Collections from the Heart - THE BILL AND MICHELLE TRACY INDIGENOUS ART COLLECTION MASTERPIECES OF THE HEART: EXHIBIT OF OSTRICH EGG PYSANKY ...
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Winter 2018-19 | Volume 24, Issue 2 | $5
Collections
from the
Heart
THE BILL AND MICHELLE TRACY
INDIGENOUS ART COLLECTION
MASTERPIECES OF THE HEART:
EXHIBIT OF OSTRICH
EGG PYSANKY
ALBERTA’S UKRAINIAN
ARTS AND CULTURE MAGAZINE
Winter 2018-19 | Volume 24, Issue 2
Publisher: The Alberta Council
for the Ukrainian Arts (ACUA)
Production Team: Robin McHugh,
Deborah Stasiuk, Borys Tarasenko,
Darka Broda Masiuk
Editors: Rena Hanchuk
04 05 18
Contributors: Lyrissa Sheptak,
Nancy Lyzaniwski, Myrna Kostash,
Pam Clark, Lindsay Shapka,
Edmonton Eparchial UCWLC
Art Direction: Kristin Gibson
www.kristingibson.ca
Advertising: info@acuarts.ca FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
10
ACUA Vitae is published
biannually. Views expressed by the MASTERPIECES OF THE 04 Arts & Culture:
writers are not necessarily those HEART: Exhibit of Ostrich Community Connections: The
of ACUA. Copyright individual Egg Pysanky New Royal Alberta Museum
writers. Permission required to
15
re-produce contents. 05 Arts & Culture:
THE BILL AND MICHELLE ACUA Announces the
Send inquiries, subscription
requests, address changes to:
TRACY INDIGENOUS ART Yaroslav Kitynskyy and Rena
info@acuarts.ca COLLECTION Hanchuk Scholarship
Printed in Canada by: 06 Food:
Alberta Council for the Ukrainian With Baba's Blessing
Arts acknowledges support from the
Edmonton Arts Council and the City 18 Dance Around Alberta:
of Edmonton. Celebrating Dance
ON THE COVER:
The Bill and Michelle Tracy
Indigenous Art Collection, Page 15
PHOTO BY BORYS TARASENKO
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 03
ARTS & CULTURE NEWS
COMMMUNITY CONNECTIONS:
The New Royal
Alberta Museum
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
By Pam Clark ACUA writer and pysanky instructor, and carvings in over fifty churches of
Lyrissa Sheptak is an active volunteer many faiths across Alberta. His mastery is
with the museum, proofing exhibit found in wooden pews, altars, tabernacles
When the Royal Alberta panels, interactives and working with and lecterns as well doorway inscriptions.
Exhibit Design. Through her role, she is
Museum (RAM) opened its privy to new up-coming collections and Elizabeth Holinaty is one of the featured
feels honoured to be a valued part of the artists in the Handcraft: Transforming
doors on October 3, 2018, volunteer team at RAM. Society display. Here, her “cherished art
of weaving” is showcased in a traditional
visitors to the Human Jack Howell, whose wife Joyce is a board Folk ensemble adapted from a festive
History Section were member and instructor with ACUA,
is featured in an exciting interactive
dancer’s costume from the Polissia
Region of Ukraine and also includes a
immersed in numerous art, exhibit celebrating the popular radio rushnyk, handwoven with contemporary
program Call of the Land. Jack was the design. A longtime member of ACUA,
writing and architectural host of this popular radio show for Elizabeth shared that her experience
thirty-six years beginning in 1970, with RAM has been humbling and
ties to the Ukrainian producing over 7000 programs. This she “is happy to have her Ukrainian
exhibit introduces the history of the handwoven items in the Human History
community. program, the technology used, and story. The past is honoured in this
issues facing agricultural communities contemporary setting.”
across Alberta.
Next time you visit the Royal Alberta
Master carpenter and cantor, Philip Museum look for the Ukrainian
Pawluk, is remembered through his connections in the Human History
incredible impact on the interior design section and throughout the museum!
04 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19
ARTS & CULTURE NEWS
YAROSLAV KITYNSKYY
AND RENA HANCHUK
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Lianna
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
Makuch
ACUA ANNOUNCES The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian
YAROSLAV KITYNSKYY
Arts is pleased to announce Ms.
