Fall Art Exhibit in Cleveland to feature works by 10 artists (10/08/06)

Fall Art Exhibit in Cleveland to feature works by 10 artists

by Nadia Deychakiwsky

CLEVELAND - For the ninth consecutive year, in the month of November, artists from around the United States, Canada and Ukraine are invited to participate in the Fall Art Exhibit organized by the Ukrainian National Women's League of America Branch 12 of Parma/Cleveland.

Although Cleveland is not known as a strong art-centered milieu (in contrast to New York City, Chicago or Hunter, N.Y)., it boasts two remarkable artists who may be "the best kept secret" of the Ukrainian community. They are Andrij Maday and Wolodymyr Swyrydenko.

Mr. Maday, a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and recipient of 12 prestigious awards for his woodcuts and drawings, is also an outstanding iconographer who has lectured extensively throughout North America (mostly in academic institutions) on iconography, as well as the art of woodcut. Besides 85 group shows and 32 solo exhibitions, his works may be found in numerous private collections and in some 60 permanent collections in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia.

Mr. Swyrydenko, a fine arts graduate of Kent State University, continued post-graduate work in Paris. Now professor emeritus of art at Lakeland College in Ohio, he is listed in numerous biographical directories and has received much critical acclaim. His recent retrospective - 51st solo - exhibit showcased paintings produced over a 36-year span.

Mr. Swyrydenko says, "my work deals primarily with man and a constant search for the spirit of man - which leads us to creation and perfection as opposed to acceptance of destruction and mediocrity. It is a symbolic representation of man's struggle for personal fulfillment. ..."

Jarema Novorozhkin, a native of Lviv, graduated from the Lviv Art Academy in 2001 and now resides in Chicago. His oil paintings have been exhibited in Ukraine, France and Chicago and are in private collections there and in Canada.

Mr. Novorozhkin also works in the medium of ceramics and does restoration work in old churches. His "Aquarium" oil paintings are unique and fascinating, and so is his "Cat" series.

Alexander J. Motyl hails from New York City and is known to the Ukrainian American community as a professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Prof. Motyl is the author of six academic books and one work of fiction, "The Whiskey Priest." He studied painting with Leon Goldin at Columbia University in the 1970s. He paints with acrylics, depicting commonplace objects in a semi-abstract style and emphasizes the interplay of form, lines and color in order to convey mood. He has participated in seven group and nine solo shows, including those at the Tori Collection (Pennsylvania and New York), the Canadian Ukrainian Art Foundation Gallery (Toronto), and the Ukrainian Institute of America (New York).

Natalia Kormeliuk lives in the suburbs of Washington. She is a teacher and director of the art department at a private school. A professional potter, she forms her utilitarian objects with the aim that the stoneware pieces be used in daily life and as decorative objects. Ms. Kormeliuk's work connects with traditional Ukrainian pottery, as she diligently studies the details of techniques, designs and forms of different regions. Every summer she visits Ukraine to refine her skills. This year she created a series of tiles illustrating Ivan Franko's "Lys Mykyta." Her commissioned work includes the ceramic clay tile stove (and plates) for the Ukrainian Room at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work was showcased at the Walters Gallery Museum in Baltimore.

Slava Gerulak, who holds an M.A. degree from Northwestern University of Illinois, continued her education at the Art Institute of Chicago. She spent several years in Paris, perfecting her interests in various artistic genres, but always returning to her favorite medium - clay. Her work includes graphics, paintings, tapestries and textile collages, and foremost, ceramics. Her ceramic sculptures, often enriched with enamel, metal and wood, transcend from a master craft into the realm of fine art. Since the 1960s Ms. Gerulak has participated in numerous group and solo shows. The New York City-based artist delves deeply in Ukrainian mythology and prehistoric archeological material.

Marta Huley Legeckis (Washington) received her B.A. and M.A. degrees in fine arts at the City University of New York. She was interested in graphic design, especially in calligraphy, which she developed into a free-lance business. Her clients include the White House, the State Department and the National Gallery, to name a few. She is heavily involved with the Washington Calligraphers Guild, having served as its president, vice-president and workshop chairman. One of her goals is to make the public aware that good letter design requires study and practice. In her spare time, as a means of relaxation and deeper understanding of color and composition, Ms. Legeckis paints with watercolors.

Natalia Gawdiak (Washington) pursued basic art courses in night school, in addition to obtaining B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from the University of Maryland. Mrs. Gawdiak paints in oils and watercolors, and her constant source of inspiration is nature. Many of her works integrate a cubist perspective with folk art and architectural forms. She has exhibited at the Library of Congress and Holy Trinity Church in Silver Spring, Md.

Yurij and Konstantyn Savchenko, father and son, well-known oil painters of the Kyiv school, originally from Dnipropetrovsk, also will participate.

The ninth annual Fall Exhibit Committee is chaired by Olha Pohlid. The exhibit will be on view Saturday, November 4, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Sunday, November 5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. A preview reception will take place on Friday, November 3, at 7 p.m.

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