Cleveland marks anniversary of The Ukrainian Museum (10/14/01)

Cleveland marks anniversary of The Ukrainian Museum

by Nadia Deychakiwsky

CLEVELAND - During the span of the last decade, the chapters of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America in Cleveland have organized several fund-raisers for The Ukrainian Museum.

The purpose of such events is not only to acquire funds, but to raise awareness and win support of our community for the urgency of the new facility that The Ukrainian Museum desperately needs and deserves.

The latest event on September 16, marked not only the 25th anniversary of the founding of The Ukrainian Museum but also coincided with the announcement regarding the beginning of construction of the new spacious structure in New York City's "Ukrainian Village."

The museum's understanding of the importance of this new home for the museum was evident within the Greater Cleveland Ukrainian community and it resulted in contributions totaling $25,000 for the Building Fund, with more contributions forthcoming. The effort was spearheaded, once again by the members of "Soyuz Ukhainok" under the dynamic leadership of Ivanka Skarupa, president of the UNWLA Regional Council of Ohio.

Due to the tragedy that befell America on September 11, the festive program had to be adjusted. The planned "Vyshyvani Vechornytsi" dance, which was to follow the banquet, was canceled. The featured speaker, Olha Hnateyko, president of the museum's board of trustees, was unable to arrive from New York due to airline cancellations. But the people who came to support the cause of The Ukrainian Museum understood. They bowed their heads in silence to remember the victims of the tragedy and sang "God Bless America" (led by Olenka Chmilak) to unite with the rest of the grieving country.

Mrs. Hnateyko's speech prepared for the occasion was faxed and read by Oksana Sharanevych. Mrs. Hnateyko underlined the support and understanding of the museum's donors, expressing deep gratitude. She referred to the museum's beginning, starting with the procurement of the ethnographic collection in 1933 - which became the core collection of the future museum.

She remembered the brilliant leadership and vision of the late UNWLA leader Ivanna Rozankowsky and Dr. Bohdan Cymbalisty, longtime board chairman, during whose tenure the museum was handed over to the community-at-large and now belongs to the entire Ukrainian American community.

Mrs. Hnateyko spoke with special joy of Eugene and Daymel Shklar's recent donation of $3.5 million, which in effect, made the start of construction possible.

A brief but excellent program of musical performances by guests from Ukraine and Slovakia was much appreciated by some 180 guests. The evening ended with a panorama of slides showing some of the exquisite treasures owned by The Ukrainian Museum. There were samples from the fine arts collection (Nikifor, Krychevsky, Archipenko, etc.), folk art treasures, documents, archival photographs, etc. The slides were accompanied by a commentary delivered by Dozia Krislata.

Daria Kulchytsky was in charge of the very elegant decorations; and the organizing committee for the event was headed by Lukia Hryciw.

Catalogues of the Museum's exhibitions were available for purchase.

The members of the UNWLA in Cleveland expressed gratitude to all the friends who give constant support to The Ukrainian Museum, noting that preserving the Ukrainian cultural heritage and making it available to all is perhaps the most precious gift Ukrainian Americans can make to America and to the future generations who will be seeking their roots.

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