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18 OUR LIFE • July-August 2023 Branch 88 Organizes Vyshyvanka Day Exhibit Petrusia Sawchak , Press Secretary, Branch 88, Philadelphia, PA Vyshyvanka Day was celebrated at the Ukrain - ian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) on Friday, May 19, and Branch 88 of the Philadelphia Regional Council took part in the festivities by presenting an exhibit of an - tique/vintage vyshyvky as well as ceramics, some of which have been in the families of our Soyuzianky for years. Many of the items in the exhibit, Ukrainian Embroidery and Ce- ramics: Ancient and Traditional Art Forms , had been brought to the U.S. by families who left Ukraine during World War II, fleeing the Com - munist invaders. Dora Vynnytsky explained, “When my fami - ly was leaving Ukraine during the war, it was very important for them to take the ancient embroidered dress made in the 1800s by their great-grandmother, featuring the white-on- white merezhky stitching technique, which has a lacey look. The vyshyvka had become a cultural symbol of our identity.” Vyshyvka (or vyshyvanka, as it is sometimes called today, although somewhat controver - sially because the word came into use when the Soviets took control of Ukraine) is an an - cient art form dating back to the first century that has evolved into a national pastime and reflects the traditions, culture, and diversity of the Ukrainian people. The vyshyvka has at - tained even greater importance today because of the massacre of Ukrainian culture being propagated by russia since it launched its all- out war on Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Our vyshyvka exhibit featured needlework em - broideries of shirts, rushnyky (ritual cloths), tablecloths, and other linens, representative of various regions in Ukraine: Poltava, Kyiv, and Chernihiv in the east; Volyn, Polissia, and Boiko in the northwest; and Bukovyna and Hutsulshchyna in the southwest. The embroiderers used various symbols, such as circles representing the sun, squares symbolizing the Earth, trees of life depicting longevity and family, diamonds representing fertility and sown fields, and crosses as a talisman against evil spir - its, to name just a few. More than 100 stitching techniques are used in Ukrainian embroidery. Some of the commonly used stitches are cross- stitch, nyzynka , satin stitch, merezhky , and chainstitch. All the ornamentation is conventionally divided into three groups: plant and floral, geometric, and zoomorphic (an - imals and birds). Marijka Cyhan, one of the organizers of the exhibit, was proud to display several of the shirts her mother had embroidered for her and her sister many years ago, and pleased that they will be passed on to future generations. The symbols and colors used in embroidery are also used in ceramic designs. Traditionally, geometric patterns pre - vail in western Ukraine, while plant and floral ornamenta - tion is predominant in the south and east. Many of the ceramics in the exhibit featured the green- brown-yellow palette of the Hutsuls from the Carpathian Mountains. Also displayed was pottery with bold patterns in rich bronze, black, and white, representative of the an - cient Trypillian culture in Ukraine. The exhibit was enhanced with a montage created by Andrij and Luba Chornodolsky featuring 12 depictions of Ukrainian wedding attire, from a calendar created by Ukrainian architect and ethnologist/designer Tamara Kosmina following 20 years of study and research into traditional Ukrainian clothing from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. The elaborate wedding attires were intended to intimidate evil powers and bring happiness to the newlyweds. Vyshyvanka Day was also celebrated at the UECC with a fashion show courtesy of the Soloveiko Gift Shop, which is housed on the premises. UECC president Natalka Firko welcomed guests, while UECC board member Dr. Markian Shust emceed the program. The 41 beautiful outfits, de - signed and made in Kolomyia, Ukraine, were modeled by members of the Center and many charming youngsters. The outfits included traditional Ukrainian necklaces, namysta , designed and made by artist Olenka Labunka. The fashions were available for purchase after the show, with proceeds designated for the artisans in Ukraine who created the clothing. Branch 88 member Zenia Brozyna, also a UECC board member and program chair, coordinated the event. Special thanks to Eryna Korchynsky, UNWLA Philadelphia Regional Council Arts & Museum Chair, for her artistic contributions to the fashion show.
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