BELARUSIAN FESTIVALS & EXHIBITIONS IN NEW JERSEY Political InformationThrough The Language Of Art (1948-2011) Jan Zaprudnik Jan Zaprudnik BELARUSIAN FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS IN NEW JERSEY Political Information Through the Language of Art (1948 – 2011) Янка Запруднік БЕЛАРУСКІЯ ФЭСТЫВАЛІ Й ВЫСТАЎКІ Ў НЬЮ ДЖЭРЗІ Палітычная інфармацыя моваю мастацтва (1948 – 2011 гг.) Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences New York, 2013 Беларускі Інстытут Навукі й Мастацтва Нью Ёрк, 2013 Belarusian Festivals in New Jersey (1948-2011) Copyright © 2013 by the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences. 330 Park Street, Haworth, NJ 07641 Copyright © 2013 by Irene and Nicholas Dutko Cover by Irene Dutko. Formatting by Nicholas Dutko, layout and design by Irene Dutko. ISBN 0-9722020-1-3 Zaprudnik Jan (1926 - ) Belarusian Festivals and Exhibitions in New Jersey: Political Information Through the Language of Art (1948–2011).Somerset, NJ, 2013. XVIII + 192. Illustrations, Footnotes, Index of Names, For Further Reading. Text in English: V-VIII, XIII-XIV, 1-78, 178-179, 182-185 192. Text in Belarusian: IX-XII, XV-XVII, 79-177, 180-181, 186-191, 193. Printed by Top Shelf Printing & Envelopes, LLC, 50-2 Tannery Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876. 1000 copies. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, on paper or electronically, without permission in writing from the publisher. NOTE ON THE INSTITUTE’S SEAL (previous page and below). It bears an image of Francišak (Frantsisk) Skaryna (c. 1485-1551?), a scholar born in the city of Polatsk, Belarus. In 1517-1519, Skaryna published in Prague an annotat- ed translation of the Old Testament into medieval Belarusian. He is at the pin- nacle of Belarus’s historical heritage, impacting the development of contempo- rary Belarusian culture and national consciousness. Аўтарскае права ©: Беларускі Інстытут Навукі й Мастацтва, Нью Ёрк, 2013. Вокладку апрацавала Ірэна Дутко. Макетаваньне й мастацкае афармленьне: Мікалай Дутко й Ірэна Дутко. Устаўкі беларускіх узораў: апрацоўка Часлава Будзькі. Карэктура: Вялянціна Трыгубовіч Янка Запруднік (1926 - ) Беларускія фэстывалі й выстаўкі ў Нью Джэрзі. Палітычная інфармацыя моваю мастацтва (1948-2011 гг.). Сомэрсэт, Нью Джэрзі, 2013. XVI + 186. Ілюстрацыі, спасылкі, паказьнік прозьвішчаў. Ангельскі тэкст: сс. V-VIII, XIII-XIV, 1-78, 178-179, 182-185 192. Беларускі тэкст: сс. IX-XII, XV-XVII, 79-177, 180-181, 186-191, 193. Выдрукавана ў ЗША. Наклад 1000 экз. Усе правы захаваныя. Для перадруку часткі або цэласьці, на паперы ці электронна, патрабуецца пісьмовы дазвол ад выдаўца. Беларускія фэстывалі ў Нью Джэрзі (1948-2011 гг.) To all those who worked to popularize the name of Belarus in America На ўшанаваньне ўсіх тых, што працавалі, каб пашырыць імя Беларусі ў Амэрыцы It took three years of intensive work to do this book. I thank my wife Nadzia for maintaining most favorable conditions to accomplish the task. I also am grateful to Irene and Nick Dutko for their computer and art work that made this book so elegant. На гэтую кніжку пайшло тры гады інтэнсыўнай працы. За актыў- ны ўдзел у гэтым праекце дзякую маёй жонцы Надзі, якая стварала спрыяльныя абставіны для пісаньня й абмяркоўваньня публікацыі. Дзякую таксама Ірэне й Мікалаю Дуткам, якія апрацавалі макет, надаўшы кнізе элегантны выгляд. Printed with donations from: Association of Belarusians in Great Britain, Bachar H., Bakunovich L., Bartul F. A. & N. Lamanna, Bird T. E., Boskovic L. & S. Boskovic, Chanenka J. & L., Cherepanski A. & I., Cierpicki V. & I., Demkowicz M., Dubovik L. K., Hrycuk O., Kazan E.