LOS ANGELES – The Ukrainian Art Center (UAC) together with the Ukrainian Women’s League of America (UNWLA) participated In this year’s Pysanka on March 20 presented on March 20 by Ukrainian Culture Center. It was a day to remember, full of fine and folk art, traditional foods, music and dance.
This year’s main focus was hosting the art exhibit “From Heart to Heart,” featuring the work of some very special children that was sent by the Odesa-based charity Eleos with the Ukrainian Children’s Support Fund (Vilnius).
Odesa has no hospice care for disabled and terminally ill children or respite care for their exhausted parents, who face a lack of public understanding, limited financial resources and tremendous isolation. Eleos launched its “From Heart to Heart” program of visiting health workers to provide palliative and respite care. Eleos holds art therapy classes so that these children can express the creativity trapped in their helpless bodies. Their indestructible spirit is a source of inspiration for all those around them.
To raise funds, the UAC and UNWLA are selling 30 artworks by the children at the Pysanka Festival and beyond, with 100 percent of sales going to Eleos. Thus, the Los Angeles community feels it can make a huge difference in the lives of these young Ukrainians.
For the Pysanka Festival, the UAC inaugurated a newly formulated newsletter, edited by Lyalya Horsky together with designer Ben Britten with articles submitted by UAC board members. UAC is run by a newly formed board; each member brings unique skills and life experience that enrich the organization with a true commitment to developing its long-term goals.