Victoria dancer and choreographer Lori Hamar has produced a contemporary dance work, called Blood Line, based on the internment of Ukrainians during WWI.
Although she has Ukrainian blood herself, this was an event she knew nothing about. In the process of researching it, and her cultural heritage, she came across Kobzar's Children. She was touched by Danny's story, "Andriy's Break" which tells the story of an escapee from one of the internment camps. She then asked Marsha's permission to use spoken excerpts of it in her work, which debuted in Victoria last Sunday, January 30, 2011.
I had the honour of being invited to the performance to autography copies of the book, which were available for sale at the theatre. Since I now live on Vancouver Island, I gladly accepted!
See details and pix at my blog (here). Also a link to an interview with Lori which aired on Nash Holos the Sunday before.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Monday, January 14, 2008
Audio edition out
An audio edition of Kobzar's Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories has been made for the CNIB.
To find the locations go here .
To find the locations go here .
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Kobzar's Children available in Winnipeg
If you're in Winnipeg you can get a copy of Kobzar's Children at Sevala's Ukrainian Deli.
While you're there, pick up a dozen or two of perogies and/or cabbage rolls.
Just fair warning, tho ... don't leave it till the last minute!
While you're there, pick up a dozen or two of perogies and/or cabbage rolls.
Just fair warning, tho ... don't leave it till the last minute!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
2nd Ukrainian Canadian premier presented with copy of Kobzar's Children
Last week I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting the Premier of Alberta while on a trip to Edmonton.
Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to throw a few copies of Kobzar's Children in my suitcase before I left "just in case." Did they ever come in handy!
My hostess, Molly Anne Warring (author of Paradise Acres: The Stry-Ker Family Saga, Lost Paradiseand Return to Paradise) arranged the brief meeting and photo op with the Premier and his wife, Marie. (That's Molly next to Mrs. Stelmach and me next to the Premier.)
So, like the good but shameless self-promoter that I am, I whipped out a copy of the book and autographed it with my signature purple pen. In return, the Premier gave me a copy of a Ukrainian Christmas CD by the church choir he and his wife sing in (he sings bass and she sings soprano). Unfortunately, unlike when I gave a copy to BC's Premier Campbell last summer, I didn't have the presence of mind to get the book (or the CD) in the photo.
The visit was short but sweet. The Stelmachs are very hospitable and Alberta's Premier is every bit as warm and charming as BC's. What made this visit particularly thrilling is that Premier Stelmach is
OK, now, someone better warn the premier of Saskatchewan. If there's a Ukrainian ancestor named Walchuk or Wollinsky or some such lurking in his past, I'll find out eventually! ;-)
(Cross-posted at the Nash Holos blog.)
Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to throw a few copies of Kobzar's Children in my suitcase before I left "just in case." Did they ever come in handy!
My hostess, Molly Anne Warring (author of Paradise Acres: The Stry-Ker Family Saga, Lost Paradiseand Return to Paradise) arranged the brief meeting and photo op with the Premier and his wife, Marie. (That's Molly next to Mrs. Stelmach and me next to the Premier.)
 |
| Premier Ed Stelmach, me (Pawlina), Molly Anne Warring, Mrs. Marie Stelmach |
So, like the good but shameless self-promoter that I am, I whipped out a copy of the book and autographed it with my signature purple pen. In return, the Premier gave me a copy of a Ukrainian Christmas CD by the church choir he and his wife sing in (he sings bass and she sings soprano). Unfortunately, unlike when I gave a copy to BC's Premier Campbell last summer, I didn't have the presence of mind to get the book (or the CD) in the photo.
The visit was short but sweet. The Stelmachs are very hospitable and Alberta's Premier is every bit as warm and charming as BC's. What made this visit particularly thrilling is that Premier Stelmach is
OK, now, someone better warn the premier of Saskatchewan. If there's a Ukrainian ancestor named Walchuk or Wollinsky or some such lurking in his past, I'll find out eventually! ;-)
(Cross-posted at the Nash Holos blog.)
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Kobzar's Children available in Langley, BC
Today I dropped off some copies of Kobzar's Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories for Judy at Prairie Cottage Perogies in Langley. If you're in the area, you can pick up a copy (or two!) there.
