Vital DVD Project – UCWLC Museum

Oksana Bryzhun-Sokolyk

Translated by Mirosia Schepansky

In late spring 2007, Christina Tatarsky telephoned to invite me to a meeting regarding the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada (UCWLC) Toronto Eparchy Museum. Members of the Eparchial Executive were planning to make a DVD about the Museum and were asking for advice and ideas...

Our small group assembled. Olha Pendzey-Tarapacky, Museum convener, and Christina  Tatarsky, special projects convener, extended warm greetings to each of us.  Christina Tatarsky skillfully led the meeting. I need to emphasize skillfully, because, before the end of the meeting, we each had been assigned new, unexpected responsibilities.

We were all of one mind in that the DVD was a necessary project, and in two languages. The Museum was now over 40 years old. Its opening ceremonies took place back in November, 1966. The DVD’s premiere was being planned for the XXVI UCWLC Toronto Eparchy Convention in October, 2007. Our time was limited, and there were many ideas and many diverse notions of a specific product...

The DVD project committee members, including Christina Tatarsky, Olha Tarapacky, Irena Wrzesnewskyj and ex-officio UCWLC Toronto Eparchy President Olha Karaim, began intensive preparations for where to begin and how to conclude plus project plans ta thousand other questions that did not always allow for a peaceful night’s sleep!

As participants at the meeting, we immediately started our work I prepared the script about the Museum as well as a history of the UCWLC. Wolodymyra Luczkiw took it upon herself to prepare the text about Ukrainian folk dress and the descriptions of the costumes on the exhibit mannequins. Irena Wrzesnewskyj’s text was titled: “Generational Ties.” Having completed our draft texts, we then edited, shortened, revised and added to each [text] until we were all in agreement on our final format. My text and that of Irena Wrzesnewskyj was translated into English by Tanya Tarapacky-Szafowal in distant Munich, Germany. Christina Kudryk provided the English translation of the remaining texts.

At the same time, the preparations for filming proceeded full speed ahead. Olha Tarapacky gave her full-hearted effort, enthusiasm and an extraordinary time commitment into preparing the exhibits. Assisting her in her efforts were Nadia Stasyna, Olha Yavorsky and Helen Pruss. They removed embroidered treasures from the Museum’s drawers, selected, unpacked, arranged and rearranged the exponent pieces....

Meetings were few and more often than not, issues were resolved by telephone and email. Leading our way was Christina Tatarsky, who possessed such warmth, friendship and courteousness, none of us could turn down her requests.

The final work effort rested with Oleh Vodoviz. Kilometres of film needed to be pared down into a 35 minute running time. The appropriate musical accompaniment had yet been chosen and all the material collected had to be organized into an interesting, educational, cohesive whole. He succeeded admirably with the help of his wife, Halyna. Towards the end, they worked with Christina Tatarsky arranging material far into the night with the assistance of an ever-patient Zenon Tatarsky.

The DVD’s Ukrainian text is narrated by Luba Matviyas. The English version is narrated by Lada Darewych. Both are professionals in this field.

The time came for the XXVI UCWLC Convention at Mount Mary in Ancaster, Ontario. October 20, 2007, the second day of the Convention, the DVD had its Ukrainian language version premiere. Well chosen music complemented the film’s content. The DVD was well received with total admiration, enthusiasm and delight from the Bishop, delegates and guests. In our hands we held the small packaged DVD with its aesthetically pleasing cover design by Christina Welyhorsky Senkiw. The DVD has two identical films - one in Ukrainian and the second in English, each with a running time of 35 minutes. What joy and what pride were felt for having contributed to this admirable and necessary work!

In Toronto, the DVD had its presentation on March 9^th at the KUMF Gallery. The Gallery was full, the mood upbeat and somewhat impatient. The Gallery displayed a small but interesting exhibit of hand-made embroidered works and large cloth canvases hung on walls illustrating examples of embroidery from regions across Ukraine. The canvas remembrance was the work of Luba Lucka and her kind gift to WFUWO. Christina Kudryk and Olha Tarapacky prepared the Gallery’s exhibit.

The new President of UCWLC, Toronto Eparchy, Marta Chomyn, opened the presentation event. Christina Tatarsky acted as Master of Ceremonies for the afternoon’s programme. There was a positive reaction to the Ukrainian film and also to the few excerpts in English. Christina Tatarsky was presented with a well-deserved bouquet of flowers. In an unexpected turn and to everyone’s surprise, all who worked on the project was called upon to accept beautiful roses in recognition of our teamwork! Our teamwork was truly extraordinary - warmhearted, sincere and disciplined, it progressed in rapid tempo towards the DVD’s completion. It was an absolute pleasure not only to have this opportunity to work with such a positive group of people, but also to work within the exacting demands, understanding values and cultured standards of the project coordinator. All present extended their gratitude to Christina Tatarsky for her significant effort and leadership.

After the film, coffee and dessert was followed by an opportunity to view the actual Museum, currently in a room on the same floor of the KUMF Gallery. At the door, Olha Tarapacky welcomed everyone and provided a brochure. It is a small Museum and space is limited. Over 1,000 beautiful and invaluable exponents, the majority of them hidden away in drawers, dream of a larger exhibit space as each of them would like to be seen and viewed.

This vital Museum DVD project is now complete. The DVD remains for historical purposes. It would be worthwhile for our other museums to create similar audio-visual “trips to the museum and history” for familiarity sake with each [museum], for archival references and for the future.

The DVD is available at a cost of $20. Please contact Ulana Smereczynsky at (416) 242-6762 or email ulana123@yahoo.ca or zenchris@sympatico.ca