From March through the end of June, The Ukrainian History and Education Center in New Jersey is hosting the exhibition Sacred Straw, featuring my original depictions of saints alongside a photo exhibition of straw-decorated pysanky- solom’ynky by Parania Sozanski.
The collection of icons was created during the time I lived in Ukraine. These are not canonical icons, but rather deeply personal and intuitive interpretations — images born from faith, vision, and a profound respect for tradition.
They are inspired by the folk iconography of my native region, Pokuttia — icons traditionally painted on glass or wood by self-taught folk artists with no academic training, guided only by their inner sense of the sacred. They painted saints the way they imagined them to be. This sincerity, naivety, and the power of simplicity have always been a vital source of energy for me.
All of the works are created using the straw appliqué technique on wooden surfaces. This art form unites a natural material — straw, which has absorbed the sun, rain, and wind — with inspiration born in silence and prayer, often during moments of fasting or at spiritual crossroads. Straw resembles gold, serves as a channel for the life-giving salt toward our daily bread, and is often overlooked or undervalued.
Each piece is filled with light and layered meaning — which each viewer can interpret in their own way. Most of the works are framed in handcrafted original frames that emphasize the sacredness and spatial presence of the image.
Although I no longer work in this technique — it is extremely labour-intensive, requiring extensive preparation of the materials, which was always done by my father, Ivan — and long periods of reflection and creation, these works remain a foundational part of my artistic practice. They are like deep roots to which I constantly return.
Recently, I had an unexpected but meaningful conversation with young artists from a residency in Mississauga (Visual Arts Mississauga), who were especially drawn to this medium. It was deeply encouraging to hear that, even today — amidst an endless variety of artistic materials and methods — there is still a longing for the sacred, for working with natural materials.
I am sincerely grateful to the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch for recommending me to the American audience. This gesture of trust means a great deal to me. My thanks as well to the organizers of the exhibition — The Ukrainian History and Education Center.
I warmly invite everyone who finds themselves in New Jersey during this time to visit the exhibition. I hope it brings you inspiration, stirs something deep within, and opens space for a quiet inner dialogue — in the presence of images infused with light, transformed from the essence of our Mother Earth.