SummerACUAACUAVITAE 2008 | Volume 15, Number 1 VITAEAlberta’s Ukrainian Arts and Culture Magazine

Art,Art, Culture,Culture, andand aa NewNew GenerationGeneration

The : A Brief History Bohdan Tarasenko Barvy Art Studio

A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR THE UKRAINIAN ARTS clear, effective communication solutions for print and web

t: 780.452.1767 www.jellyfishdesign.com [email protected] ACUAVITAE Summer 2008

FEATURES

5 The Bandura: A Brief History Dr. Andrij Hornjatkevyc shares an exerpt of his presentation on the historic Bandura

9 Old-country Folklore and New-fangled Magic on the Prairies Naomi Lewis explores Edmonton Playwright Bohdan Tarasenko

10 Exploring the Inner Artist Artists and school founders Iryna Karpenko and Valeriy Semenko talk with Andrea Kopylech about their visions for Barvy Studio

Photo credit: Dr. A. Hornjatkevyc

DEPARTMENTS

2 Letter from the Editor

3 Arts News Community Donations Ukrainian Day 2008

7 Film Halya Wilson reviews “The Orange Revolution”

12 Books Elena Scharabun reviews Strawberry Fields Recommended Reading

13 Lystivky from Around the Globe Meaghan Goebel reflects on Cheremosh’s time in China

Cover Image: Old Hutsul, acrylic, 9x12, 2008 Artist: Valeriy Semenko

House of Sod by Bohdan Tarasenko ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 Photo credit: B. Tarasenko 1 FROM THE EDITOR

ummer. on a daily basis. But it’s a good struggle Already because I’m forced to face my challenges ACUAVITAE I feel a and the reward is the sense of peace and Alberta’s Ukrainian Arts and Culture Magazine reprieve joy in all the little things that I accomplish. from the daily Working on ACUA Vitae is always a S Summer 2008 Volume 15, Number 1 hustle and bustle combination of fun, hard work, and of work and life. the struggle for balance. In this issue of Publisher: ACUA, The Alberta As I finish up the ACUA Vitae, Dr. Andriy Hornjatkevyc Council for the Ukrainian Arts preparation of shares with us an excerpt from one of this issue of ACUA Vitae, I begin to think his presentations on the bandura – an Editor: Andrea Kopylech about my summer days. I’m hopeless at instrument of great legacy to Ukrainian planning holidays. It’s not that I don’t want culture. Balancing out our cultural Associate Editors: to get away, but I’m not a planner. I prefer history lesson, Naomi Lewis connects Rena Hanchuk, Naomi Lewis the last minute getaway and when I’m off us with emerging playwright, Bohdan Contributors: Meaghan Goebel, Dr. A. I try to savour every chance moment I get. Tarasenko, and Ukrainian visual artists Hornjatkevyc, Iryna Karpenko, Khrystyna But my three small children have changed Valeriy Semenko and Iryna Karpenko Kohut, Andrea Kopylech, Naomi Lewis, things for me. Now I’m forced to find a new chat about how they got started with art, Olesia Markevych, Elena Scharabun, balance between impulsive and planner. and the inspiration for Barvy Studio. Valeriy Semenko, Halya Wilson The hammock calls, and I can’t wait for It takes dedication, hard work, and a sharing of ideas to make each issue happen. the lazy afternoon spent under the apple Art Direction: jellyfish design tree reading Marina Lewycka’s Strawberry Thank you to our contributors for your time, Fields. Check out Elena Scharabun’s list effort, and input. Our goal is to engage our ACUA Vitae is published annually. Views of recommended reading for more great readers with Ukrainian cultural arts and to expressed by the writers are not necessarily books available at the Ukrainian Bookstore. present fresh perspectives from our artistic those of ACUA. Copyright individual writers. But not all of my summer days will community. I hope you, our members, Permission required to reproduce contents. be lazy ones. The kids don’t allow for find this issue fresh and inspiring. If you’re Send inquiries, subscription requests, address that. We’ll also take in some of the great not a member, I hope you too enjoy this changes to: festivals around the province. If you get an issue and consider becoming a member of 207, 11803 - 125 St, Edmonton, AB T5L 0S1 opportunity, check out Ukrainian Days at ACUA. We need to support arts and culture Email: [email protected] the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in in this province and we need to preserve August… ACUA will be there with drop our Ukrainian cultural heritage. Enjoy! Printed in Canada by in workshop opportunities for everyone, Andrea Kopylech, ACUA McCallum Printing Group Inc. and a wonderful artist exhibition to view. Balance is something I struggle with Sunflower, detail Barvy Studio student work