Lianna Makuch as the recipient of
the 2018 Yaroslav Kitynskyy and Rena
& RENA HANCHUK Hanchuk award for her promotion and
celebration of Ukrainian art.
SCHOLARSHIP by Nancy Lyzaniwski Lianna is a Ukrainian Canadian theatre
artist and graduate of the University of
Alberta’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting
Program. Lianna has enjoyed a diverse
The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian on painting and drawing from classical career as an actor, director, instructor,
Arts is pleased to announce Ms. architecture and art. In New York City, and artistic producer. She has built an
Dominika Koziak as the recipient of the she attended the Prosopon School of independent theatre company, Pyretic
2016 Peter and Geraldine Shostak Award Iconology where she studied classical Productions, that has presented an original
for Emerging Visual Artists. techniques and style in Icon writing. play every season for the past four years.
Dominika is a visual artist from Her art focuses on a relationship Her latest project allowed Lianna
Edmonton, Alberta with a Ukrainian- between contemporary and ancestral to “flex her creative muscle” as a
Polish cultural background. Dominika culture. Her submission involved the playwright and creator, developing the
completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts Byzantine Iconographical style of play ”Blood of Our Soil.” This work
degree at the University of Alberta. After painting, with Korean Pop Idols as the depicts the struggles of Ukrainian
moving to New York City, she attained subject. Ancestral techniques from both people against the atrocities of Stalin
her Master of Fine Arts degree at the cultures play a role in the work through and the horrors of Hitler, while drawing
School of Visual Arts. Dominika also the application of techniques of writing disturbing parallels to the current Putin
received intensive training at the Rome an icon with historical motifs. regime. It was for the creation of this
Art Program in Italy where she focused project, that Lianna was awarded the
Kityskyy and Hanchuk Scholarship.
PHOTO PROVIDED
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 05
FOOD
with
baba’s
blessing
By Edmonton Eparchial UCWLC
W
ith Baba’s Blessings – Smachnoho will be released in January, 2019. The cookbook
includes a collection of recipes that are sure to delight Ukrainian Canadian
palates. The following recipes have been selected by the Edmonton Eparchial
UCWLC, as a preview of what you will find in their recipe book. Recipes have been collected
from members from across Alberta.
Ukrainian Christmas Eve • Icon: To remind us that Jesus as it symbolized the souls of departed
Man, came to save us and lead family members. To Ukrainian
Supper and Traditions us to God our Father; pioneers, the didukh stood for the
• Three Branched Candlestick: eternity of the soul. The didukh
Adapted from Sister Christine S.S.M.I
A reminder of the Holy Trinity remained in the house until January
1. The family often sets up a prayer (Father, Son and Holy Spirit); 19th. Then it was taken outside, laid
corner. This is usually a small on the ground in the form of a cross
• Bowl of Kutia: To remind us
table covered with an embroidered and burned. This ritual signified the
of family members who have
tablecloth. On this table are put: end of the Christmas season.
passed away and have them
• Sheaf of wheat: Wheat is used spiritually present during 3. The youngest child waits for the
to make bread. Our Holy the supper. first star to appear. Upon seeing
Communion begins with the first star, the child happily
bread. The name Bethlehem 2. The father or head of the family
announces its arrival. A candle on
means “House of Bread”. Jesus carries in a sheaf of wheat or didukh.
the table, symbolizing the bright
is the Bread of Life; The word didukh means grandfather.
star of Bethlehem, is lit.
This tradition started long ago and
06 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19
FOOD
4. Prayer - Boh Predvichnyi (Eternal • Borshch - meatless beet soup
Life) is sung and the Kutia is served with vushka (small
distributed to the family members. mushroom-filled dumplings,
shaped like ears);
5. Many items on the Christmas Eve
• Oseledtsi (pickled herring);
table are symbolic:
• Baked fish - frequently, a variety
• Kolach (braided bread) –
of other fish entrées are also
symbolizes Christ, the Bread
served;
of Life;
• Holubtsi (cabbage rolls) - with
• Candle – symbolizes the Star of
rice and onion;
Bethlehem;
• Holubtsi (cabbage rolls) - with
• Tablecloth – symbolizes the
buckwheat;
swaddling cloth Jesus was
wrapped in; • Varenyky - potato and onion;
• Straw or hay under the • Varenyky - sauerkraut, or prune/
tablecloth – symbolizes hay in fruit fillings;
The cover of With Baba’s Blessing…
the manger; • Mashed white beans; Smachnoho was designed by Taras
• Kutia – symbolizes unity. • Pidpenky/mushrooms - some Nahnybida with assistance from
regions of Ukraine serve Zlata Maas. As each section of
6. All the food served on Christmas mushrooms with beets; the Edmonton Eparchial UCWLC
Eve is tied to nature. It is like all • Kapusta (cabbage) and peas; cookbook began to unfold, much
that God has created is present for thought was given to designing a
• Uzvar - dried fruit compote.
