Unbreakable Spirit:
Friday, February 24, 2023 |12-6PM |
February 24, 2023 will mark the one-year anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its brutal attack on the Ukrainian nation.
The Ukrainian Institute of America will host an Open House that will honor the fallen, commemorate the last 365 days of war and celebrate the resilience and resistance of the Ukrainian people as they fight for their lives, their homeland and their shared values while holding the line for democracy worldwide.
The Open House will allow guests to participate in the commemoration at their own pace. The event will feature multiple themed rooms and experiences, including video greetings from friends of Ukraine and of the UIA, a tribute to fallen artists, a healing space, and more. From 4 – 6 PM, we will host conversations with concerned citizens of the world, from war eyewitnesses to prominent international diplomats.
Help us raise our collective voices and combine our energies to honor those who have fallen and those who continue to fight in defense of the values of the free world. Stop by for a brief visit or join us for the entire afternoon.
This event is free and open to the public and we encourage all who #StandWithUkraine to attend. To help us gauge expected attendance, please RSVP below.
OFFERINGS AND EXPERIENCES
[12noon – 6pm]
[First Floor]
“Window on Ukraine”
“The Pysanka: A Symbol of Hope” – an installation of more than 500 eggs from around the world, a reaction to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022
Sofika Zielyk, ethnographer and curator of the installation, will be on hand to discuss the history of the pysanka tradition and the origins of the project
Ukrainian Bookstore – a selection of fiction and non-fiction books available for purchase
[Second Floor]
“Concert Hall”
Exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian paintings, as part of the ‘We and the World’ initiative, sponsored by the Kozytskiy Charity Foundation
Greetings and Conversations [4-6PM]
[Second Floor]
“Chandelier Room”
Exhibition of contemporary Ukrainian paintings, as part of the ‘We and the World’ initiative, sponsored by the Kozytskiy Charity Foundation
Short films and documentaries (12-4PM; schedule under development)
Conversations with experts on various topics related to the war in Ukraine (schedule tbd)
[Third Floor]
“Library”
Healing Space – an installation of ‘motanky’ sculptures, ancient talismans for healing and protection, with artist Ola Rondiak
[Third Floor]
“East Room”
“Lives Cut Short” – a print and video tribute to fallen artists, representing all those who were not part of the professional military who have lost their lives because of the war
“PROGRAM [4-6 pm]”subject to change
Session 1 [4:00 – 4:45pm]
Welcome – Kathy Nalywajko, President, Ukrainian Institute of America
Greetings from Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Ukrainian MP and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Integration of Ukraine to the EU, from Kyiv
Greetings from Evelyn Farkas, American national security advisor, author, and foreign policy analyst
Conversation with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, with Adrian Karatnycky, senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Session 2 [5:00 – 5:45pm]
Opening remarks by Mr Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Conversation with Ukrainian female former prisoners of war, with Taisa Markus, former Partner, White & Case LLP
Closing remarks by special guest and friend of Ukraine