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THE OPENING OF THE UKRAINIAN KILIM EXHIBIT MOTRIA KUSHNIR At 4:45 PM, on Saturday, May 23, 1981, I arrived at the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies. The super modern, beautifully designed building was all dark, as yet. Within 15 minutes, however, the doors were open, the lights were bright and the volunteers of our UNWLA buffet committee were setting up cheese with grapes and ’’kabanosy,” assorted tea sandwhiches, cakes and delicious miniature pastries, as well as iced punch, wine and soda. The flurry of activity in the East Gallery was awe inspiring, as aesthetically arranged platters — including appetizer-studded pineapples — appeared on the now tablecloth-covered tables. Across the hall in the West Gallery of the Balch Institute, the bright lights revealed our Ukrainian Kilim exhibit, ready for public viewing. The high-ceilinged gallery space could not have been more ideally suited for the display. Our designer, Zenon Feszczak — who volunteered his services — had developed a floor plan which set off each kilim to best advantage. In all, nine teen of the flat, tapestry-woven rugs from the collec tion of the Ukrainian Museum in New York City were on exhibit. The labels had all been hung in place, the intro ductory statement was posted on a podium near the entrance and a large lettered sign in the window proudly announced ’’UKRAINIAN KILIMS’ to the passing crowds outside. All I had to do was place the catalogue-brochures — which were printed in both Ukrainian and English, courtesy of Sears, Roebuck and Company — on the specially designed shelf of the podium. By seven o’clock in the evening, our guests began to arrive. Delegates to the Philadelphia-hosted Nineteenth Convention of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America predominated in the crowd circulating through the museum. We also welcomed repre sentatives of the city government, members of the Balch Institute board of directors and other specially invited guests — for example, Alice Eakin from the Pennsyl vania Council on the Arts, which had provided a grant to support the mounting of the exhibit, and Maria Shust, director of the Ukrainian Museum. The official opening of the exhibit commenced at about eight o’clock. Mark Stolarik, director of the Balch Institute, began the program by welcoming everyone and thanking the UNWLA and the Ukrainian Museum for their sponsorship of the exhibit. He also introduced us to the Balch Institute, one of the foremost research centers for ethnic studies in the country. Daria Shust, vice chair of the convention committee, took over from Dr. Stolarik, and with considerable charm and elan conducted the introductions to the rest of our program. Eleanor White, the female Deputy Mayor of Phila delphia, welcomed the convention to the city and presented our president, Iwanna Rozankowsky, with a miniature Liberty Bell. Councilman Anderson was introduced and delivered a citation recognizing the work of the UNWLA to Mrs. Rozankowsky and Natalia Danylenko, president of the Philadelphia Regional Council. Bohdan Cymbalisty, president of the board of trustees of the Ukrainian Museum, addressed the guests, describing the work of the Museum and thanking the Balch Institure for their cooperation. After Dr. Cymbalisty’s presentation, it was my turn. As coordinator of the exhibit, it was my pleasure and honor to recognize everyone who had worked so hard to make the Ukrainian Kilim exhibit a success. Members of the selection committee, donors, the 67th branch of the UNWLA, volunteer professionals, staff of the Balch and the Ukrainian Museum were roundly applauded by the appreciative crowd. Nor did we forget to mention and to thank those women who, with such great foresight, purchased in 1933 the folk art collection which now constitutes the core of the Ukrainian Museum’s collec tion and which made possible the festive Saturday evening we were celebrating. After sampling the buffet and good fellowship, the crowd began to disperse. The lights were dimmed; the doors, locked. We hope that all participants in the event share our happy memories of the opening. The exhibit, itself, will remain at the Balch Institute for Ethinc Studies through the summer months. It will be open to the public on a daily basis until August 11. Visitors to, and residents of, Philadelphia should be sure to stop at the Institute to see Ukrainian kilims on display. Property of the Ukrainian Musseum in New York. (85Vi * 58 inches) western Ukraine, 1910s-1930s. Flat tapestry-woven rug. Hemp warp and wool wefts, polychro me wool yarn. The central field composed of repeat pattern of loosely arranged flowers in a vase* both ends finished with loose warp fringes.
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