the coming of Jesus: cover that conveyed deep devotion
• from the field – wheat, rice; Traditional desserts that are and respect to the important
served are: immigrant pioneer ladies. The
• from the garden – beets, beans,
cabbage; • Makivnyk (poppyseed roll); darkened poppies are symbols of
• Medivnyk (honey cake); those heroic ladies who, although
• from the orchard – dried fruit;
• Pampushky (fruit filled, deep no longer with us, planted the
• from the forest – mushrooms, nuts; seeds of our Ukrainian culture on
fried buns);
• from the water – fish. Canadian soil. The brighter red
• Khrustyky (fried crispy treat,
poppies are symbolic of present
7. The twelve meatless dishes served sometimes referred to as ears).
and future UCWLC members, who
on Christmas Eve are:
preserve our culinary traditions and
• Kutia - mixture of wheat, poppy will continue to do so.
seeds, and honey (nuts and
raisins optional); recipes on page 08...
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 07
FOOD
...continued from page 09
Easy Borshch Stuffed Fish (Baked) Kapusta and Peas
Submitted in memory of Jaroslava Submitted by Assumption of the Blessed Submitted by Darlene Atamaniuk
Lotosky, St. Vladimir UCWLC Virgin Mary UCWLC (Myrnam, Alberta) St. George’s Parish (Edmonton, Alberta)
(Edmonton, Alberta)
INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS • 5 lb. salmon or whitefish • 1 cup dried whole peas
• 1 ½ cups beets, diced • 1 medium onion, chopped fine (or split peas, if you so choose)
• 1 cup carrots, sliced • 1 cup sliced mushrooms • 4 cups sauerkraut
• 1 cup celery, chopped • ½ cup celery, diced • 1 cup water
• 1 ½ cup cabbage, sliced • ½ cup of butter (oil on Christmas) • 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 onion, diced • ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp salt • 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1-½ tsp lemon juice • 2 cloves garlic, minced (you can use
• ¼ teaspoon savoury
more or less garlic, depending on
• 7 cups water or
• ¼ cup water your taste)
3 ½ cups chicken broth &
3 ½ cups water • ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste • salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups tomato juice or • 1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste
METHOD
1 can tomato soup
METHOD 1. Soak peas overnight. The next day,
• 3 tsp oil
1. Scale and clean fish. rinse, drain and add fresh water.
• 2 tsp cornstarch
2. Salt lightly inside and out. 2. Cover and cook peas until tender.
• ½ cupwater Drain.
3. In skillet sauté onion, mushrooms
and celery in oil. 3. Rinse sauerkraut in cold water and
METHOD
place in a big pot. Add water and
1. Add first ten ingredients in order 4. Combine with all the remaining
cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Combine
listed. Cook gently for ingredients.
sauerkraut with peas. Cook 5
1 hour. 5. Stuff the fish. minutes more.
2. Add cornstarch to water. 6. Brush outer surface with oil. 4. Drain sauerkraut and peas, but
Stir into hot soup and serve. reserve the liquid.
7. Bake on large cookie sheet at 400° F,
You may add a small amount of
allowing 10 minutes cooking time 5. Sauté onions in oil until lightly
cream or milk, if you desire.
for every inch of fish. browned. Sprinkle flour and garlic
8. Baste several times with mixture over onions and stir.
½ cup water and ¼ cup oil. Garnish 6. Add reserved liquid and stir until
with lemon and parsley. Serve. mixture thickens.
7. Combine sauce with sauerkraut and
peas. Add salt and pepper to taste.
