‘Kind of a small miracle’: Winnipeg-born actor at the helm of charity art auction for Ukraine

Olena Kayinska was pressured to place down her paintbrush on the finish of February.

The Ukrainian artist was in the midst of a undertaking when Russian troops invaded her nation, prompting her to depart her studio and keep along with her mom.

Ideas of returning to artwork appeared like a luxurious amid all of the demise and destruction, however the occasions additionally offered materials for the undertaking she needed to unexpectedly abandon six months in the past.

Now, a few of her items are amongst these featured in a worldwide on-line public sale co-organized by a former Winnipegger.

“In a mystical method, it’s extremely linked to the battle,” Kayinska mentioned in a cellphone interview from Lviv, Ukraine. The undertaking titled Trauma explores the theme of restoration.

Together with her profession in limbo, Kayinska knew she wanted to do one thing that will not solely occupy her time, however give her the flexibility to assist her folks. So she joined Medical doctors With out Borders as an interpreter and undertaking supervisor with the humanitarian group.

“Psychologically, it is simpler to beat this concern and lack of battle if you’re surrounded with folks and when you find yourself doing one thing helpful,” she mentioned.

One other calling, this time extra in keeping with Kayinska’s roots, got here in spring when members of FestivALT, a Krakow-based Jewish arts and activism group, reached out on social media to see if she needed to be a part of world artwork public sale known as Fight with Art.

Winnipeg-born actor and playwright Michael Rubenfeld, who now lives in Krakow, Poland, is co-director of the public sale together with James Arellano, who’s from California.

Rubenfeld bought a close-up view of the battle’s horrifying results as many fleeing western Ukraine crossed over the border to hunt refuge in Poland. He and his spouse took in a Ukrainian girl and her mom quickly after the invasion. Their house shortly crammed with tourniquets, bandages and different provides as the girl led efforts to gather provides to distribute to the Ukrainian military.

It was clear the battle’s results did not finish on the border and the artwork collective wanted to pivot, mentioned Rubenfeld.

“There was simply a lot information and a lot noise in regards to the battle that we needed to make sure that there was additionally a contribution of the human factor, the cultural factor to additionally maintain folks rooted in the truth that we’re coping with people,” he mentioned.

‘Small miracle’ transporting artwork amid battle

The workforce got here up with the thought to host a web based world artwork public sale to showcase and help Ukrainian artists whose careers had been halted, in addition to financially help charities aiding with battle reduction.

They had been in a position to supply greater than 130 items of authentic paintings from roughly 40 artists throughout Ukraine.

It was no small feat.

The workforce had to determine the way to get artwork out of a rustic at battle.

They constructed a community of individuals to assist. Their purpose was to get all the things to Lviv in western Ukraine, the place they’d two storehouses. The artwork was then transported by truck to Krakow. It took about two months to gather all the things.

“It was sort of a small miracle that we managed to get all of it right here,” mentioned Rubenfeld. “When the ultimate truck got here, we had been simply so overjoyed that it arrived since you by no means know with a rustic at battle.” 

The gathering contains items carried out earlier than and after the battle began.

Artists are preventing to protect their tradition and folks in opposition to genocide, and the public sale is a strategy to present the world what Ukraine is thru artwork, mentioned Rubenfeld.

“The change shouldn’t be that you just purchased a chunk of artwork, it is that you’ve got really contributed to a people who find themselves attempting to protect their nation and tradition.”

Works mirror artists’ resolve 

For Nata Levitasova, practising artwork has develop into a type of remedy.

“Artwork has helped me really feel rather less ache and now it [takes] my consideration from battle to artwork,” she mentioned by cellphone from the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine.

The artist, whose type displays neocubism and geometric simplification, submitted 10 work to the public sale. All items had been created earlier than the invasion, however she has since created a collection known as “PAINted,” which displays themes of battle.

The public sale goes till Sept. 4. 

Again in Lviv, Kayinska says Russian assaults have diminished. She has been in a position to develop 4 items in regards to the battle for her “Trauma” undertaking. Whereas the long run stays unsure, she hopes to sooner or later exhibit the undertaking internationally.

Art work popping out of Ukraine is exhibiting the true spirit, energy and resistance of artists, she says.

“The artwork exhibits issues that we simply now are beginning to reveal in ourselves.”