DOWNEY, Calif. – The Ukrainian Art Center Inc. of Los Angeles debuted its 2015 year with an exhibition from Kyiv titled “Maidan. Ukraine. Road to Freedom” at the Stay Gallery in Downey, California.
The exhibition opened on January 24 with a panel discussion vis Skype with artists from Kyiv: Olexiy Sai, Maxim Dondyuk, Olexander Glyadyelov, Matviy Vaisberg and Igor Gaidai.
After words of welcome by Daria Chaikovsky of the Ukrainian Art Center, a concert by Serhiy “Foma” Fomenko of the popular rock band Mandry followed. Foma travelled from Ukraine for this exhibit, after successful exhibits in London, Berlin and New York. Yulia Marushevska, who produced the “I Am Ukrainian” film, delivered a short statement.
Foma performs at the exhibit opening.
Over 120 guests attended the opening reception where food of the Maidan was served by Lyalya Lisowska.
Included in the program, and very well received, was the West Coast premier of “Dancing Diplomats,” a movie documenting the joint project between Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and the Khirovohrad Philharmonic in 2012. The relevance was not missed by the audience, as it foreshadowed the brewing storm of events that would occur in Ukraine.
Displayed on the walls were posters from the Maidan, photos by several artists, and implements evidencing what Ukrainians used to fight tanks and bullets – barbed wire wrapped around a wooden stick, metal shields with signs of impact, a leather jacket half burned (status of the wearer unknown). In the center of the room were a collection of Molotov cocktails and a gas mask. As viewers made their way around the gallery, they could hear the sounds of theMaidan – explosions, guns being fired, people shouting.
Across the street, Lock & Key Social Drinkery was serving specially created “Molotov Cocktails” to the exhibition’s guests.
The exhibition closed on January 28.
The Ukrainian Art Center is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote awareness of Ukrainian art. Several local high school students attended and were impressed enough to write about the exhibit, comparing this protest to others going on in the world.
Special thanks were expressed to the people organizing this event: Ms. Chaikovsky (founder and director), Alex Demko (ArtFira), Andriy Hos, Marijka Oharenko, Irynej Prokopovich, Landen Garcia, Luba, Wally and Zoryana Keske, Vaughn Lewis, Ihor Figlus, Olga Starow, Deanna Steczenko, Dr. Andriy Olesijuk, and Olenka and Scott Griffies.