12-5pm in the outdoor Pavilion, Rec Field, and Pewter Shop

A new event and celebration of Ukrainian culture at the Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, NY. The event will feature a diverse lineup of Ukrainian music including The Ukrainian Village Voices, singer Maria Sonevytsky, bandura player/Singer Olya Fryz, and Eva Salina, founder of internationally-acclaimed group, Driftwood Chorus. Activities will include Ukrainian folk medicine plant walks, dance instruction, hands-on workshops showcasing Ukrainian potters, and wool spinning & weaving artists.

“The natural beauty and wooden architecture of the Ashokan Center invokes a sense of the Ukrainian mountain communities, creating a meaningful and resonant backdrop for this event. Showcasing and connecting with Ukrainian culture and community helps bring the issues in Ukraine closer to people’s hearts and helps support its resilience and fight for freedom.” – Danylo Mykula, Ukrainian American Youth Association

WORKSHOPS, CRAFTS, FOOD

Ivan Bratko, Ukrainian artist, sculptor, master potter and educator from Ukraine will demonstrate and sell his pottery. Eva Salina, a star in the folk singing world who started the group Driftwood, sings with Zozulia, formerly sang with Hilka (part of the Chornobyl Songs Project) will lead Ukrainian a folk singing workshop (2:15pm in Pewter Shop). Hudson Valley herbalist Sasha Botanica will sell her natural dyes and natural body care products and lead a Ukrainian Folk Medicine Plant Walk (2:15pm) noting the vast similarities between Ashokan’s landscape and that of Ukraine. Natural weaver Ruby Pinyuh-Derovan will demonstrate traditional techniques and fibers. Soyuzivka, the Ukrainian American cultural center in Kerhonkson, will be selling a variety of delicious Ukrainian food. The Ukrainian American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley will be selling a range of items, including shirts, sweatshirts, handmade jewelry, collectible Ukrainian stamps. 

LIVE MUSIC

12:15pm Bourbon & Breast Milk is a community choir that’s been singing in the Mid Hudson Valley for 7 years. The group collects village songs from the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Ukraine. 

12:50 Driftwood is a Hudson Valley community chorus started by singer, Eva Salina. Driftwood’s songs are gathered and shared from a variety of traditions, and include Balkan, Corsican, Georgian, Ukrainian and American folk harmonies. Maria Sonevystky has sung Ukrainian village songs with Zozulka and produced an album called “The Chornobyl Songs Project” on Smithsonian Folkways in 2015 with Ensemble Hilka. Maria has performed in the Yara Arts Group production “Scythian Stones,” which we performed in New York, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and Kyiv, Ukraine.

1:40pm Ukraininan Village Voices is a culturally diverse group of folk singers based in New York City, uniting members of the Ukrainian and larger folk music communities

2:15pm Olya Fryz  is a beautiful vocalist bringing a new and expressive energy to Ukrainian classics. She accompanies herself on the bandura.

3:00 Zoya Shepko & YiYi Folk Ensemble is a brand new, lively band of experienced musicians. One of the members, Zoya Shepko, was born, raised and homeschooled in Gardiner, NY and was a founding member of Korinya Ukrainian Folk Band. They will play a concert followed by a participatory dance with instruction for all levels. 

TICKETS

All-age tickets work on a sliding scale with $20 as the suggested price. Donations and $30 supporter tickets help the Ashokan Center to provide economy and free tickets to those who are financially unable to attend otherwise. 

50% of all proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian-American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley. The support for Ukrainian American Youth Association’s (UAYA) efforts to aid children and hospitals in Ukraine is incredibly important, especially given the current challenges the country faces. 

Ukrainian Community Day is collaboration between the Ashokan Center, Ukrainian American Youth Association of the Hudson Valley, Soyuzivka, Animal Stone Productions/Andy Teirstein, and Halyna Shepko.