8. Cover and simmer 30 - 40 minutes.
08 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 09
FEATURE
MASTERPIECES
OF THE HEART
EXHIBIT OF OSTRICH EGG PYSANKY
by Lyrissa Sheptak
It is said that the pysanka is a masterpiece of love. Written in the quietness of the night with the
sweet fragrance of beeswax floating through the air, creativity streams, urging the artist toward
an almost holy journey. The experience of writing the pysanka is as meaningful as its big reveal,
so it is little wonder why this art form is one of the most beloved of all Ukrainian traditions.
On April 29, 2018 an Ostrich Egg The tallest bird on the planet, the decorated and then hung or displayed in
Pysanky Exhibit was held at St. ostrich has a 16-foot stride, two toes, and churches and other holy places not just
Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic can reach up to 40 miles per hour. Its as decorations, but as symbols of Christ’s
Cathedral. Organized by Nadia Cyncar, true value is found in its feathers, lean resurrection and new life. With respect
Evelyn Cook, and Joyce Chrunik-Rudiak meat, and leather; but to the Ukrainian to other religions, they stood as symbols
of The Museum of the Ukrainian community the ostrich is prized for of fertility and purity.
Catholic Women’s League of Canada, its large, strong eggs. Decorating an
Edmonton Eparchy, committee ostrich pysanka takes a great amount The decorating of ostrich eggs dates
members acquainted guests with the of patience, innovation, planning, and back thousands of years. Thanks to their
crème de la crème of the pysanky world experience. For artists and admirers tough exteriors that don’t disintegrate
– the ostrich egg. alike, the beauty of the finished product over time like other bird shells, an
continues to be a source of satisfaction archaeological dig site in South Africa
Inspiration for the exhibit came from and marvel. There is almost nothing was able to unearth multiple layers of
an enlightening conversation between more elegant and stunning than a broken decorated ostrich egg shells
Nadia Cyncar and Marlene Diachyshyn, glossy, intricately designed ostrich from 60 000 years ago. The symbolic
Waskatenau UCWLC member and pysanka that has a story to tell. patterns and designs carved into the
ostrich farmer. Nadia instantly became outer shell of the eggs prove their
fascinated with the exotic bird and Joyce Chrunik-Rudiak kicked-off the religious significance in the lives of
everything it had to offer. Although afternoon with intriguing facts about prehistoric peoples.
ostrich farms have been a small part ostriches, quickly segueing into the
of the Canadian farming landscape egg itself and the role it has held Nadia Cyncar offered guests a history
for decades, Nadia intended to take within different cultures and religions lesson of her own and an explanation
this opportunity to introduce it to the throughout history. Similar to hens’ of the significance of the ostrich egg
broader community. pysanky, in the past, ostrich eggs were within the Ukrainian community.
10 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 11FEATURE
Ukrainians have been writing pysanky, have branched out to include ostriches decorated in assorted styles. Pysanky
in one form or another, for thousands in their care. In Ukraine, since the early hail from as far as South Africa, Brazil,
of years. Pre-Christian Ukrainians 2000’s more than 60 ostrich farms have Ukraine, and Jerusalem and showcase
searched for meaning of their existence sprung up, making the special egg a different patterns or pictures, and
and explained their cycles of life by more common feature in households. unique styles. But our own Ukrainian
honouring animals, forces of nature, In Alberta, one such family to become community boasted their talent as
and worshipping the sun. Eggs became part of this venture was the Diachyshyn well. Presented were the works of many
highly prized ritual objects that were family from Waskatenau. The exhibition local-talented pysanky artists who put
believed to have an almost magical their hearts and souls into their own
quality. But in 988 A.D. with the labours of love. These artists worked
acceptance of the Christian religion in meticulously on the stories and prayers
Ukraine, their ancient ritual practices that they wanted their pysanky to reflect.
Not only is it valued for its
melded with their new beliefs. Pysanky The work produced by the local artists
not only came to express nature’s ancient beginnings and was beautiful, and our community
rebirth, but they were likened to Christ’s should be proud to have so many
religious symbolism, but
resurrection from the tomb. cultural representatives perpetuating
the pysanka has become a, the art form.
