The representative of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) to the UN and the head of the Reference Department for Culture, a member of the Union of Folk Masters of Ukraine, Sofiyka Zielyk, was awarded the Amber Heart Award for cultural diplomacy and support for Ukraine at the international level.
This was reported by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations.
The ceremony took place at the Ukrainian Institute of America with the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andriy Sybiga. During the event, Sofiyka Zielyk was presented with the Amber Heart Award – in recognition of her “notable role in promoting the cause of Ukraine on the international stage”. Along with the certificate of honor, she received an elegant amber and gold heart-shaped brooch, symbolizing gratitude and the warmth of the Ukrainian spirit.
The Ukrainian Institute of America currently hosts Sofiyka Zielyk’s curated installation “Pysanka: A Symbol of Hope.” This project is an initiative by the artist that began as a call to artists and communities around the world to create 1,000 pysankas in support of Ukraine. Today, the collection exceeds expectations: pysankas from 18 countries have been collected, created by artists, children, and amateurs. After the war, the entire collection will be donated to Ukraine as a symbol of unity, memory, and revival.
Background
Sofika Zielyk is a Ukrainian artist, craftswoman of decorative and applied arts, known for her works in the field of pysanka and ceramics. She was born on April 24, 1961 in New York. She has participated in numerous art exhibitions in Ukraine, Canada, and the United States.
The artist's personal exhibitions were held in New York (1986, 2000-2002, 2006-2009), Kaniv (1991), Kyiv (1992, 2005), and Washington (1997-1998). Sofia Zielyk's Easter eggs are kept in the permanent exhibitions of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States (Washington), the Ukrainian Museum in New York, the Stamford Ukrainian Museum (Connecticut), and the Shevchenko National Preserve (Kaniv). In total, the artist created over a thousand Easter eggs and more than forty ceramic products with Ukrainian motifs.
Her book "Grandma Writes Easter Eggs, Mom Writes, I Write" / The Art of the Pysanka (Kyiv, 1993) contains one hundred color photographs of the author's Easter eggs and detailed instructions on the technique of making Easter eggs.
In addition to her work at the WFUWO, Sofika Zielyk is the founder of “Sofika Pysanka and Ceramics”, through which she popularizes Ukrainian decorative and applied arts, and also constantly talks about outstanding Ukrainian women who defended women's rights and preserved cultural heritage in the world.
Sofika Zielyk actively participates in the cultural life of the Ukrainian community in the USA - she collaborates with the Studio of the Artistic Word, the organization “Plast”, other Ukrainian associations, and teaches at the school of Ukrainian studies.
Photo: MFA of Ukraine
Author: Inna Mikhno