NOTES ON PEOPLE (03/12/00)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Artist cited among best of county

by Irena D'Alessio

NEW YORK - Shanya Sawczuk of Rhinebeck, N.Y., a talented and successful Ukrainian painter and photographer who has exhibited continuously since 1968, was chosen as one of 1999's best artists in Dutchess County, N.Y. Her painting "Mysteries of the Sea," a pencil work, was recently displayed at the Windows Art Gallery in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Working mostly on paper in a mixed medium combining pencil, watercolor crayon and ink, Ms. Sawczuk also works in oil on canvas. Her primary focus in both her photography and painting is landscape. "Over the years, I found myself drawn to nature as a favorite subject. I am constantly inspired by its mutability. I try to capture a mood in order to inspire contemplation and personal interpretation by the viewer," stated the artist.

Ms. Sawczuk, born and raised in New York City, received a bachelor of fine arts degree from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, studying fine arts, photography and graphic design. She also studied theater design at the University of London, and received a certificate from the New York School of Interior Design. In 1975 the artist moved to the Hudson Valley where she has achieved recognition as a successful painter, photographer and interior designer. Her work has been exhibited at the Tivoli Artists' Co-op, Tivoli, N.Y., Dutchess Community College and the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and the Mountaintop Gallery in Windham, N.Y. She was also curator for the Tivoli Artists' Co-op from 1997 to 1999. A collection of Ms. Sawczuk's work is at the Lviv Museum of Art in Ukraine, as well as numerous private collections.

Ms. Sawczuk is the daughter of Nadia and Bohdan Sawczuk. Her sister, Dana Talia Lenec, and her father, Bohdan Sawczuk, are also artists. The Sawczuks are members of UNA Branch 194.

Two Petrenkos on active duty

SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - Two Petrenkos are currently on active duty in the U.S. Army.

Victor Petrenko, a graduate of Arizona State University, entered active duty in May 1983. He was recently promoted to lieutenant colonel and assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as a battalion commander with the 82nd Airborne Division.

In the past he has held assignments as observer-controller for the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., and operations officer at Fort Campbell, Ky., home of 101st Airborne Division Air Assault. At Fort Campbell he also was executive officer and fire support officer for the aviation brigade.

Lt. Col. Petrenko attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Prior to his most recent assignment at Fort Bragg he was plans officer for the XVIII Airborne Corps, an aide-de-camp to the assistant corps commander, the liaison officer to the 18th Field Artillery Brigade, a battery commander and a battalion adjutant. He also served in Germany.

His brother, Ihor Petrenko, a graduate of the Northern University of Arizona, entered active duty in October 1987. He was recently promoted to the rank of major and is looking forward to an assignment in Italy.

Maj. Petrenko previously served as a U.S. Armored Cavalry officer in Korea, Fort Polk, La., and Fort Hood, Texas. In 1993 he attended the Army Aviation Rotary Wing School at Fort Rucker, Ala. He also attended the Army Fixed Wing and Special Electronic Missions Aircraft courses.

Later he was stationed once again in Korea as a commander of a reconnaissance company. He currently is the airfield commander at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., where he also flies - both as an instructor and a unit trainer for new Army aviators.

Both Army officers are sons of Leonid Petrenko, who has recently enrolled in UNA Branch 184.

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