Poetry
Adrian Bryttan presented a premiere reading of his new rhyming translations of Taras Shevchenko’s “Kobzar” at the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in New York on April 26. This was the first time English translations were composed that mirrored not only end-rhymes, but also all internal rhythmic and musical elements in the original, and in many cases, even the same number of syllables. Mr. Bryttan incorporated a running slide show with his English-language presentation for the audience, which included many non-Ukrainians.
On May 12, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago hosted an evening of poetry by Vasyl Makhno and Oleksandr Fraze-Frazenko. Now a resident of New York City, Mr. Makhno was born in Chortkiv, Ukraine. Mr. Fraze-Frazenko is also a screenwriter, singer and translator, and represents the younger generation of poets from Ukraine.
In Tucson at the University of Arizona Student Union Gallery, an evening celebrating the poetry and art of Taras Shevchenko took place on March 13. Organized by the Ukrainian American Society (UAS) of Tucson, this professionally prepared exhibit was provided by the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco. Viewers could study Shevchenko’s paintings on Ukrainian, Kazakh and architectural themes, and also read his poems in translations. Dr. Ihor Kunasz, president of the UAS, welcomed the audience with a short introduction about the poet and artist’s life.
On August 22, the Ontario town of Timmins held a ribbon-cutting ceremony as it rededicated its Kobzar Park and unveiled a new statue of Taras Shevchenko. Named after Shevchenko’s first published major collection of poems, Kobzar Park was officially established in 1981 to recognize the contributions of Ukrainian pioneer settlers to Canada and the Timmons-Porcupine Gold Camp. The committee chose local sculptor Tyler Fauvelle to create a four-foot bronze of a mature Shevchenko in historic footwear and clothing.