The almost three-week-long Ukrainian Cultural Festival in New York has come to an end. The last week included a number of exciting events. Writer Andriy Lyubka presented his book War from the Home Front and spoke about his volunteer experience. The audience attended a screening of the movie Forever Forever about Kyiv in the 90s, and poet Galina Kruk presented her collection A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails. The final chord of the festival was a concert of works by Ukrainian composer Victoria Polyova.
This was reported on the website of the event organizer Razom for Ukraine.
Volunteer writer
In New York on October 26, renowned Ukrainian writer Andriy Lyubka met with Iryna Solomko to discuss the role of Ukrainian culture during the war. After the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian culture became an important element of the country's defense. New bookstores are opening, theaters are packing out, and art exhibitions are breaking attendance records. Lyubka presented his book War from the Home Front and spoke about his own volunteer experience, which helped raise more than $1.5 million and purchase more than 310 vehicles for the front line. He also shared information about other cultural initiatives that actively support the Ukrainian military.
Screening of “Forever and Forever”
On October 28, Quad Cinema hosted a screening of the Ukrainian film Forever and Ever, which takes viewers back to Kyiv in the 90s. The film tells the story of Tonya, who finds new friends after being transferred to another school and falls in love, but her past traumas continue to haunt her. This is a story of the young and rebellious who grew up among the ruins of the Soviet era, keeping their spirit alive. The audience plunged into the atmosphere of the turbulent 90s, which remain a living memory in the hearts of many Ukrainians.
“A crash course in Molotov cocktails”
Also on October 28, Galyna Kruk, a well-known Ukrainian poet and writer, presented her collection of poems “A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails”. Kruk is known for her poetry dealing with the themes of war and struggle, and has received a number of prestigious literary awards. Her poetry is characterized by insight and the ability to convey the tragedy of modern Ukraine through the prism of personal experience.
Ukrainian musical virtuosity
On Tuesday, October 29, the American Composers Orchestra presented the works of Ukrainian composer Victoria Polyova, whose music has gained particular importance since the outbreak of full-scale war. In particular, her work “Bucha. Lacrimosa” in honor of the victims of the tragedy in Bucha, received international recognition.
The event featured piano compositions by Poliova performed by Anna Shelest and Irena Portenko, as well as a conversation between the composer and the creative director of the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, Leah Butstone. This meeting allowed the participants to dive deeper into contemporary Ukrainian culture, to feel the power and transcendence of music, which is an important part of national identity.
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From Ballet to Poetry: Ukrainian Cultural Festival Enchants New York
Author: Danylo Pievchev