The Ukrainian Museum hosts Ukraine's new envoy to U.S. (02/26/06)

The Ukrainian Museum hosts Ukraine's new envoy to U.S.

by Marta Baczynsky

NEW YORK - Since The Ukrainian Museum became operational in 1976 on two top floors of a New York brownstone on Second Avenue, a great number of people from all walks of life have come through its doors - a testament to the value of the treasures within. This measure of success has been magnified in the museum's elegant new building, which, since its opening 10 months ago, has hosted such distinguished guests as the president of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, and Kateryna Yushchenko; and Patriarch Filaret, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate.

On Saturday, February 6, the museum had the distinct honor to welcome the new ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Dr. Oleh Shamshur. The ambassador arrived at the museum accompanied by Consul Andrii Olefirov from the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York City and Natalia Holub, second secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington.

The ambassador was greeted by Olha Hnateyko, president of the museum's board of trustees, Maria Shust, museum director, board members and staff. He toured the current exhibition, "The Tree of Life, the Sun, the Goddess: Symbolic Motifs in Ukrainian Folk Art," with the curator of the exhibition, Lubow Wolyntez, providing explanations and commentary. Dr. Shamshur also stopped on the second floor to view the installation "Still the River Flows" and visited the museum's administrative offices.

In greeting the ambassador, Board President Olha Hnateyko said, that the museum's mission - to collect, preserve and present in exhibitions the treasures of Ukrainian cultural legacy - is very important, since it presents the opportunity for "our children, grandchildren and future generations to become acquainted with the wealth and beauty of Ukrainian culture. It also instills in them a feeling of pride in their roots." She asked the ambassador to help the museum in this undertaking.

In turn, Ambassador Shamshur assured his full support of the museum when he signed the visitor's book, where he wrote:

"Best wishes for The Ukrainian Museum in New York, which is the magnificent center of Ukrainian culture in the United States. In anticipating mutual cooperative and fruitful endeavors, I promise the full support of Ukraine's diplomatic delegation in the United States."

As a parting gift and memento of his visit to The Ukrainian Museum, Ambassador Shamshur was presented with several exhibition catalogues published by the museum. Among them was the current exhibition catalogue "The Tree of Life, the Sun, the Goddess," as well as the museum's inaugural exhibition catalogue, "Alexander Archipenko. Vision and Continuity."

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