During the Easter season pysanky are
decorated, blessed, and often shared “universally recognized popular The exhibit also had the honour of
with others. Today, not only do they symbol of the Ukrainians displaying the work of established
hold religious significance, but they are artists. The pysanky of three
also sold and admired as decorative art themselves.” generations of Larissa Cheladyn’s
pieces. Cyncar relayed that during the family were presented, as well as close
last 60 years throughout the diaspora, to 30 ostrich pysanky of artist Sylvia
there has been a renewal of the pysanka. Kuzyk. Audrey Uzwyshyn enriched
Not only is it valued for its ancient committee was honored to have Marlene the exhibit with 35 of her ostrich
beginnings and religious symbolism, but share the more specific details of eggs written with traditional pysanky
the pysanka has become a, “universally running an ostrich farm and business. designs. Included in the exhibit were
recognized popular symbol of the eggs with Trypillian pottery designs that
Ukrainians themselves.” The exhibit displayed a wide array of have become popular throughout the
ostrich eggs from 24 various artists Diaspora over the past 60 years. The
In the last couple of decades, farmers and various geographical locations all museum committee also showcased
12 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19FEATURE
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED
examples of unconventional decorative The Ostrich Egg Exhibition was yet The ostrich egg, with its particularly
styles, like applique beads and the another wonderful reason to gather strong shell, has proved that pysanky
traditional “Petrykivka” wooden egg. together to celebrate Ukrainian culture, have a staying-power that not many
Artist Theodora Harasymiw attended pay homage to local talent, and support fragile items can claim. Despite
the event and shared her own story each other in our endeavors to express the evolution of pysanky designs,
about a picture she created called ourselves and our passions. So it was with techniques, and instruments, when an
“Higher Purpose” which included a many thanks that the museum committee artist has a moment to sit in silence,
mosaic of broken ostrich pysanky pieces. wrapped up their speeches encouraging heat up their kistka, and inhale the
Theodora explained to guests how she guests to view and appreciate all 96 beeswax aroma prior to their first
had ordered ostrich pysanky, but they ostrich pysanky on display. Like with all steady line of liquid wax on the egg,
were delivered broken and in pieces. Not pysanky, each ostrich egg was unique. they never forget the humble history
wanting to waste their beauty, Theodora Even if a traditional pattern was written of the cherished egg and art form. The
created a mosaic incorporating the onto an egg, it always conveyed its own significance, artistic process, and final
pieces of broken ostrich pysanky. individual verve. The exhibition was result is explanation enough as to why
testimony to the creative capacity of the pysanka has managed to remain
Following Harasymiw was Evelyn humans and proof that regular people close to the hearts of Ukrainian people
Eveneshen who donated her own can do extraordinary things. for thousands of years.
personal ostrich pysanka to the UCWLC
museum. Evelyn explained how while
at the 2012 Bishop’s Gala she won an
ostrich pysanka which was donated by
pysanka artist Sylvia Kuzyk. Honored
and pleased to win, Evelyn divulged
that after enjoying the ostrich pysanka
for some time, she had plans to donate
it to the UCWLC Edmonton Eparchial
Museum. On this day of the exhibition,
Evelyn fulfilled her promise and officially
presented it to the safe-keeping of the
museum where it could be appreciated
and enjoyed by a wider audience.
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 13FEATURE
The Bill and Michelle Tracy
Indigenous Art Collection
14 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19FEATURE
PHOTOS BY BORYS TARASENKO
of their separate collections. Michelle close by us near Pine River, Manitoba
By Myrna Kostash remembers her first “collectible,” a pair
of moccasins made in Norway House
(95 km north of Dauphin). I went to a
one-room schoolhouse from 1958 to
with a vamp embroidered with silk 1966, with kids from a Metis family.”
thread, given her when she was in grade She was raised as a Ukrainian who
F
or their honeymoon, Michelle eight by Uncle Morris Ukrainec. He was didn’t speak English until she was five
Tracy said she wanted to go a hunting guide and cook in a lodge in and then given enunciation lessons
to Coppermine, a hamlet on northern Manitoba and the moccasins by her mother “so I wouldn’t have an
the mainland Arctic coast (now called were simply a gift. But they triggered accent.” Her paternal grandfather
Kugluktuk, in Nunavut). “We couldn’t even an enthusiasm in Michelle that has built many of the Ukrainian churches,
afford a hotel,” but Michelle wanted to “go never gone away. “I really loved those Catholic and Orthodox, in and around
north.” So north they went. At Hay River, moccasins – hand-made, smelling of red Pine River. Bill, by his own admission,
NWT (on the south shore of Great Slave willow smoke, dyed red. Oh, yes, I wore is “ just a white guy” who traces his
Lake) “as soon as we hit the place, boy, we them! I even wore them on a date when American ancestry back to the 17th
wanted to have their stuff for sale in the I was at university.” Bill’s collection century. He grew up in Maine, worked
hotel shop. It was our first big encounter began when, at age eight, on a family at an archaeology site in Illinois, now
with real Indigenous art, including trip in Nova Scotia he just had to have a UNESCO World Heritage Site of the
sculpture, beadwork, tapestries, textiles.” a souvenir miniature birch bark canoe Cahokia Mounds, the largest pre-
and tipi; he still has them. Columbian settlement north of Mexico.
