Folk art book wins first prize at Lviv fair (06/12/05)

Folk art book wins first prize at Lviv fair

WINNIPEG - "Painted Wood: Naive Art of the Ukrainian Village" was awarded First Prize at the National Ukrainian Book Forum in Lviv back in September 2004. The book was written in Ukrainian by the prominent Ukrainian ethnographer Lidia Orel and translated into English by Winnipeg writer and translator Orysia Tracz.

The book tied in votes for the grand prix with a collection of poetry by Mykola Vorobiov, which the latter won in that category. The first prize for the best book was chosen from 10 books nominated, with the grand prix being awarded separately.

In "Painted Wood," Ms. Orel discusses traditional Ukrainian folk painting on chests, lintels, icons, window shutters and on wooden tableware. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs from many Ukrainian museums. It was published in separate Ukrainian and English editions, and both were awarded the first prize at the Lviv book fair.

"Painted Wood" was published in 2003 by Rodovid Press of Kyiv. This publishing house, founded in 1991, is directed by Lidia Lykhach. It also publishes Rodovid (Family Tree), a scholarly journal on Ukrainian art and culture in all its aspects. In 2001 the private company also opened a gallery in Kyiv that exhibits the cultural heritage of Ukraine from the 18th century onward.

This is the second book that Ms. Tracz translated for Rodovid. The first, "Ukrainian Antiquities: Folk Art of the Hutsul and Pokuttia Regions in Private Collections," was published in 2002, also in separate Ukrainian and English editions. The album is richly illustrated with photographs of icons on glass, carved wooden candelabra, wooden and metal crosses, and clay tiles and plates from the past centuries, rescued and preserved by private collectors in Lviv.

The foreword to "Ukrainian Antiquities" was written by Viktor Yushchenko, himself a painter and collector of Ukrainian folk art and antiquities. He noted: "... I am deeply convinced that the world will respect and value the Ukrainians if we enrich it with our cultural heritage. By adding the unique masterpieces of Ukrainian culture to world civilization, we will be able to preserve our identity and ensure Ukraine a worthy place in the family of European nations."

The two books were launched in late 2004 in Winnipeg at McNally-Robinson Booksellers. Both books are available at the Oseredok Boutique, Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Center, 184 Alexander Ave. E., in Winnipeg (204-942-0218) and at McNally-Robinson, http://www.mcnallyrobinson.com/. They may also be ordered online from www.Rodovid.net.

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