I've signed them so if you'd like to collect the autographs of all the contributors, you are already have a start!
BTW, if you haven't enjoyed Judy's cooking, you haven't lived. Get thee down to her fabulous little Ukrainian café for some of her hand-made perogies and other yummy dishes. And pick up a copy of Kobzar's Children while you're there!
Great as a Christmas gift ... along with a box of chocolates imported from Ukraine, or other goodies you'll find at Prairie Cottage Perogies!
What a combination - good food and good reading. Has to be Ukrainian!
I've signed them so if you'd like to collect the autographs of all the contributors, you are already have a start!
BTW, if you haven't enjoyed Judy's cooking, you haven't lived. Get thee down to her fabulous little Ukrainian café for some of her hand-made perogies and other yummy dishes. And pick up a copy of Kobzar's Children while you're there!
Great as a Christmas gift ... along with a box of chocolates imported from Ukraine, or other goodies you'll find at Prairie Cottage Perogies!
What a combination - good food and good reading. Has to be Ukrainian!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
World Storytelling Day in Vancouver
Two of the BC authors of Kobzar's Children, Danny Evanishen and Steve Petelycky, will be among the storytellers at Vancouver's World Storytelling Day 2007. The theme is The Wanderer.
Dr. Natalie Kononenko, Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography at the University of Alberta will be giving a workshop on Ukrainian Minstrels, and will also have her excellent book, Ukrainian Minstrels: And the Blind Shall Sing, available for purchase and autograph.
The event will be held on March 25, 2007 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash St. Vancouver, starting at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Kononenko's workshop.
Danny will be telling several Ukrainian folktales during the Children's Concert (beginning at 4 p.m.). During the evening Adults' Concert, at 7 p.m., Steve will recall his real-life experiences with UPA leading up to his imprisonment at Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps. He will be telling in Ukrainian, with a "team teller" providing the English version.
There will be copies of Kobzar's Children available for sale along with books and CDs of the event's various storytellers. More information in this e-zine and at this website.
Dr. Natalie Kononenko, Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography at the University of Alberta will be giving a workshop on Ukrainian Minstrels, and will also have her excellent book, Ukrainian Minstrels: And the Blind Shall Sing, available for purchase and autograph.
The event will be held on March 25, 2007 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash St. Vancouver, starting at 1:00 p.m. with Dr. Kononenko's workshop.
Danny will be telling several Ukrainian folktales during the Children's Concert (beginning at 4 p.m.). During the evening Adults' Concert, at 7 p.m., Steve will recall his real-life experiences with UPA leading up to his imprisonment at Auschwitz and other Nazi death camps. He will be telling in Ukrainian, with a "team teller" providing the English version.
There will be copies of Kobzar's Children available for sale along with books and CDs of the event's various storytellers. More information in this e-zine and at this website.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sonja Dunn
Last Wednesday, the UCPBA of Toronto hosted a book event for Kobzar's Children. Toronto contributor Sonja Dunn and I (Marsha Skrypuch) participated. This was the first time that Sonja and I shared a launch and it was so much fun! I chatted a bit about how the anthology came to be and then introduced Sonja. She held the audience captive as she read her story, Changing Graves. Usually when I have done Kobzar events, contributors each only read a page or so from their story, but because it was just me and Sonja, I figured she should read her entire story. There isn't a good place to stop it and it's short and hilarious. The audience was in stitches. Sonja has a fabulous presentation persona because she had her own TV show for 29 years. It was a pleasure to hear Changing Graves in the author's own voice. I answered questions after her reading. There was an interesting and lively discussion.
The next event is in Hamilton at the end of March. Natalia Buchok and myself will be at that one.
The next event is in Hamilton at the end of March. Natalia Buchok and myself will be at that one.
Hardcover sold out
Well, it's official. There is not a single hardcover copy of Kobzar's Children left in the Fitzhenry & Whiteside warehouse. Contributor Stefan Petelycky wanted to order a case of hardcovers, but there were only 7 left. He snapped those up and ordered the rest of the case in softcovers. There aren't many of those left either. I'm hoping when they reprint, they'll do it in both hard and soft.
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