The rich cultural history of Ukraine has found its way into North Carolina through art.
A partnership between the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina and The Center for Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies has brought the folk arts an opportunity to be showcased in Image of Ukraine: Exploring Ukrainian Culture through Embroidery and Painting.
The exhibit, covering three floors of the FedEx Global Education Center, features two forms of Ukrainian art: vyshyvka and Petrykivka. Vyshyvka is a form of embroidery and Petrykivka is a painting style named for the city it was developed in.
The first floor features traditional costumes and embroidery, the second floor features modern Petrykivka paintings and the third floor features more traditional Petrykivka paintings.
This exhibit has been a long time in the making, the Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina, Oleh Wolowyna, said.
“This idea came half a year ago, to try to organize this exhibit about Ukraine embroidery and painting," Wolowyna said, "The Center for Slavic, Eurasian and Eastern European Studies and the FedEx Global Center thought it would be a good opportunity to publicize these cultural aspects so that the students, faculty and visitors would have an opportunity to appreciate that.”
Many community members contributed to the exhibit, loaning costumes and embroidery pieces, and all the paintings were done by local Ukrainian artist Olena Zintchouk. Zintchouk’s paintings showcase both modern and traditional Petrykivka painting.
According to Ingrid Smith, events and exhibitions manager at the FedEx Global Education Center, the paintbrushes used to create the paintings are made from cat fur, and the style evolved from paintings on houses.
"The painting was used to ward against evil spirits, and was done around doorframes," Smith said. "The idea was that the evil spirits would be prevented from going inside the house, and it evolved to painting on canvas."
