Leo Mol retrospective launches newly redesigned gallery in Toronto (11/07/99)

Leo Mol retrospective launches newly redesigned gallery in Toronto

by Christina Welyhorsky Senkiw

TORONTO - Hammers bang, saws whine, dust fills the air. Is Leo Mol, the famous sculptor, creating a new masterpiece? No! It's the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation Gallery, at 2118-A Bloor St. W., getting a facelift.

Under the direction of new owner Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj, interior designer Branislav Miokovic of Praxis Design Group has trimmed down and spiffed up the time-worn space. Crisp white plaster walls, natural slate and wood floors, the latest halogen lighting and a space-age reception area dress up the gallery for the 21st century.

With the new look comes a new attitude. A dynamic board of directors is determined to secure the future of the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation (UCAF) by hosting popular exhibits - thus the decision to launch the space with a tribute to Leo Mol (Leonid Molodozhanyn) - one of Canada's most popular sculptors.

The salute to Mr. Mol, titled "Leo Mol - Fifty Creative Years in Canada," opened this autumn's cultural season. The festive tribute included an anniversary banquet at St. Vladimir's Institute on September 18; an exhibit opening at the UCAF Gallery on September 19; and a Leo Mol film screening, also at the UCAF Gallery on September 21.

The events were put together by a cracker-jack Organizing Committee. Taissa Ruzycka (chair), Tatiana Vanderheyden, Iryna Wrzesnewskyj, Bohdan Holowacky, Marichka Duncan, Daria Darewych, Halyna Levytsky, Oleh Lesiuk, Tania Melnyk and Christina Senkiw sacrificed most of their summer to create a memorable cultural event for Maestro Mol and the community. Undeterred by the sweltering heat outside, and by construction noise and dirt inside, they met every Monday around a makeshift table to plan the celebrations.

Within an amazingly short span of time, the Curatorial Committee, under Dr. Darewych, located and catalogued 30 pieces of sculpture. In addition to the seven Mols in the UCAF collection, generous contributors loaned their prized possessions: eight from MST Bronze Ltd.; four from Beckett Fine Art Ltd.; and one from the Art Gallery of Hamilton.

Many private collectors - Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Dr. and Mrs. A. A. Hornich, Dr. Irena Lukasewych-Dziki, Dr. Roman Curkowskvj, Ulana Dyczok, Mr. and Mrs. L. Perfecky, the Ukrainian Basilian Fathers, Theressa Darewych, Mr. and Mrs. M. Wawryshyn and several anonymous individuals - volunteered their artwork to complete the exhibit.

Mr. Mol surprised the Organizing Committee with an enormous shipment of paintings, drawings, prints and photos from his own collection.

Dr. Darewych produced an article on the artist (see The Ukrainian Weekly, August 29) and a 12-page catalogue containing a scholarly essay and a detailed list of the contents of the show. Eye-catching posters and invitations were designed and produced by Mr. Lesiuk and Mr. Holowacky. Ms. Duncan spearheaded the fund-raising campaign; while Ms. Melnyk acted as treasurer. Banquet preparations here set in motion and overseen by Ms. Vanderheyden.

News spread rapidly by word of mouth, and soon donations and reservations began to flow into the office. The banquet sold out a week in advance. A total of 220 guests filled St. Vladimir's dining hall, and 200 more packed the gallery for the opening.

Mr. Mol and wife, Margareth, arrived from Winnipeg early to prepare themselves for the festivities. Escorted by hosts Roman and Iryna Wrzesnewskyj, they inspected the exhibit as it was being installed.

Interior designer Irka Sochaniwskyj of Designfarm assisted by Mr. Lesiuk and Mr. Holowacky, expertly sorted the sculptures into groups: Shevchenkiana, politicians, Church fathers, nudes, Ukrainian themes and nature. A selection of paintings, drawings, prints and photos was hung on the walls to back up the theme of each group.

Excited art lovers, from as far away as Edmonton, and as nearby as Hamilton, pressed into the gallery - almost crowding out the sculptures they came to see. Hostess Ms. Duncan expertly calmed the guests and proceeded briskly through the program. Welcoming remarks and congratulations were offered by: Mr. Wrzesnewsky, chair of the board of directors; Robert McNeill, president of the Sculptors Society of Canada; Andrij Babytsch, president of the Canadian Ukrainian Artists Society of Canada; and Dr. Irena Moroz, chair of the Cultural Council of the Ukrainian World Congress. Mayor Mel Lastman, mayor of Toronto, expressed congratulations in a letter.

Guest Speaker Joan Murray, director of the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, expressed her delight at discovering Mr. Mol's work, especially his powerful portraits of prominent people. All the formalities were concluded in 30 minutes - a new record for brevity in this venue. As pianist Taras Chmil tinkled the ivories of the baby grand, award-winning Canadian wines flowed profusely, and delectable cheeses and pates were served.

The anniversary banquet

Interior designer Tatiana Martschenko, of T2 (T-Squared), singlehandedly imbued the prosaic room with a dash of Mediterranean charm. Twinkling lights, wrapped in gauze and attached to the ceiling, suggested a starry night, while a dozen full-size photos of Mr. Mol's classical "Nude," arranged around the room in a column-like fashion, sketched in a Greek Temple. To complete the illusion, exotic floral scents wafted from bouquets on sparkling tables.

Harpist Alyssa Mychalsky of Ancaster, Ontario, caressed the strings of the heavenly instrument in a soothing performance of Pachelbel's Canon in D and a medley of Ukrainian folksongs.

Next, Christina Bidiak, perennial mistress of ceremonies, hosted the evening with great skill and just the right dose of formality. Maestro Mol and his wife, Margareth, were greeted by Roman Wrzesnewskyj of the UCAF and Ariadna Stebelsky from the Association for the Development of Ukrainian Culture.

The highlight of the evening was guest speaker Dr. Darewych's scholarly overview of Mr. Mol's life and work - illustrated by a selection of slides that gave the viewers an opportunity to admire the artist's monumental work not available in the exhibit.

The film screening

An intimate group of loyal fans of Mr. Mol, artists and film buffs gathered at UCAF Gallery on September 21 to view "Leo Mol: In Light and Shadow" - an excellent hourlong film produced by the National Film Board of Canada. After the film, Dr. Darewych introduced the artist and encouraged questions from the audience. The status of the installation of Mol's Shevchenko in St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida) seemed to be the topic of the moment. Mr. Mol explained that the project is presently tied up in red tape, but he hopes to see a positive resolution of the problem by the year 2000.

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