Guardian Angels Ukraine, established in 2014, is a project of the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW) that provides mental health supports, rehabilitation, medical equipment for hospitals, organizes educational programs for medical personnel and supports the social reintegration of wounded Ukrainian soldiers, veterans, volunteers and victims of the war against Ukraine. All this work is funded through generous donations of kind people in our community.
To raise funds for the Guardian Angels of Ukraine project, the Edmonton branch of the LUCW held a paint night — “Painting for a Just Peace,” on March 1 at the Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex. About 30 people each donated $100 to create an original painting on glass in the style of Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko.
The painting was led by Iryna Karpenko, a graduate of the Kyiv Art Institute, who has lived and worked in Edmonton since 2003. In Ukraine, Iryna worked as an illustrator of children’s books and in Edmonton she ran an art studio for children and youth. To support the Guardian Angels Ukraine project as much as possible, Iryna Karpenko declined remuneration and donated her time and expertise. Thanks to her generosity, the event was successful. Participants were pleased and spoke enthusiastically about working with Iryna.
Painting on glass is an ancient and interesting technique that was practiced in Ukraine, probably as far back as the 16th century, according to information from artist Elena Diadenko, who works and teaches in Chicago, USA. She stated in an interview with Chicago television station WTTW Public Television that painting on glass is a cultural tradition. Self-taught painters painted on the reverse of glass and subjects were mostly biblical. Later, self-taught artists painted rural subjects, animals, plants and flowers. Diadenko stated that even though such painting is sometimes referred to as “primitive” in style, it is beautiful, authentic, very bright and always with a black outline.
Well-known Ukrainian artist Maria Prymachenko (1909-1997) was such a self-taught artist and created interesting, bright, fantasy-like paintings, not on glass, but on canvas. Prymachenko’s works are called “naive art,” because she was truly self-taught and painted without classical training or techniques. Her use of colors, shapes and subjects is very impressive. Many of her paintings depict animals in exaggerated, fantastical shapes and colors, and some are even a bit unusual. Prymachenko’s works are attractive and have become very popular in recent years. It is an interesting fact that the Finnish airline Finn Air appropriated some of Prymachenko’s work from 1963 to decorate their aircraft. This misuse of Prymachenko’s work was discovered and Prymachenko’s family sued Finn Air. The court found that the airline had appropriated the work without permission.
During the evening, the participants enjoyed delicious refreshments prepared by Mariola Lewyta and a selection of wines. Several local businesses donated gift cards for door prizes. Among these donors were the Ukrainian restaurant “Taste of Ukraine,” owned by the Wozniak family, “Widynowski’s Sausage House” and “FreshCo Supermarket Palisades Square.” The Ukrainian Youth Unity Council donated the use of their facility for the evening and sponsored non-alcoholic beverages.
Special thanks go to the provincial executive of the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood, who generously sponsored the costs associated with this event, including all the painting materials, the refreshments and wine, all advertising and administrative costs that were necessary to make this “Painting for a Just Peace” evening a success. 100% of the proceeds from this unique evening were donated to the Guardian Angels Ukraine project. Together, a lot was achieved.
Lida M. Wasylyn, League of Ukrainian Canadian Women, Edmonton Branch
