, with orange scarves waving in the cold wind, who have taken to the streets on November 22, 2004, to protest the falsification of the election results. Each photo tells a story, and each one is different.

On November 23, 2004, Ms. Kovalsky was already in Kyiv. "I realized that my return flight to Chicago would have to be delayed, that my place was on the maidan," she related.

"The young men of tent city, the grandmother in the orange kerchief, the small children perched on their fathers' shoulders - these became my family. The cold winter nights were warmed by the bright flowers that were presented to the militia and security forces. I met students from various cities who shared my opinions. I photographed the maidan, its myriad faces," she continued. "Every day emotions changed - fear of possible attacks by the security forces, joy in meeting Viktor Yushchenko, happiness in singing along with Mandry and dancing under the stars with new friends from the Orange Revolution."

Ms. Kovalsky returned from Kyiv on the eighth day of the revolution, having taken hundreds of photographs. She came to the museum and asked for permission to display her photos. Chicago, together with people in Ukraine, was preparing for the third round of the presidential election and her images of Independence Square were perfect for the occasion.

Nina Matvienko, Ukraine's renowned chanteuse, visiting Chicago for the December 18 holiday banquet at the Ukrainian National Museum, drank in images of the maidan that she left behind days earlier. "These photos - this is our history. There will be many, but these, the first ones, are especially dear," she observed. "They speak to us. What is more important is that these were taken by a young woman from Chicago."

"Believe me, there is nothing in life that is accidental. There is meaning to this. People thirst for freedom and truth, and to their assistance there comes a flock of birds from throughout the world, from Ukrainian nests, to protect their native land with their wings. Archangel Michael himself descended from the heavens and stood alongside them. We must show these photos in Ukraine," Ms. Matvienko exclaimed emotionally.

Mykola Marychevskyi, editor of the almanac Artania" signed the guest book with heartfelt best wishes for the talented artist-photojournalist. The introduction of his almanac at the museum took place in this unique setting filled with hope for the future of Ukraine. Ms. Kovalsky's photos emphasized the spirit of Ukraine's people.

The gathering on Sunday, January 30, proved to be a very festive event. The Ukrainian community came to the museum to relive the events of the maidan, hear the stories Ms. Kovalsky and her fellow observers had to share, and to show their total support.

The observers spoke passionately about their first-time experiences in Donetsk, Kherson, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Hadiach, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih and Lviv. In speaking, each observer was reliving those once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Myron Jarosewich, Christina Jackiw, Matthew Rakowsky, Kalyna and Stefania Procyk, Drs. Vassil and Roksolana Lonchyna, Dr. Andrij and Motira Melnyk, Dr. Paul Nadzikewych, Alex Konowal, Mykola Kotcherha and two young Plast members from Canada who were visiting Chicago all shared their unforgettable stories. They enthralled audience and than viewed a video prepared by the Melnyks, and slides taken by Roksolana Lonchyna and Adriana Kovalsky - all to the accompaniment of the memorable music of the Orange Revolution.

It was wonderful to see the Ukrainian National museum filled to capacity with every generation - young, old, grandparents, grandchildren, parents, sons, daughters and all with eyes brimming with tears - tears of joy and pride for the Ukrainian people.

The second generation Ukrainian Americans had heard the call from Ukraine, their motherland, and had flown on wings of hope to their ancestral nests. Together we can sing: Children of Kozaks, grandchildren,/Gathering together, joining hands,/All in one family, with one mother - Ukraine.

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