In San Antonio, Texas, at the Parman Public Library—which welcomes over 30,000 visitors each month—a photo exhibition by “Batkivska Khata. Homestead” has been on display for more than a month in honor of World Vyshyvanka Day. The exhibition combines authentic Ukrainian ethnographic elements from the 19th and early 20th centuries with creative works by Ukrainian-American artists Yana Nikutina and Alyona Modleski.
This was shared with Vilni Media by the project’s creator, Olenka Bravo.
At the heart of the project is a peasant cottage, authentic century-old embroidered garments, and architectural forms dating back as far as the 17th century. Photographs and mixed-media works showcase traditional dress, daily life, crafts, adornments, and the customs of our ancestors.
The display panels have been enhanced with vibrant portraits and botanical compositions by Yana Nikutina, as well as Alyona Modleski’s joyful floral and cactus motifs—together creating a multi-layered portrait of the Ukrainian village.
On May 4, as part of the exhibition, there was a meeting with project ideologue Olenka Bravo and the UNWLA Branch 147 team, during which Ukrainians and Americans had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the significance of Ukraine’s ethno-cultural heritage.
The hall was packed: many local residents encountered Ukrainian folk art and the symbolism of air-raid sirens—compared by the creators to the ringing voices of ancient Greek sirens—for the first time.
“Our main audience is Americans. This is a powerful form of cultural diplomacy,” says Olenka Bravo. “The project proves that Ukraine is an original and ancient nation. We show what and whom we are fighting for today.”
The timing of the exhibit’s opening proved symbolic: it coincided with municipal elections held in the library, where polling stations were operating simultaneously. As no winner emerged in the first round, the second round of voting in the coming weeks will draw even more visitors eager to see “the real Ukraine through the eyes of Homestead.”
The exhibition will run through May 29.
The exhibition was produced by the nonprofit UNWLA Branch 147, together with Kateryna Voinova, Iryna Nesterenko, Iryna Lishchynska, Yana Nikutina, Oksana Granovska, Olena Ovdeyenko, Natalia Sturdzhil, and Olenka Bravo.
Background "Batkivska Khata. Homestead" is a Ukrainian-American educational project that unites the diaspora and Ukraine around their shared roots. Its goal is to popularize Ukrainian ethnography by presenting folk costumes from various regions of Ukraine (late 19th–early 20th centuries) within an authentic architectural environment. The project recreates a holistic picture of village life: daily routines, crafts, adornments, hairstyles, traditions, and the spirit of the ancestors.
Photos: Farid Zarrinabadi Alexis Cavazos
Author: Danylo Pievchev