2 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE ARTS NEWS Community Ukrainian Day Festival! Donations Sunday, August 10, 2008 Over the last year the Ukrainian Join us in a celebration of our Ukrainian market, art exhibits, and an exciting Canadian Archives and Museum of roots and heritage at Ukrainian Day 2008 cultural concert on the bandshell stage. Alberta (UCAMA) has received two at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village! This year’s performers will include Shumka significant donations. The Koziak Every summer, thousands of people gather & new Edmonton bands Euphoria and Family Foundation have chosen to for the annual festival. Families from all Zorepad! New events this year include honour their parents, John H. and across east-central Alberta along with tourists interactive craft displays, face painting Marie Koziak, by sponsoring the and the general public gather for a day to for children, old-fashioned games, and a Founders’ Room with a $200,000 celebrate all things Ukrainian. Hosted by the chance to kick up your heels and dance! donation. The Founders’ Room will Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Alberta, ACUA will also be featuring a special permanently carry the Koziak name Ukrainian Day is a perfect event for the whole area of activity by members who will in lasting tribute to their parents’ family, with events for both young and old. provide hands-on opportunities for love of Ukrainian culture and their The festival draws an audience of over young and old to try your hand at contribution to the development 5000 spectators and feature many annual various forms of art and creativity. of Edmonton and Alberta. attractions including Centenary Pioneers For more information and updates on The family of retired engineer Ed recognition, church services, tours of the Ukrainian Day, please visit our website at Chwyl of Victoria has purchased the historic site, a Taste of food festival, www.uccab.ca or please call 780-414-1624. naming opportunity for UCAMA’s new library, to be named the Chwyl Family Library, with a donation of $750,000. A modest man with strong Christian values, Chwyl describes himself as a spiritual traditionalist. “Yes, always strive to do your best, but also acknowledge that your success depends more on elements out of your control than it does on you. Timing, luck, and divine intervention trump personal achievements every time.” He is grateful for the years of support and encouragement he received from the entire Chwyl family and for this reason, he says that “calling it the Chwyl Family Library is most apropos.” UCAMA is also pleased that Promin Sport, a part of the League of Ukrainian Canadians, allocated the door proceeds of the Klitschko/ Ibragimov boxing match for our new museum project. UCAMA collected over $1,000 toward the capital campaign and is grateful for this show of community support. Groups or individuals who wish to contribute to the building of the new museum should contact UCAMA at (780) 424-7580.

ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 3 Pavlo Suprun, , on the square in front of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery in Kiev. Suprun was blinded in his childhood by a grenade during WW2. He earns part of his living by performing in this square on Sunday afternoons. Photo credit: Dr. A. Hornjatkevyc

4 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE The Bandura: A Brief History From a presentation by Dr. Andrij Hornjatkevyc

