By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
The opening night of “Angels Dusting the Earth” a show of original paintings and prints by renowned Ukrainian artist Oksana Zbrutska saw a full house for the reception and meet the artist event on December 1 at Wayside Select Books & Art.
The show, her first in Canada, is on until Jan. 31, 2024 and has been made possible by the support of the Ukrainian Nightingale Project which helps support Ukrainians in the South Okanagan who have fled the war.
Zbrutska’s artwork, self-labeled as “Ukrainian ethno-romanticism” where realism collides with the avant garde is rich in imagery and luscious in colour and texture creating compellingly beautiful paintings.
Highly esteemed in Ukraine and beyond Zbrutska has participated in various international shows and was accorded the international Cultural Diplomacy Award and conferred the honorary title of “Honored Artist of Ukraine” by decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2021.
(standing left to right) Jennifer Martison, Tanya (who assisted by interpreting from Russian), and Oksana Zbrutska.
Her first show in Canada, on until January 31, is currently on at Wayside Select Books & Art in Osoyoos and has been made possible by the support of the settlement support organization Ukraine Nightingale Project.
Every single story from those fleeing the war in Ukraine is very personal and very unique and while some were lucky enough to enjoy relatively smooth sailing, most are not so lucky. So too for Zbrutska who arrived in Canada this past spring.
Speaking through a Russian interpreter Zbrutska said “It’s a bit of dramatic story,” but didn’t want to dive into the personal details.
In short, Zbrutska accepted help from a former partner she had met in Ukraine who was now living in Kelowna. That help turned out to be everything but helpful and saw Zbrutska, her two boys and her father fleeing once again, this time within the supposedly safe borders of Canada.
In a foreign land with no source of income, and language barriers on top of this, the four had few options. With assistance from some Kelowna locals, Zbrutska ended up in the safety of the South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS) women’s shelter in Penticton with her two sons while the father is living elsewhere with one of the Nightingale volunteers.
“This was a very traumatic experience for sure, but now it’s the best,” she says explaining it’s because she met Jennifer Martison from the Ukraine Nightingale Project which has been helping support Zbrutska and her family along with 14 other families in the South Okanagan.
She adds that as an artist “everything is through my heart and emotions and with so much attention and people helping I’m very happy now.”
Oksana Zbrutska with her two sons and father.
Martison, who has taken a keen personal role in helping Zbrutska and her family says the Nightingale Project has been working hard on making some music connections because, beyond her immense painting talent, she has also been a professional pianist and violinist at one stage and is fully capable of teaching both instruments.
When asked if she would miss being in the Ukraine for Christmas Zbrutska said: “I am very excited about Christmas, because now I feel much, much better. I don’t feel lonely and lost, because I’ve made many friends and with all the support I’m very active,” she said. The new year will bring some added joy as the family will be reunited under one roof after the Nightingale Project found a house for them for five months from Dec. 29.
Currently, Zbrutska is busy painting at her temporary home at the women’s shelter, as she builds up her collection again in preparation for gallery shows as she reestablishes her art sales.
“I’m in a creative mode and with all the latest demands I’m in high speed and I’m trying to make as much art as possible now that I’m here.”
Martison and her team have been busy making contact with art dealers and gallery owners to spread the word about Zbrutska and her beautiful artwork.
She said that one day she would be happy to return to Ukraine to sell her paintings that were left behind when she fled the war. The paintings are not easily transported because they cannot be rolled due to the thickness of the oil paint and other applications like gold leaf that are on the canvases.
Martison says they are looking into how these pieces of art can be brought out of Ukraine. There are approximately 10 paintings that are in Kiev. “It’s very difficult,” she added.
Oksana Zbrutska’s two sons view her paintings on display in Osoyoos. The large painting in the photo was the only one she was able to bring with her out of Ukraine.
The group is also in discussion with some galleries in the US and Canada to try and recover some of Zbrutska’s artwork that was taken without her permission. This is proving to be tricky and as Martison notes, “we have to kind of tread lightly.”
Five years ago her paintings were selling for up to $10,000, Martison said adding they don’t want to price the pieces too low. “We are not artists but we will be getting art experts involved very soon once she has a body of work to work with.”
Already Zbrutska has an offer for a show at a gallery in Toronto and interest is growing rapidly from the Vancouver art community. She has a show on this weekend in Penticton and another coming up in Summerland where her father’s paintings will also be on exhibit.
As to whether Ukrainian ethno-romanticism will take on a touch of Okanagan romanticism Zbrutska says: “You have a very beautiful landscape here and every day I look at many deers, many lakes it gives a lot of inspiration.
“It doesn’t mean that I will try to switch to this landscape but it means that it gives more inspiration with the memories of Ukraine,” she said.
Oksana Zbrutska’s show is on at Wayside Select Books & Art, 8317 Main St, Osoyoos until Jan. 31, 2024. This weekend (Dec. 16) her work will also be featured at the BC VQA Wine Information Centre in Penticton from 1-4 p.m. and Zbrutska will also be present at the event. The centre is located at 101-553 Vees Drive in Pentiction.
