Ukrainian Artists To Exhibit At Montclair Public Library Gallery

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Four Ukrainian artists-activists living in the U.S. will feature their work as part of an exhibit launching Wednesday, June 1 at the Montclair Public Library Art Gallery.

The show, “Ukrainian Roots: Art by the Diaspora,” will be on display from June 1 to June 30 at the library, located at 50 South Fullerton Avenue.

Artists include Melanka Coppola, Tanya Debarry, Natalie Napoleon and Ivan Bratko.

Work will include original paintings, photography, ceramics and prints. All work will be for sale; artists will donate portions of their sales to the Ukrainian war effort of their choice.

The show is curated by The Stewart Shield; the Montclair Public Library Art Gallery is providing the space pro bono.

According to a news release from the library:

“All artists have lived and created work informed by their Ukrainian roots, and maintain contacts with family in Ukraine. It is a heritage that remains unbroken, whether born in the Ukraine or U.S. One artist born in the U.S. was literally schooled in Ukrainian culture, further embedding her appreciation of her mother’s homeland. As a child Tanya Debarry was an infant when her father died in a car accident. Her widowed Ukrainian mother moved from New York to New Jersey in order to live within a Ukrainian community, which for Debarry included going to Ukrainian language school weekly and participating in Ukrainian events of all kinds.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.