n the Ukraine, and in the Canadian often used interchangeably, and through everyone went his separate way. Ukrainian community, the the might of Taras Shevchenko’s first Under Pavlo Skoropadsky’s monarchical asymmetrical bandura is a cultural collection of poems, “Kobzar,” Hetmanate, Vasyl Yemetz organized the icon – a veritable emblem of a became enamoured with both instru- first bandurist chorus, or Cappella. The Ination and its culture. But the bandura’s ments. Historians now agree the kobza Kobzar Choir, as they were known, gave history is long and treacherous; in fact, in was a simper version of the bandura. their first performance in November, the late nineteenth century, the instrument Over the next two hundred years, 1918 in . The ensemble dispersed was on the verge of extinction. bandura performance evolved in two when its patron abdicated in December, struggled through political oppression, distinct schools. Chernihiv musicians held but was eventually reconstituted imprisonment, and even attempts the bandura between their thighs, playing under the Soviet regime, and, in 1935, on their lives to bring their beloved melody with the right hand and accom- amalgamated with the Poltava Chorus, instrument through the centuries, to the panying with the left. musicians a group working under Volodymyr new world, and back to the Ukraine. reversed the hand positions, holding Kabachok, with Khotkevych’s guidance. The familiar asymmetrical instrument their flat against the chest. The The old-style wandering bandurists were is a modern invention, which evolved from instrument took its place, in the nine- seen as a threat to the regime because of a series of simpler instruments. None of teenth century, as an instrument of blind their unruly repertoire; for example, Yehor these predecessors remain intact, but they wandering minstrels in Eastern Ukraine. Movchan’s song about forced collectivism are depicted in paintings. The earliest such In 1894, seventeen-year-old Hnat and the associated famine spread among image depicts an eleventh-century minstrel Khotkevych built a bandura with the the minstrels. The state decided that whose instrument has several strings neck moved to the performer’s right, and this music was a serious threat, and, in stretched over a small pear-shaped body performers embraced the asymmetrical 1935, summoned wandering bandurists and long neck. He stops the strings with model almost immediately. Khotkevych for a conference. The minstrels were all his left hand and plucks with his right. went on to gather bandurists and other shot, along with their guides. Ironically, Sixteenth-century Central and Western folk musicians to perform at the 1902 Movchan survived only because his guide Europeans began to experiment with treble Twelfth Archaeological Conference in fell ill before they reached the bloody event. strings on lutes, and though these instru- Kharkiv – and this was no mean under- During the purges of the late 1930s, ments are now preserved only in musical taking considering the Russian Empire’s Khotkevych was executed. Directors of the museums and images, the idea of an severe restriction on State Bandurists’ Chorus were replaced instrument with treble strings (prystrunky) use, including during stage performances. with disturbing regularity, and artistic caught Ukrainian musicians’ imagina- Moreover, most of the bandurists were continuity suffered. Things were not to tions and spread like wildfire. As the idea blind, and each had a different instrument improve when Nazi Germany invaded developed, musicians experimented with tuned to a different key, which he played the Soviet Union in 1941. Although ever more prystrunky, eventually shifting with his own idiosyncratic technique. initially reassembled the melody to the treble strings and relying on Adding to the complexity, the minstrels bandurists and established the Shevchenko the bass strings (basky) for accompaniment. were accompanied by violins, a basolia, Ukrainian Bandurist Cappella, the Nazis By the eighteenth century, two similar and a lira (hurdy gurdy). The collective quickly recognized bandura music as a but different instruments co-existed – the was greeted enthusiastically, but it was a threat and imprisoned the musicians in bandura and the kobza. Their names were one-time performance, and, afterwards, the Neuengamme concentration camp.

ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 5 ...the bandura’s history is long and treacherous...

