Enjoy Ukrainian-themed activities, performances, and Ukrainian artwork by local Canadian artists
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) celebrates Ukrainian Day on Sunday November 30, 2008 with a special line-up of family fun activities inspired by the ROM’s newest exhibition Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC), presented by Northland Power, opening November 29, 2008. The day includes live music and dance by local Ukrainian Canadian performers, a lecture on this mysterious Trypilian culture and a Ukrainian family activity zone, where young visitors can learn about Ukrainian archeology and create plasticine and clay replicas of artifacts to take home. Ukrainian Day programming takes place from 11 am to 4 pm and is free with general ROM admission.
From 12 pm to 4 pm, the ROM will showcase artwork by local Ukrainian Canadian artists in the Rotunda. Ceramic artist Natalia Laluque, egg painter artist Hryhorij Dyczok, jewelry designer Maria Rypan and sculptor Oleh Lesiuk will be in attendance to meet and speak with visitors. At 2 pm, Stefura Dancers, Canadian Bandurist Capella and Barvinok Dancers take to the stage in Samuel Hall C Currelly Gallery. At 3:30 pm, Krzysztof Ciuk, Assistant Curator of Islamic History and Archaeology and curator of Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC), will speak about the creation of the exhibition in the Signy and Cléophée Eaton Theatre.
For the duration of the exhibition, the ROM’s c5 restaurant lounge and Food Studio will offer a variety of sweet to savory Ukrainian-inspired menu items. Food Studio, the museum’s casual family restaurant, will serve delicious cabbage rolls, perogies with sour cream, poppy seed cake and Ukrainian honey cake. c5 restaurant, offering a unique dining experience at the pinnacle of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, will feature a special menu of ham hock and cheese perogies in a cabbage and pork broth.
Select books on Ukrainian culture and cuisine, as well as custom jewelry and home décor, featuring Trypilian motifs, in addition to works created by local Ukrainian Canadian artists, will be available at the ROM Museum Store.
In the new year, as part of the Museum’s Lunch ‘n’ Learn Series, exhibition curator Krzystof Ciuk presents Mysteries of the Trypilian Culture on February 17, 2009 and Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the artifacts and culture of this ancient civilization, followed by a catered lunch and tour of the exhibition. Cost is $85 for the public (online $80) and $75 for ROM members ($70 online).
About the exhibition
The Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian
Culture (5400-2700 BC) exhibition uncovers the secrets of the Trypilian culture, first discovered by archaeologist Vikenty Khvoika in 1896. This remarkable and highly-sophisticated civilization is thought to have flourished between 5,000 and 2,750 BC in present-day Ukraine, and is known for building two-storey houses and unusually large settlements with up to 15,000 people—the earliest quasi-cities ever built in Europe. The display will explore the Trypilian culture through a display of almost 250 artifacts, including ceramic figures, tools, pottery, weaponry calendars, pieces of proto-writing and adornment. It will also place the achievements of the Trypilians in context of other cultures that existed during the same era. The exhibition is on display until March 22, 2009.