And it was the start of the Bill and
Michelle Tracy Indigenous Art Michelle had always been interested in I visited the Tracys in their Sherwood
Collection, the merger, back in 1975, Native culture, “in the people who lived Park home. It’s impossible not to go on
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 15FEATURE
an immediate walkabout through the the desert.” They watched as it was fired both have a practiced eye. Michelle has
main floor rooms – all walls and shelves right in the flames in a plain box stove. a MA in Clothing and Textiles from
bear some eye-catching item. Two Navajo the University of Alberta that included
rugs presented as wall-hangings, woven On a wall behind the sofa I peered at conservation practices. Bill was head of
of goat hair and natural dyes, caught a painting executed by the Inuit artist planning at Alberta Historic Sites. They
my eye; then a sealskin on its frame – Nauja of Rankin Inlet who depicts a have travelled widely, and repeatedly to
retrieved from a dumpster – with an family tucked into a sled pulled by a the same communities and artists. They
applique image of a shaman who, by dog team while caribou and musk oxen have been involved in appraisals. They
his headdress Bill guesses is typical of safely graze near the coast of Hudson have curated five exhibits from their
the Coppermine area (loon skin trims Bay. And below it a small but very own and others’ collections and have
his headdress). Under a pane of glass elegant print of a sinewy weasel made contributed to at least four, all locally. For
in a coffee table a number of exquisite by an artist in Cape Dorset but sold as a Michelle, each piece must be “significant
Iroquois beaded bags are arranged, “postcard” at an auction in Winnipeg. and unique” in their collection, and
dating back to the 1840s, sold in Niagara they have avoided “kitsch.” “We have
“We think of our collection as a whole
Falls to tourists of that era. The Tracys focused on collecting modern material,
even though it is made up of many
purchased the latest of this collection from Indigenous cultures as they are
parts,” Michelle explained. “Each piece
from an antiques dealer in Winnipeg today: 90% of our collection is post-
will have its own story, so it’s a very
– and you can tell by the design of the 1970,” according to Bill. “We buy directly
personal collection.” And she picked up
beaded flowers something of their origin. from the artist – feeding her family with
the very latest piece they had purchased,
income from her beadwork, say. We
I wandered over to an assembly of just a couple of weeks earlier, “an old-
couldn’t afford old stuff and we weren’t
ceramic pots perched on top a cabinet, style birch bark basket from a store in
educated enough to recognize fakes.”
all from the American South West, Prince Albert, the sort of place where
mainly from communities along the Rio local people bring in their stuff, a kind Then they noticed how the “culture
Grande. A large pot by Glen Nipshank of trading post, really.” of collecting” has changed over the
from Athabasca who studied in Santa decades. Michelle: “Neither the artists
Of their own education as collectors,
Fe is evidence of the shared Indigenous nor the collectors see their work
Michelle says: “You grow up in our
influences in North America. From anymore as ‘ just’ useful, or ‘women’s
communities talking of ‘Indians,’ as
the potter Marie Martinez the Tracys work’. Now they make goods of aesthetic
though they are all alike. But you start
commissioned a Navajo pot decorated value.” Bill gives an example: “In Maine,
to see their differences as to what is
with mummified horned toads, “a within ten years of local basket makers’
considered beautiful, what their cultural
creature addressed as ‘Grandfather’ in ‘signing’ their baskets, new work was
icons are. You start looking at differences
selling for $100. As for where does craft
in beadwork among cultures. Not
end and art begins, what is folk art, what
everything is geometric!”
is meant by traditional? We engage all
By this time I was enchanted. But I the time in these questions.”