Miraculously, the bandurists were freed, this “improvement” as a departure from thanks to Ukrainian connections, and the instrument’s roots. The new technology the Cappella continued to perform made it difficult, if not impossible, to for Ukrainian forced labourers. perform the bandura’s original repertoire. After the Second World War, the State Khotkevych had introduced the Bandurist’ Chorus was reconstituted, bandura in Western Ukraine when he and the bandura was introduced into sought refuge there after the unsuccessful conservatory curricula, notably at Kyiv and 1905 rebellion – he had performed widely, Lviv; however, an important transformation and, in 1909, published the first bandura took place. Hitherto the bandura had been manual. Vasyl Yemetz had also brought a man’s instrument, but now the majority the bandura west after the failed liberation of players were women. Upon graduation, struggle of 1917-1921. Thus, the bandura these female musicians formed trios and became a loved and admired instrument sometimes larger ensembles, and the far from its historical homeland. The repertoire changed dramatically. Bandurists political constraints there, even during had played the music of rebellion; they had the Second World War, were far less roused people to rise up for their rights restrictive than the draconian conditions Ukrajina 2006. Traditional bandura. Photo credit: Dr. A. Hornjatkevyc and fight their oppressors – but these in the Ukrainian SSR, and, as a result, new collectives played innocuous lyrical the bandura and its traditional repertoire Since 1945, the bandura has come and humorous songs that would result developed relatively freely in this new into full force in Australia and North in nothing more dramatic than a kiss. territory – talented musicians developed America, including Canada, and it has There were virtually no similar men’s traditions and techniques that were out taken considerable root. Just as the collectives, except the Ukrainian SSR’s State of the question across the Soviet border. bandura became an iconic instrument in Merited Bandurists’ Chorus, and its repertoire After 1945, numerous bandurists found Ukraine, both Soviet and non-Soviet, it was still strictly controlled. Furthermore, themselves in new worlds. Some brought has acquired the same status among our the Russia bayan (button accordion) and the traditions of Eastern and Central communities in these new homes.  concert tsymbaly were incorporated into Ukraine, such as Hryhory Bazhul, who A native of Ukraine, Andrij Hornjatkevyc the ensemble and often drowned out all the taught the Kharkiv method in Australia. studied the bandura with Volodymyr banduras. There was little room for soloists; Meanwhile, West Ukrainian émigrés Yurkevych and Zinoviy Shtokalko in the USA. the old songs and dumy (epics) fundamental brought their tradition to the New York Later, while living in Canada, Hornjatkevyc to their repertoire were forbidden. area. The East’s Cappella found refuge has edited and published the latter’s A Kobzar The Soviet era saw major efforts to in displaced persons’ camps in the US Handbook (in both English and Ukrainian), transform the bandura from a folk to Occupation Zone, and in 1949, they immi- and Kobza, a collection of his musical scores. a chromatic, concert instrument. This grated to the Detroit area. From there, they Hornjatkevyc has performed as a bandurist was accomplished with the addition of gave concerts all over the States, Canada, in Canada, USA, Ukraine and Germany; semitone strings that criss-crossed the and later in Central Europe and Australia. he has either taught the instrument or plane of the fundamental strings. An Finally, when Ukraine proclaimed given lectures about it in those countries. added crank or lever allowed the musician its independence in 1991, its bandurists to retune the instrument from one key resumed playing works that had been In 1972, Hornjatkevyc obtained a doctorate to another. Some were delighted with proscribed for decades, and the old in Slavic languages and literatures from the this innovation because it raised the folk “starosvitska” bandura was redis- University of California in Berkeley, and instrument to a higher technical level and covered. That year the Cappella went has worked in those fields at the University let it perform concert music; others saw home for a triumphant concert tour. of Alberta until his retirement in 2003.

6 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE FILM REVIEW “The Orange Revolution”

By Halya Wilson together the inside story of the Orange Canada and the U.S. where film festivals The Calgary International Film Festival Revolution. From the beginning, their goal are held with rave reviews. A film about the was founded in 1998 to showcase film was to let the story tell itself: no narration, search for democracy can’t disappoint.  works that represent the best of the best just the words, the music, and the pictures from film festivals around the world. of the unprecedented events which Halya Wilson is a freelance reviewer and In September 2007, two films from unfolded in Ukraine in late 2004. The film an active member of the Ukrainian arts Ukraine were showcased, “The Orange has been shown in all the major cities of community in Alberta. She lives in Calgary. Revolution” and “Two in One (Dva v Odnom)” in Ukrainian and Russian. It was exhilarating to watch the events of the Orange Revolution again. As Ukrainian Canadians we watched daily on television, on the internet and in all the daily news- papers the tension and excitement of the 2004 elections. The documentary captured an in depth look at the events and bravery of the Ukrainian people, the songs, the spirit of this historic moment. Steve York a veteran film maker interviewed not only students on the street but also the man who would become president, Viktor Yushchenko. It gave the viewer a fasci- nating look at a volatile time in Ukraine, which at the time appealed not only to Ukrainians beyond the borders but to the world at large. Some of the Ukrainians attending the film felt more could have been said about the support from the diaspora and the political influences from the west. Perhaps that would be a different film with a distinct approach to this subject. Steve York (producer/director) began tracking Ukraine’s presidential campaign in the summer of 2004. Having produced his first film, A Force More Powerful in 1999 about successful nonviolent revolutions which was expanded into a three-hour television series for air on PBS, he was nominated for an Emmy. York boarded a flight to Kyiv and headed straight to the tent city in Independence Square, known as the Maidan, with only a small digital camera and began filming. York ended up making 5 trips to Ukraine and then with Joe Wiedenmayer (editor) they screened more than 300 hours of material and wove

ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 7 Edmonton Playwright Bohdan Tarasenko finds old-country folklore and new-fangled magic on the prairies

