Exhibition: Image of Ukraine (Образ України)

“Image of Ukraine (Образ України): Exploring Ukrainian Culture through Embroidery and Painting” highlights two traditional Ukrainian folk art forms – vyshyvka (Ukrainian embroidery) and Petrykivka (a Ukrainian style of painting named after its city of origin). The exhibition explores Ukrainian culture through the lens of decorative folk art, delving into the history and cultural significance of traditions central to the lives of Ukrainian families both in North Carolina and Ukraine. Included in the exhibition are numerous examples of traditional embroidery as well as paintings by local Ukrainian artist, Olena Zintchouk, in the style of Petrykivka. Interviews with the Ukrainian community in North Carolina illustrate how well-known forms of a folk art can be adapted to new settings and help maintain cultural traditions and identity.

“Image of Ukraine” will be on display at the FedEx Global Education Center from August 22 to December 8, 2017. The center is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on select Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Exhibit contact: Ingrid Smith, manager of events and exhibitions, UNC Global, ingrid.smith@unc.edu.

The exhibition is hosted by UNC Global and is organized by the Ukrainian Association of North Carolina; the UNC Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies; and Global Relations at UNC. Additional support is provided by the UNC Center for Global Initiatives; UNC Department of American Studies; and UNC Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Special thanks to the Ukrainian American Club of Southwest Florida for allowing UNC to exhibit a number of framed embroidery pieces from their collection.