& S., Kipel A., Kipel G. & L., Kipel V., Klakotski M., Kosowski H., Krasouskaya I., Kreceuski Foundation, Kuczura A. & H., Kuzmitskaia A., Litarowich E., Malashevich Zh., Markousky E., Mierlak A., Orechwa Y. & A.,Orsa- Romano A., Pitushka E., Prantsevich A. & V., Rakuc W. & L., Romano K. & K., Romano P., Ryzy P. & L., Sankovitch A., Sapiezynski J., Shabowich S., Shybut J., Sienko M. & V., Silwanowicz Children: Andrew, Anthony, Helen King and Irene Bowers (in memory of their parents, Alexander and Nina Silwanowicz), Sniezko N. & V., Stahanovich T., Stahanovich T. (in memory of brother Lew), Stankievich W. & J., Surak L., Vantsevich V., Winicki J. & K., Winter-Zaprudnik J. & N.,Worobey C. & M., Yurevich L., Zaprudnik J. & N., Zaprudnik V. На друк кнігі склалі ахвяраваньні: Арэхвы Ю. і А., Бакуновіч Л., Бартуль Ф. і Н. Ламанна, Бахар Г., Башковіч Л., Бэрд Т. Э., Ванцэвічы У. і С., Верабеі К. і М., Вініцкія Я. і К., Грыцук В., Дубовік Л., Дэмковіч М., Занковіч А., Запруднік В., Запруднік Я. i Н., Запруднік-Ўінтэры Н. і Дж., Згуртаваньне Беларусаў у Вялікай Брытаніі, Кажан А., Касоўская Л., Кіпель А., Кіпель В., Кіпелі Ю. і Л., Клакоцкі М., Красоўская І., Кузьміцкая А., Кучуры А. і Г., Літаровіч Л., Малашэвіч Ж., Маркоўская Л., Мерляк А., Орса-Романо А., Пітушка Э., Пранцэвічы А. і В., Ракуці Ул. і Л., Романы К. і К., Романо П., Рыжыя П. і Л., Сапежынскі Я., Сенькі В. і М., Сільвановічаў дзеці: Антон, Лена Кінг, Ірэна Баўэрс, Андрэй (у памяць бацькоў, Аляксандра й Ніны Сільвановічаў), Стагановіч Т., Стагановіч Т. (у памяць брата Лёвы), Станкевічы В. і Дж., Сьнежкі М. і В., Фундацыя імя П. Крэчэўскага, Ханенкі Я. і Л., Церпіцкія В. і І., Чарапанскія А. і І., Шабовіч С., Шурак Л., Шыбут Я., Юрэвіч Л. Belarusian Festivals in New Jersey (1948-2011) Беларускія фэстывалі ў Нью Джэрзі (1948-2011 гг.) V CONTENTS Art of Informing. An Introduction – V. Kipel XIII Note on Spelling of the Key Word – Belarus 1 My Gratitude 1 The Motive for this Publication 2 The Subject and Why Now? 2 Informational Imperative 4 How Many Belarusians in New Jersey? 6 Choirs 6 Belarusian Cultural Traditions in America 10 New Jersey, “One of the Most Responsive States” 10 Folk Art in Belarus 13 Towels 13 Belts and Sashes 14 Folk Costume 15 Woodcarving 17 Straw 18 Belarusian Day at the World’s Fair in New York City. 1964 — V. Kipel 19 In the Time of the Cold War 20 At an East-European Festival 21 Growing Activity of Our Youth 21 Belarusian Youth in New Jersey Celebrate the Bicentennial — A. Kipel 22 The First Belarusian Heritage Festival 24 Live! (poem) — N. Arsiennieva 27 Thank you, America! (poem) — M. Kavyl 27 “Through Ravages of Clashing Steel” — S. Jasien (poem) 27 Concert and Other Events 28 “Kupala’s Eaglets” — K. Akula 30 Advertisement of Festivals and Exhibitions 31 The Second Heritage Festival 32 The Third Heritage Festival 35 Greetings 36 Concert 36 From the Press Reports 39 Belarusians Establish Identity through Festival 39 Homeward Look: Irish, Belarusian Arts