New book by Vita Susak of Lviv Art Gallery,
Lviv launched in Wash, D.C.
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C., Friday, December 10, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A important new book, "Ukrainian Artists in Paris, 1900-1939," by Vita Susak of the Lviv Art Gallery, in Lviv, Ukraine was launched at a reception sponsored by The Washington Group (TWG), www.TheWashingtonGroup.org, and the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), www.usubc.org, held at the Embassy of Ukraine to the USA in Washington, D.C., Friday, December 10, 2010.

"Ukrainian Artists in Paris, 1900-1939," is the first systematic and comprehensive examination of the role and substance played by Ukrainian-born emigres to France in this time period. A great deal has been written about this time and place, this great cultural upheaval that changed so much in the world of art, but the Ukrainian contribution to that time and place has rarely been imagined. Until now.

Vladyslava Bondarenko, Counselor, Cultural Section, Embassy of Ukraine, welcomed over 50 guests to the Embassy. Andy Bihun, President, The Washington Group (TWG) and Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs, Washington Office, SigmaBleyzer Private Equity Investment Group, who serves as President of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) brought opening remarks about the ongoing work in the USA to promote Ukrainian art and culture.

LIDIA LYKHACH, DIRECTOR, RODOVID PRESS
Lidia Lykhach, director of Rodovid Press, Kyiv, Ukraine, www.rodovid.net, who published the book, made a presention about her long-time work to publish individual monographs about the history of Ukrainian art. Rodovid has published twelve books already on this subject and more are planned. Lidia then introduced the author of the book, Vita Susak, Lviv, Ukraine.

Lidia said the book has been published in Ukrainian and English. A French-language version is being prepared in collaboration with the Institute francais d'Ukraine in Kyiv and will be published soon according to Lidia.

AUTHOR VITA SUSAK
Author Vita Susak said she started doing the research for the book in 1998 with a trip to Paris. Vita outlined her research that was conducted over the past 11 years and about the importance of the Ukrainian artists who worked in Paris. Vita told about her work in libraries, galleries, museums, with some of the artists, with the families of those who had died and with private collectors.

Susak said this is the first detailed look at the contribution of artists from Ukraine to the phenomenon known as the “School of Paris.” At the same time that Picasso, Modigliani and Chagall were working in Paris, many artists from Ukraine were also living and creating art there, among them Alexander Archipenko, Mykhailo Boichuk, Sonia Delaunay, Sophia Lewitska, Vladimir Baranoff-Rossiné, and Hannah Orloff.

In the early 1920s they were joined by Oleksa Hryshchenko (Alexis Gritchenko), Mykhailo Andriienko, Vasyl Khmeliuk, and many others - some achieved fame, others are long since forgotten. Separate chapters are devoted to several of these artists.

Ukrainian events that took place in the French capital are discussed against the general background of the “School of Paris.” The book’s Appendix includes a dictionary of Ukrainian artists in Paris featuring more than 250 individuals, as well as a chronology of Ukrainian events in Paris, both covering the years 1900-1939.

"Vita Susak's book is groundbreaking because it shows art of Ukrainian origin in its various aspects within the framework of what is always called the School of Paris. She recreates the cultural context in which artists of Ukrainian background worked and outlines the more important biographies. Her book should serve as a reference work," Jean-Claude Marcade, Le Pam, France, wrote in the Forward to the book.

ABOUT RODOVID PRESS
Rodovid Press, Lidia Lykhach, Director, specializes in publications on the cultural history and heritage of Ukraine. Included are albums, monographs, and calendars, and a special Art Series. Most of their future publications will be in at least two languages: separate editions of Ukrainian and English, or French, or German.

They work cooperatively with authors and partners in specific projects and are always interested in acquiring new texts. Please contact Rodovid to discuss ideas concerning your publishing project

Among their most recent publications are such important works as Transformation in "Civil Society: an Oral History of Ukrainian Peasant Culture in the 1920-30s," "Embroidery of the Cossack Elite," the album "Ukrainian Folk Icons" and other. They are also proud to be working with the New York Group – poets, dramatists and novelists who publish with RODOVID PRESS.

PURCHASE OF RODOVID PRESS BOOKS
Books published by Rodovid Press can be purchased through the Rodovid Press website: http://www.rodovid.net/ or by contacting the Rodovid Press office in Kyiv, Ukraine, at 067 404 402 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .