FOCUS ON PHILATELY: Philatelic folk art in 2000 (03/04/01)

FOCUS ON PHILATELY

by Ingert Kuzych

Philatelic folk art in 2000

In June of 1999, The Weekly's "Focus on Philately" article dealt with "A Rich Heritage of Folk Art." I felt it was time to revisit that subject, since several of last year's philatelic releases so beautifully incorporated folk motifs into their designs.

The first issue of last year that featured folk art was also the most anticipated. Rumors of a souvenir sheet depicting pysanky (Ukrainian Easter eggs) had long been circulating; finally, in April, it appeared (Figure 1). Most everyone agreed that the long wait had been worthwhile.

Shown on a deep red background are decorated eggs from six Ukrainian regions: Podillia (upper left), Chernihiv (upper right), Kyiv (middle left), Odesa (middle right), the Hutsul region (lower left), and Volyn (lower right). The surrounding selvage shows a foliage design in gold along with Kalyna berries. Along the top is an angel with outstretched arms; the bottom features an old-fashioned thatch-roofed, village house.

Although I like this issue very much, the beauty of the pysanky made me wish more had been presented. Was so much surrounding selvage really necessary? Couldn't it have been reduced and a couple more eggs shown? Oh well, perhaps next time.

About three weeks after the pysanky release, another item featuring folk art was introduced. The issue was in an unusual horizontal souvenir sheet highlighting Ukraine Post's participation in two major philatelic exhibitions: WIPA 2000 in Vienna and The Stamp Show 2000 in London. Depicted are two pairs of young couples, dressed in folk costumes, sending and receiving letters. The two central figures are apparently still "back home" in western Ukraine as their darkened background shows the Carpathians and a wooden church. The outside figures, in urban settings, have received their beloved's missives (Figure 2).

Despite being drawn in a slightly humorous style, this colorful souvenir sheet is utterly charming. The rich apparel of the characters is carefully and beautifully depicted in striking detail. The souvenir sheets were popular items at the two stamp shows where they were introduced - and not only for their eye-catching appeal. Beneath the central portion of the sheet, under the logos of the two shows, appear the first stamps of Austria and Great Britain, respectively. Such stamp-on-stamp issues are a popular collecting topic in philately; this was undoubtedly kept in mind during the stamp design process.

In July a two-stamp and label issue was released featuring artist Tetiana Pata (1884-1976). This was the third year in a row that a female folk artist had been so honored. The arrangement of having the two outside stamps flank a portrait of the artist, has become traditional (Figure 3).

The left stamp shows a painting titled "Kucheriavky" (Flowers), while the right stamp presents "Kalyna and Bird." Both works date from the 1950s.

August saw the release of a single stamp marking Obzhynky, the Ukrainian harvest festival (Figure 4). Shown in a somewhat modernistic style are some of the traditions of this celebration: the Harvest Queen, wearing a woven "crown" made of wheat; the singing of special songs; the harvest feast; etc. All of the figures wear traditional peasant attire.

Personally, I found that the almost cartoonish presentation of this stamp somewhat trivialized the beauty of the Obzhynky ceremonies. For me this issue was the most disappointing of all the 2000 philatelic issues.

Perhaps the most striking release of last year was an October souvenir sheet titled "Ukrainian Flowers." This very unusual and at the same time very fetching design features the bust of a young woman wearing a folk outfit, coral necklaces and an oversized floral garland (Figure 5). The plaiting of garlands is an ancient and honored Ukrainian folk ritual.

Six stamps highlight the flowers that make up the garland. In the upper left are chornobryvtsi (marigolds), always a favorite flower to include in wreaths and with other blooms to decorate religious icons. Next is romashka (daisy-camomile). In certain parts of Ukraine, this healing flower was placed in wreaths with the belief that the wearer would then not experience any familial problems. The beautiful malva (mallow-hollyhock) is followed by the mak (field poppy) to complete the first stamp row. The short-lived mak, a symbol of beauty and health, also is taken to represent man's uncertain existence.

One of the favorite flowers of Ukrainians is barvinok (periwinkle minor). Symbolizing love and purity, it has a special significance at wedding celebrations where wreaths are made for both bride and groom. The final flower in the garl and is voloshka synia (bachelor's button or cornflower), which also is used to decorate wedding wreaths.

Below the figure is a "field" of flowers, broken into four stamps, that depicts: krucheni panychi (morning glory), lilieya (lily), pivoniya (peony) and dzvonyky (bluebells).

November saw the release of a three-stamp set picturing "Animated Children's Folk Tales" (Figure 6). The characters, whether human or animal, on each of these cute and colorful stamps, are all shown wearing embroidered folk costumes. The first stamp shows little "Ivasyk-Telesyk" escaping from an old witch with the help of some geese. The second stamp depicts an elderly couple with a "Kryvenka Kachechka" (Crooked Duck), who helps the pair who look after her but which eventually leaves to join a migrating flock. The final stamp "Kotyk ta Pivnyk" (Cat and Rooster) shows the fowl thanking the feline for saving him from the voracious fox.

Finally, in December, three more stamps of the ongoing "Historic Ukrainian Churches" series were issued. The 30-kopiyka value of this set depicts the "Birth of the Blessed Virgin" church in Velyke village (Lviv Oblast, built in the 17th century), an excellent example of wooden folk architecture (Figure 7).

The attractiveness of several of these philatelic folk art issues make them strong candidates to do well in the upcoming Narbut Prize competition for best Ukrainian stamp design. Look for a complete chronicling of the year 2000 Ukrainian philatelic releases (and your chance to vote for the best of them) in the May "Focus on Philately" article.

Dr. Ingert Kuzych may be reached at P.O. Box 3, Springfield VA 22150, or at his new e-mail address: [email protected].

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