The “Brazhnyky – Masters of Ukrainian Clothing” banner exhibition was presented at the Medvyn Lyceum.
For four decades (1930s-1970s), the Medvyn couple Fedir and Oleksandra Brazhnyk sewed Ukrainian national clothes in the USA for a number of choral, dance, and theatre groups of Ukrainian immigrants. Through the beauty of Ukrainian culture, they aimed to show the world the real Ukraine, its struggle for independence, and the wonderful people of the country. The curator of the exhibition, researcher Maryna Hohulia, spoke about their vibrant activities: “They not only created costumes and sets for plays and films, but also played parts in them. We can still see Fedir Brazhnyk today in the film Marusya, where he played the father of the main character. The couple played roles in productions, but their first acting experience was in their native town of Medvyn, in an amateur theatre, which, in fact, united their two hearts.”
In addition, Fedir and Oleksandra Brazhnyk supported Ukrainian book publishing abroad, especially books that told the truth about the Holodomor, terror and other crimes of the Kremlin. They managed to secretly bring to Ukraine the book by Ivan Dubynets about the Medvyn Uprising.
Local historian and Medvyn Medvyn Village Centre of Culture official Petro Hohulia told the students about the civic position of the Brazhnyk spouses, and Oksana Zubchevska, a relative of Fedir Brazhnyk and now a librarian at the Medvyn public library, told them about the personality of Oleksandra Brazhnyk as she knew her from childhood.
“She was so fond of me. We had a bond with her, like when you meet a person and you can’t forget them, they are in your thoughts all your life. She sent some parcels for her relatives: for the blind Stepan Brazhnyk, for Horpyna Brazhnyk, who was the only survivor in her family of seven. And the parcels contained clothing for me, clothes that they made for the theatre, and she sent shawls to her relatives,” Oksana said.
Victoriia Oliynyk, a representative of the “Around Us. UA” NGO, presented items of Ukrainian national clothing and jewellery, including paraffin wreaths, recreated from old photographs and museum exhibits. The lyceum students had a chance to take photos in national costumes.
The exhibition at the lyceum will run until the end of the week, and the next presentation will be held in Medvyn, in the central library, on 21 February, on the birthday of Fedir Brazhnyk.
Organised by “Around Us. UA” NGO, the “Medvyn. Uprising” educational initiative, and Bohuslav Volunteer Headquarters.