By Naomi Lewis

8 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE ohdan Tarasenko’s Ukrainian family moved from Yugoslavia “I really think those stories, to Alberta when he was almost two years old and, because they’re rooted in thoughB he never lived in a sod house on the prairies, his childhood was something ancient, carry a lot permeated by folklore and mythology. It’s no surprise, then, to find Ukrainian and of weight.” prairie-immigrant imagery informing Tarasenko’s recent plays – even as he a twist: Baba’s no-holds barred passive- says, “I do want to branch out, but I twists and reshapes the traditional into aggressive tactics are amplified not only don’t I think I could ever – nor would I something more contemporary. by curses and charms, but by special want to – stop being influenced by my Tarasenko completed the University favours from the gods; in this baba’s house, Ukrainian heritage.” As well as a rich of Alberta drama program in 2005. Since anything can and does happen. “I think source of material, “it’s what I know; it’s then, he’s had two plays, Folktale and House tapping into that style of storytelling is a what I grew up with; it’s who I am.” Bohdan Tarasenko of Sod, produced professionally; both depict really powerful tool,” Tarasenko says. “I Tarasenko is encouraged by the commu- rural Ukrainian families struggling against really think those stories, because they’re nity’s reaction to his work so far. “I kind of elements sometimes more super than rooted in something ancient, carry a used [House of Sod] as a tester to see if the natural. Throughout university, Tarasenko lot of weight.” He describes his style as Ukrainian community here in Edmonton explains, he directed plays of all sorts, but “using the classic storytelling mythology in particular wants Ukrainian theatre,” he shied away from Ukrainian themes until his and adding in that magic realism.” explains. “And even though I didn’t get a final year, when he wrote Folktale. “I had all So where does he get his ideas? “I just go yes or a no response, I feel that people are these experiences stacked up and waiting,” about my business,” Tarasenko says, “and ready for something, that they’re willing he says, “and starting to bottleneck. So as I’m talking to my friends and reading and that they enjoy going to Ukrainian I really needed to just get them out.” things, I have ideas more and more.” theatre, and I think that was the most After graduating, Tarasenko expanded Eventually he starts to see themes that unite important thing I could have asked for.”  and rewrote Folktale for NextFest. The seemingly random ideas, and a play is in Naomi Lewis is a freelance writer and play’s twisted, absurdist take on traditional the works. “When I sit down to write, that’s editor. Her first novel, Cricket in a Fist, was folklore pleased reviewers; but, for his next really coming to the end of my process.” recently published by Goose Lane Editions. project, Tarasenko wanted to tone down the Creating a play, he stresses, requires Facing page and below: Peformance photos from gross-out humour, to create something for constant collaboration and interaction. House of Sod the broader Ukrainian community. House “I really need to be engaged with people, Photo credit: B. Tarasenko of Sod revisits many of Folktale’s themes and not just with people, but with the and tropes – from the long-suffering, world. Reading a lot of things, talking to superhumanly sinister baba to bands of a lot of people – that’s where I get my best intervening, magical animals – but moves ideas. I take any opportunity to have a the action from a European forest to the conversation with anyone about anything.” Alberta prairies. Tarasenko wanted “to put It’s notoriously difficult to make a living up a poster at a church and not be worried in theatre, but Tarasenko was grateful to that people coming would find it too risky,” spend this summer working with the drama he says. “I just wanted it to be something troupe at Fort Edmonton Park, putting on that everyone could watch and enjoy.” puppet shows and historical vignettes. As Indeed, the 2007 Fringe audience he looks ahead to new projects, Tarasenko did “laugh together and have a good is ready for anything. “Whatever comes time” watching House of Sod’s poor along is the next exciting thing for me,” protagonist dodge his baba’s efforts to he says, though he admittedly prefers thwart his success. Traditional folktales writing and directing to performing. and mythology were always Tarasenko’s When asked if he’ll continue to work favourite stories; but this is folklore with with Ukrainian themes, Tarasenko

ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 9 PROFILES Barvy Art Studio a conversation with artists Iryna Karpenko and Valeriy Semenko