wanted to know by what criteria the
I bring up the thorny issue of
Tracys make a purchase? There must
“repatriation,” an issue described by
be some logic or pattern or principle
The Canadian Encyclopedia as “Most
behind their selection. After all, they
Indigenous ethnology collections found
in Canadian museums today were
gathered (and sometimes confiscated)
by missionaries, government agents,
amateur and professional collectors and
anthropologists during the late 1800s
and early 1900s. Today, many Indigenous
nations are requesting that these items
be returned to their true home.” Has
any group requested that the Tracys
do the same? No, because the Tracys’
collection has not been “confiscated” but
has been purchased, item by item, often
from an artist or craftsperson, otherwise
at auction, or at a pawn shop or “wild
PHOTOS BY BORYS TARASENKO
16 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19FEATURE
west” souvenir shops. And none of these
have “requested” that the purchase be
returned. Michelle: “We don’t always have
the complete provenance for a piece but
we substantiate as much as possible by our
own research on the internet.”
From the beginning, they had decided
they were collecting ultimately not
to sell but to make a donation to an
appropriate university museum.” This is
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology
at Brown University, Bill’s alma mater in as to place of origin of the artefacts.
Providence, Rhode Island. (Pointed or rounded toe? Tucked vamp to
bottom?) Sharon told me that the visitors
In 2018 the Tracys were invited as “were enamoured of how respectfully the
“guest curators” to work with The moccasins were displayed.”
Musée Héritage Museum in St Albert
in assembling the exhibit, In Their Before leaving the Tracys’ home, I asked
Footsteps: A Century of Aboriginal to see some of this footwear. Taken out
Footwear in the Canadian West. The of the special storage boxes Bill had
Museum’s website described the event as built for them - the Tracy Collection
highlighting “the diversity, innovation is catalogued in 46 binders - they were
and artistic expression found in the arrayed among other treasures on the
strong traditions of the Dené, Cree, dining room table, a kaleidoscope of
Métis, and Plains peoples of Western colour, pattern, and style. Cuffs for PHOTOS BY BORYS TARASENKO
Canada,” as selected in part “from the leggings for a woman’s dance regalia
extensive Tracy collection.” and the pow wow dress itself, weighted
by beadwork on home-tanned deer
Initially, Michelle was a bit apprehensive hire. Mukluks still smelling of smoke
about how their part in the exhibit and otter fur, made for Michelle by
would be received, about “being Philomene Umpherville, who makes
challenged by Indigenous critics,” one pair a year. A pair of beaded
but they needn’t have worried. The sneakers that Michelle ordered from
Museum’s Program Manager, Sharon Barb Morin, a high school counselor in
Morin, said in a conversation with me, Prince Albert. By an unknown maker,
that, “as a principle of working with non- silk-wrapped moccasins with horsehair
Indigenous collectors, I want to know: edging, edged in quill work, its pointy
what is the relationship of the ‘white’ style typical of the north until the 1930s.
collector to their collection?” Having
gotten to know the Tracys, she knows Michelle and Bill were getting ready
they are not “stealing” but are “building for several weeks’ road travel around
relationships with the artists. They are Mesa, Arizona. As I took my leave, Bill
doing this with their hearts.” showed me the maps they used for their
itineraries, literally Indian Country maps
When the exhibit opened last August, that show all the reservations and the
Michelle discovered that their collection roads, not highways, that connect them.
“was appreciated by visitors from northern “We’ve been on most of them,” buying
Alberta who recognized-so-and-so’s from the artists they meet. Their hope for
work in a pair of moccasins. This was this trip was to meet the extended families
very moving. Some visitors came two or of the potters whose work they have
three times to see the baskets and then collected. “Locals” have become “family”
the footwear.” Michelle spoke with the and another way of “collecting.”