Flavor Holmdel Festivities 39 Ethnic Costumes Are Featured at Statewide Heritage Ball 40 Franklin’s Belarusians Will Whoop it Up at Jersey Arts Center 41 Belarusians Celebrate Heritage 41 Byrne Joins Festivities at Belarusian Fete 42 3,000 Enjoy Festival 42 Belarusians Show the Flags of Old and New Homelands 43 Governor Signs Proclamation. NJ Remembers Freedom in Belarus 43 Ethnic Groups Display a Richness of Heritage 43 Belarusian Festivals in New Jersey (1948-2011) VI Liberty State Park Festival to Accent Ethnic Roots 44 “Lady” a Star in Ball-Goers’ Proud Heritage 45 Heritage Fest Ball Pays Tribute to Kean 45 The White House Letter 46 Festivals in Liberty State Park 46 Festival in Liberty Park — Z. Kipel 49 Vasilok Advertises Festival 52 Ethnic Heritage Balls 53 At a Slavic Festival 55 Belarusian Women at a Conference in Princeton 56 Participation in the Statue of Liberty Jubilee 56 Interesting Events 57 “Deep politics of separatists” 57 The Secret of Gov. Brendan Byrne’s appearance 58 “Do you think it’s a dummy?” 59 “I bet you’re hot as hell” 59 “Do you speak English?” 60 “What do you do with these hairs?” 60 “Sell me this spinner” 60 Bast Shoes 61 A Protest by Lithuanians Concerning the Belarusian State Emblem 62 Common and Less than Common Dancing Challenges 63 Slippery Floors Make for Interesting Dancing 63 Stuck at the Dump 63 Rooms Packed with Overnight Guests 64 “I had to dance as a boy” 64 Belarusian Arts Exhibitions in South River and Elsewhere 65 Governor’s Ethnic Advisory Council 68 Greetings from President Ronald Reagan 69 Concluding Word 73 Footnotes 178 For Further Reading 192 Беларускія фэстывалі ў Нью Джэрзі (1948-2011 гг.) VII ILLUSTRATIONS Choir of Viachaslau Sielakh-Kachanski in DP Camp Backnang, W. Germany 7 South River choir under Arkadz Jeviets 7 Kalina Choir under Ksaver Barysaviets 8 Belarusian-American carolers 10 Lanok dancers on stage in Middlesex Park 11 Vasilok dancers perform for TV 12 I. Dutko and N. Rusak lecturing on Belarus 12 “Welcome-to-our-house” doll 13 Doll in costume and pillow 13 Embroidered pillow 13 Decorative towel 14 Karavaj (wedding bread) 14 A collection of belts 15 Tamara Kolba weaving belt at an exhibition 15 Three girls in traditional costumes 15 Silwanowicz sisters in national dress 16 Dolls perched on birch branches 16 Examples of ceramic items 16 Slavic Apostles, Saints Cyril and Methodius 17 Straw-inlaid box 18 Four dolls (straw and wood) 18 Altar doors decorated with inlaid straw 18 Cover of World’s Fair Belarusian Day Program 19 South River choir at the World’s Fair 19 Dancers of the Belarusian Youth Association at the World’s Fair 20 On excursion with New Jersey’s State Secretary 21 Vasilok dancers with Alla Orsa-Romano 23 Vasilok dancing in NYC Central Park 23 Invitation letter to the First Festival at the Garden State Arts Center 25 First Festival poster 26 Michael Bachar with President Ford 26 Dance by Vasilok 28 Eva Pashkevich and Raisa Stankevich at costume show 29 Nina Zaprudnik and Alice Kipel at costume show 29 Eva Pashkevich, Nadja Kudasow and Luda Rusak 29 Vera Bartul at costume show 29 Vasilok 30 Lanok 30 Concert finale 30 Exhibit tags naming owner, item and provenance 31 Show of costumes from different regions 31 Belarusian Festivals in New Jersey (1948-2011) VIII Second Festival poster 33 Gov.