Tapestries on exhibit at Ukrainian Museum (03/10/96)

Tapestries on exhibit at Ukrainian Museum

NEW YORK - The Ukrainian Museum in New York City, in cooperation with Branch 113 of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America, will open the exhibition "Tapestries and Painted Textiles by Nina Laptchyk," on Sunday, March 17. The exhibit will run through April 14. Featured will be the many-faceted work in textiles of this versatile artist from Ukraine, such as weavings, and painted silk and cotton.

Several of Ms. Laptchyk's woven works are large in size and striking in their mode of execution. The artist employs a method of weaving practiced since the 17th century in Ukraine and resulting in the "gobelin" tapestry.

The artist is also very particular about the materials she uses in her work: she spins and dyes her own yarn. This is reflected not only in the superb quality of the finished product, but also in the fine definition of the theme or subject matter the artist weaves into the work.

Ms. Laptchyk's work, like that of many Ukrainian contemporary artists, draws on the roots of her heritage. Although she employs universal themes and permeates them with references to Ukraine's rich legacy - historical, cultural and spiritual - they are translated into very personal idioms, reflecting the artist's imagination and inventiveness.

Ms. Laptchyk's work is mainly tapestries, executed in the plain hand-weaving technique, but she also paints on cloth and has designed costumes for several theaters in Ukraine. Since 1993 she has been the costume designer for the Ivan Franko National State Theater in Kyiv.

Ms. Laptchyk was born in Kyiv in 1960, graduated from the Republic Art School's Faculty of Painting, and the Lviv College of Decorative and Applied Arts. She has exhibited her work in numerous individual and group shows throughout Europe and her American debut was an exhibition at the Krannert Art Gallery at Evansville University in Evansville, Ind., in 1995-1996.

The artist is a member of the Artists Union of Ukraine, belongs to the European Textile Network and is the Ukrainian correspondent for the International Tapestry Journal.

The Ukrainian Museum, located at 203 Second Ave., is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For information call (212) 228-0110.

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