September 18, 2020

Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation presents exhibit “Pause in Plight”

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TORONTO – “Pause in Plight,” a 17-piece art exhibit created by artist Kerri Parnell reveals Canada’s first world war-era national security fears and wartime prejudice, which led to the internment of more than 8,000 men, women and children, primarily of Ukrainian and East European descent, who were deemed “enemy aliens.” The exhibit is on view at the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation’s (UCAF) KUMF Gallery through October 11.

The KUMF Gallery hosted an introduction by the artist, via video message, and special remarks at an outdoor commemoration by guest speaker Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk on Sunday, September 13.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to create this art exhibit and to work with amazing people towards a common goal to expose the truth. This initiative to commemorate and acknowledge those affected by Canada’s first national internment operations inspired me. It ignites my heart and reminds me that history is not condemned to repeat itself. As we learn from our past, may we collectively move forward in better light,” Ms. Parnell commented.

“Pause in Plight” is laid out in five different sections: war posters, a light installation, “Emotional Interpretation Series,”  “Old Eyes Series” and “To Hell with the Alien Enemy.” The exhibit will travel across Canada between 2020 and 2025 to help bring awareness to this historical injustice.

“We’re very pleased to launch our fall 2020 season with such a critical exhibition and to be able to welcome everyone.” said Jurij Klufas, chair and president of the UCAF/KUMF Gallery.

The gallery has reopened with measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Visitors are asked to schedule a time to visit – 30-minute visits start at the top of the hour – and the gallery is sanitized between visits.

This project has been made possible by a grant from the Endowment Council of the Canadian First World War Internment Recognition Fund.

The UCAF/KUMF Gallery also acknowledged the support of The Shevchenko Foundation, Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, and Cholkan + Stepczuk LLP.

The Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation and KUMF Gallery are dedicated to serving the Ukrainian Canadian community, and the community at large, by exhibiting and fostering an understanding of art, in addition to preserving and collecting quality works of art. The KUMF Gallery maintains a year-round program of art exhibitions showing works by emerging, mid-career and established visual artists.

For more information see the website https://kumfgallery.com/ or the

Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ukrainiancanadianartgallery/; contact Diana Melnychenko, administrator at [email protected]; or call the gallery at 416-766-6802.

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