Interview by Andrea Kopylech crisp white pages. Hands are rapidly try a hand with all kinds of mediums, and moving, there are audible giggles around to develop a solid set of art skills. What s you walk into their studio the room, but all eyes stay fixed on their makes this art class, and art school unique space at the Ukrainian pages. Concentrating. Imagining. Creating. is that it is taught in Ukrainian. What sets National Federation Hall, Both instructors move around the room it apart from other classes is the vision, you will see groups of bestowing encouragement and direction passion, and dedication of its creators, childrenA gathered around tables, quietly upon each student. You see a range of Iryna Karpenko and Valeriy Semenko. focused on the paper infront of them. skill, a variety of chosen mediums, all Iryna Karpenko: Art is my life. It From beside one of the tables, two heads portraying their own version of the day’s started in childhood – I can’t remember look up, and the instructors beam smiles lesson. The end result is only a small part myself without a pencil in my hand. I and a welcome. The room lights up and of the process. What really matters is that remember when I was in sadochok. I never suddenly you can hear the scratching and this art class provides opportunity for wanted to take a nap. I would lay on my swooshing of pencils and brushes marking each student to express him or herself, to mat and draw pictures in the dust on the

10 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE and asked us to draw broadest range of artistic influences from it. As she came around across Europe. We received a classical, to look at my work, structured education. Art is a skill. You she stopped and can ask us to use any medium, create picked up my picture a landscape, a portrait, an illustration, and showed it to the and we can – with confidence. Beyond class as an example of school we were employed as artists. good work. Later she IK: When I first came to Canada, put it up on display. I I did not paint for a year. I thought I felt so proud, and from would die. Everything here is different that moment I knew and I’ve had to find a new voice. I’ve what I wanted to do. learned new techniques and have IK: As an artist, I’m combined them into my work. The result a Ukrainian artist, but is a whole new style and medium. I always open myself VS: Moving to Canada has impacted to learning new things me dramatically. Eight years ago I arrived and finding a way to in a new country with no support. I had to include them in my start over. I had to build my finances, settle work. I don’t limit my family, establish myself as an artist to a whole new audience. So much change makes a very big impact on a person. When I started to do workshops in the Ukrainian bilingual schools, I saw that there was no formal art instruction for children. The opportunity to develop creative imagination and a skill set at an early age was being missed. Here in Canada, the Ukrainian community has upheld Ukrainian cultural dance and folk art very well. But we saw an opportunity to develop an art school that would go beyond the traditional sensibil- ities. We wanted to offer students the ability to explore their creative imaginations and draw from their cultural experiences while developing a classical artistic skill set with a contemporary European influence. In February 2007 we opened Barvy Art Studio.

Left: Dream, Iryna Karpenko; Top: Sofia, Marichka Ovcharenko, 8 years old IK: The greatest reward is the Above: Iryna Karpenko with Barvy Studio students. inspiration I get from the passion of our floor with my finger. One day my teacher myself to only producing “Ukrainian” art. students. Their creativity inspires me, saw what I was doing, and invited me to When I’m working, I let the ideas flow, and and their work influences my work. come and draw on paper. She liked my I don’t think about whether my work is VS: My reward comes from the chil- creativity and had me draw up pictures Ukrainian or not. My work is a reflection dren’s work and watching their progress. We for the classroom. From that time on, of all that I am and all that I see and learn. encourage students from seven years and while everyone else napped, I got to draw, VS: Our art education has trained us up. Anyone with a passion to be creative  uninterrupted, for an hour by myself. to be professional artists. We are fortunate and an interest in learning is welcome. Valeriy Semenko: When I was about to have developed our skills from early Andrea Kopylech is a freelance four or five years old, my teacher presented childhood and to have received a rich writer living in Edmonton. the class with a real Christmas tree bough education in the arts incorporating the

ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 11 BOOKS recommended reading Children Prisoners in the Promised Land - the Ukrainian internment diary of Anya Soloniuk - by Marsha Skrypuch and published by Scholastic Books. Fiction. $14.99 Kyiv Stories - by Zirka Menzaryuk, illustrations by Tetyana Semenova. A wonderful book of stories and fairy tales set in the city of Kyiv. Available in Ukrainian or English. $34.50 Tistochky z Mushtardoiu / Tomchyk / Natal’chyn Kotyk / Druzi and more - reprinted. Written by Lesia Savedchuk, these quirky little books are a must for all children. 21 books in total. Written in Ukrainian. $6.75 each Harri Potter i Smertel’ni Relikvii - by J.K. Rolling. The latest and last book in the Harry Potter series. Strawberry Fields Ukrainian language. $38.95 by Marina Lewycka

