The Glory of Ukraine: Sacred Images from the 11th to the 19th Centuries at Meridian

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October 20, 2010 – January 16, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Meridian International Center will present The Glory of Ukraine: Sacred Images from the 11th to the 19th Centuries — a rarely seen collection of more than 70 objects including icons, liturgical objects, textiles, and rare crosses—at Meridian’s Cafritz Galleries from October 20, 2010 – January 16, 2011. Featuring some of Ukraine’s most important national treasures from the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve and the National Museum in Lviv named for Andrei Sheptitsky, the collection traces the evolution of Ukrainian iconography from its early Byzantine roots through the Baroque and Renaissance periods.

Organized by the Foundation for International Arts & Education (FIAE) in Bethesda, Maryland, The Glory of Ukraine is presented in conjunction with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, The National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Preserve and the National Museum in Lviv.

The exhibition was developed to acquaint American viewers with an insight into a distinctive Slavic, a Ukrainian Christian culture, which dates from the 10th century, and the journey from the adoption of Orthodoxy to the emergence of a Ukrainian national ethos. Ukraine has long served as a crossroads between East and West, North and South, and the materials on display eloquently underscore this point.

Commenting upon the collection, Greg Guroff, President of FIAE, noted, “One can simply marvel at the masterpieces, which have been produced over the centuries, and enjoy the artistry as well as the religious and cultural symbolism that they provide.”

The exhibition will also include an outdoor sculpture installation and artworks by Ukrainian contemporary artist Oksana Mas, whose paintings and sculptures reveal the latest evolution in Ukrainian cultural expression. Mas’s work is known for its mix of old and new kaleidoscopes of color and visual media.

“Meridian places great value on collaborations with organizations dedicated to furthering cultural diplomacy,” said Stuart Holliday, President and CEO of Meridian. “This presentation with the Foundation for International Arts & Education and our Ukrainian partners is a strong example of how cultural topics can serve as catalysts for constructive dialogue among people of different traditions and backgrounds.”

The exhibition is supported in part by the Industrial Union of Donbas, the U.S. – Ukraine Business Council, Museum of National Cultural Heritage PlaTar, and Richmond European Wine Wholesale, Inc Company (R.E.W.W.).

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