Embassy reception celebrates 13th anniversary of Ukraine's independence (09/05/04)

Embassy reception celebrates 13th anniversary of Ukraine's independence

by Yaro Bihun
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

WASHINGTON - The Ukrainian Embassy celebrated the 13th anniversary of Ukraine's independence on August 24 with a reception at the Embassy that included a surprise segment in its official program. In addition to the greetings and the now almost customary accompanying art exhibit, this year's event saw the return of a painting that may have been taken from a Ukrainian museum during World War II.

Oleksa Budnyj, a Ukrainian American architect in Washington, presented Ambassador Mykhailo B. Reznik with the painting with the request that it be returned to its rightful home - to Ukraine.

The painting, on wood, measuring about 12 by 18 inches, depicts members of aristocracy enjoying a picnic in the country. Mr. Budnyj said the unsigned painting may well date back to the 16th century.

Mr. Budnyj, 81, an architect, came to the United States in 1950. Two years later he settled in Washington, where he bought the painting for $50 in 1954 from the brother of a Ukrainian artist, Alexander Deyneka, who told him that it was taken from among those less significant artworks discarded by the German military teams that looted Ukrainian museums during World War II. Since then, the painting has been hanging on the wall of his Washington home.

Mr. Budnyj stressed that he was not "donating" the painting but "returning" it to its real owner, Ukraine, and he called on Ukrainians in the diaspora to follow his example if they have works of art that rightfully belong in Ukraine.

"In the '60s and '70s," Mr. Budnyj said in an interview, "Soviet Embassy personnel sold many significant works of art - 'na lievo' (on the side) - including many icons from our churches."

"People have them. They've grown accustomed to them. But they may not have thought about what would happen to that art after they die," he said, adding that their children or grandchildren, who may not appreciate its significance, may well sell them off in a rummage sale.

"We should call on them to do the magnanimous and patriotic thing and return these items to Ukraine," he said.

An Embassy spokesperson said that Mr. Budnyj's painting will be authenticated by a representative of Ukraine's Ministry of Culture who will be in Washington within a few weeks. They will also have to determine from which museum it was taken.

During the Independence Day reception, the guests had an opportunity to view an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Ukrainian artists Iryna Dankevych and Yevhen Prokopov. They could also talk to travel writer Andrew Evans and obtain a copy of his newly published "Ukraine: the Bradt Travel Guide."

The August 24 reception at the Embassy, attended for the most part by Ukrainian Americans, was the first of two events scheduled to mark Independence Day. A second reception will be held at a Washington hotel on September 8.

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