reviewed by Elena Scharabun Adult Strawberry Fields is the newest novel by Marina Lewycka, international best-selling author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian. This is a fun story of a crew of immigrant Ukrainian Drawn Thread workers from three continents coming together in England to harvest strawberries for Embroidery - Merezhka the summer. Each has their own reason for coming and their own dreams. Some have Poltavska - by Yvette Stanton. come to earn money, others to find the typical English gentleman or lady they have read This book contains full instruc- about in their studies, while others still are just trying to survive. Through the summer tions for learning the art of we follow Yola, the Polish supervisor, Irina the young women from Kyiv, Andriy a young Merezhka embroidery as well as man from Donetsk and their fellow pickers from the troubles in the fields (caused by love many projects to try. $19.95 of course) to their exploits by the ocean (where more problems arise) to the cities. Along Strawberry Fields - by Marina the way we learn about auto mechanics, chicken farming and a dog with great insight. Lewycka. Following the lives of While some workers will survive and find their way to the end, others return home, a rag-tag group of immigrant drift away or are sent by the “employment agency” to earn money in another fashion. workers hired to pick strawberries Strawberry Fields gives us an eye into the world of immigrant workers and over the summer. $29.95 the troubles they can face. Exploitation by employers, unscrupulous agencies Once Lived a Village - join set up in Eastern Europe and Asia and families splitting up in order to survive. author Steven Kashuba in the It also shows us that love can flourish anywhere and in any situation. search for his father’s village, Though many of us found the characters in Tractors to be familiar and could identify burned to the ground by zealous with the story, this is not the case with Strawberry Fields. Lewycka introduces us to char- nationalists in 1945. $34.95 acters we have heard about in news stories and weaves their personal lives into a wonderful tale. This book is not as light and fanciful as Tractors but is definitively a good read. Elena Scharabun is the owner of Edmonton’s Ukrainian Bookstore.

12 SUMMER 2008 ACUAVITAE POSTCARDS Lystivky from Around the Globe Postcard from Cheremosh in China by Meaghan Goebel Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance company headed off to China for three whole weeks of fun and dancing. With a tour schedule that was heavy on the dancing, we performed 10 shows within that time to a collective audience of between 25 and 27,000 people! And what audiences! With a standing ovation in Beijing, we were constantly amazed by the reception of the Chinese people. We traveled with Blackfoot Medicine Speaks, an Aboriginal group from Alberta as well, and the memories we all made traveling, dancing, and generally hanging out while we were in China could not be traded for…you guessed it, all the tea in China. Our groups traveled to some lesser known areas of China as well as the major cities of Beijing, Xian and Datong and we can only hope that we caused a sensation strong enough to realize how powerful and present the Ukrainian culture still is in Canada today. Meaghan Goebel is a Ukrainian dancer with Cheremosh and a freelance writer. She lives in Edmonton.

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ACUAVITAE SUMMER 2008 13 Alberta ukrainiancouncil for THE

artsWhat does ACUA do for the Ukrainian arts in Alberta?

ACUA fosters a greater awareness of Ukrainian arts through exhibits, tours, festivals, educational programs, workshops, and special projects. ACUA provides information about Ukrainian artists and cultural activities in Alberta. ACUA promotes growth in the Ukrainian arts by providing annual scholarships through the Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre at Grant MacEwan and The Ukrainian Bilingual High School Program in Edmonton. ACUA publishes a biannual Ukrainian arts and culture magazine, ACUA Vitae. ACUA is a resource to help the Alberta community connect with the many different Ukrainian arts organizations and individual artists.

Join ACUA today! ACUA needs you! YES! I would like to become a member of the Alberta Council Please check one: for the Ukrainian Arts (ACUA). My membership fee includes a ______Organizational membership $50/year subscription to ACUA’s magazine ACUA Vitae. ______Individual membership $25/year (Please print clearly)

Name ______Please enclose a cheque payable to: Address ______ALBERTA COUNCIL FOR THE UKRAINIAN ARTS

City ______Mail to: ACUA Suite 207, 11803-125 street Province ______Postal Code ______Edmonton, AB T5L 0S1 Phone: 780.488.8558 Phone ______email ______Email: [email protected]