Museum interpreters with stories of the
individual moccasin makers, enhanced
by knowledge of instructor Joyce Beaver
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 17DANCE AROUND ALBERTA
Ceebrating
Dance
THE THORHILD UKRAINIAN DANCING CLUB’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY
By Lindsay Shapka
Formed in 1973, the Thorhild Ukrainian and salt representing the ancient bond 2015, and looks forward to a new season
Dancing Club celebrated its 45th year of between the Ukrainian people and their of teaching aspiring dancers in Thorhild.
dance with an afternoon concert at the connection to both their homeland and
Radway Agricentre on May 6, 2018. This new land in Canada. It was truly an event to remember.
historic group was one of the very first
Ukrainian dance clubs in North Eastern Backed by the group’s stunning,
Alberta and had only 37 dancers in their historic painted canvas (see sidebar), Dancing With History
first year. This year, the club boasted 52 the youth groups performed 12 energy-
youth dancers aged four to eighteen, filled dances, and there were also two The story behind the Thorhild Ukrainian
making up four groups, as well as an beautiful performances by the adult Dancing Club’s painted backdrop
adult group. group. A surprise to both the crowd
and the dancers came when the club’s The stunning backdrop for the Thorhild
Held on a beautiful sunny day, the instructors, Jessie Balan and Odessa Ukrainian Dancing Club’s performance
celebration concert was attended by Bahri, performed two dances with their — a huge canvas painting measuring
almost 300 people, many of whom professional dance troupe Volya. approximately 96 inches by 193 inches
were alumni of the club who now have — was created in 1937 by artist L.D.
children, or relatives who are current Jessie is an alumnus of the Thorhild Snaychuk who was commissioned to
dancers. Prior to the performances, a Ukrainian Dancing Club where he began paint a backdrop for the stage of the
slide show was presented that included training at the age of eight. When he was Elevation of the Precious Cross Church
photos of performances, rehearsals, and 14, he moved to the Yatran Ukrainian Hall near Egremont. The parish’s
candid moments that had been gathered Dance Academy in Edmonton and joined beginnings date all the way back to 1913
over the last 45 years and highlighted the the Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble when an open-air mass was held at the
club’s many accomplishments. in 2012. Though he travels the world, site, now locally known as Sandhills.
performing with his professional troupe,
With a buzz of anticipation in the air, the he loves returning home to share his The church hall officially opened on
show began with a Pryvit performed by passion for Ukrainian dance with young September 1, 1935, and soon became the
all of the club’s dancers. The Pryvit is a dancers in the same studio that he hub of the community. The completed
traditional way to open a performance himself trained in. Odessa’s love of dance painting, depicting a scene on both
and gives a preview of the dances and began at the age of four with both ballet sides of the canvas, hung behind an
costumes that will be seen later in the and Ukrainian, expanding into other amateur drama group while they
show. Dancers also welcomed guests styles as she got older. She began dancing practiced, produced, and held regular
by presenting the crowd with bread with Volya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble in performances and also provided a
18 | ACUAVITAE | WINTER 2018-19DANCE AROUND ALBERTA
backdrop for choir performances in the
hall. The hall was also home to regular
public meetings, fun-filled local dances
and concerts, and numerous church
dinners and functions.
In 1975, the Thorhild Ukrainian
Dancing Club was given permission
to remove the backdrop from the
hall, and for many years the painting
was used at all of the club's dance
performances. Unfortunately, however,
inadequate care in handling and storing
the canvas and its crudely constructed
framework, resulted in the deterioration
of the work. Attempts were made to
reframe the canvas multiple times, but
because of its weak and fragile state, this
only resulted in additional damage.
Generously, in 1994 the Ukrainian
Catholic Parish of Thorhild officially
donated the historic artwork to the
Thorhild Ukrainian Dancing Club. The
members of the dance club worked
meticulously to trace the history of
the artwork, and, not wanting such an
important piece of local culture to be lost,
also took on the responsibility of getting
the painting reconditioned and restored.
A restorer was hired, and more than
300 hours went into repairing tears and
surface damage, making the canvas flat
again, and repainting or filling in any
areas where the work had been lost.
A new frame and hanging apparatus
were attached, and a specialized storage
system was created to ensure that the
piece would not be damaged again.
The Thorhild Ukrainian Dancing Club
continues to use the now vibrant and
restored canvas regularly at its concerts,
and it is also used by the Holy Eucharist
Ukrainian Catholic Church, by local
drama groups, and is put on display for
special school and community events.
It is an amazing piece of art and
an important piece of history that
represents the early Ukrainian pioneers
that came to Alberta, their heritage and SYDNEY AND MCKINNA SAWCHUK POSE IN FRONT OF THE HISTORIC PAINTING.
their culture.
PHOTO PROVIDED
WINTER 2018-19 | ACUAVITAE | 19Gallery & Fine & Folk Art
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