PHILADELPHIA – The colorful Ukrainian painting style known as “Petrykivka” was on prominent display during the Fairmount Avenue Arts Crawl, an annual festival that transforms Philadelphia’s Art Museum area into an eclectic showcase of the arts.
“Petrykivka: The Soul of Ukraine” exhibited the work of six Ukrainian artists specializing in this distinctive technique, and was presented by the Cultural Trust of the Ukrainian League of Philadelphia as its contribution to this year’s Arts Crawl on June 3-5.
The exhibit was organized in collaboration with art collectors Yuri Mischenko and Natalie Pawlenko, whose private collection reflects a variety of Petrykivka styles.
Thirty venues took part in the event, drawing thousands of people. According to Ukrainian League board member Marc Zaharchuk, “The Petrykivka Art exhibit was by far the largest and highest quality exhibition the league has presented since the inception of the Arts Crawl, and allowed us to showcase the folk art of Ukraine to the larger Philadelphia community.”
Ukrainian Self-Reliance Federal Credit Union was the principal sponsor of this year’s exhibit, continuing many years of support for the artistic and cultural programs of the league. Lucy Oleksyuk, Ukrainian League board member and artistic coordinator, helped direct the project.
The Petrykivka art style has been internationally recognized for its uniqueness and artistic beauty. In December 2013, Petrykivka was added to the list of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In October 2013, an exhibition of works by Petrykivka masters took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
Petrykivka USA
“Tree of Knowledge” by Ukrainian artist Halyna Nazarenko.
The art form originated in ancient decorative painting in central Ukraine, and began as painting on adobe whitewashed walls, ceiling beams and hearths, as well as on furniture and household items. Because of its perishability and the turbulent history of Ukraine, only a few pieces predating the 19th century are preserved in Ukrainian museums.
The Ukrainian League is one of the Philadelphia’s oldest Ukrainian institutions, and in 2017 will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Located in the heart of Fairmount, one of the first Ukrainian settlements in the city, the league offers diverse cultural programming, including an eclectic music series, art exhibits, film programs and many literary events, among others. In 2014 the league presented the first Philadelphia-area appearance by musical phenomenon Dakha Brakha, and regularly hosts Kruno Gypsy Jazz Trio. For more information see www.ukrainianleague.com.