Artist's Mission To Help War-Torn Ukraine: 'Shocked And Outraged'

WESTHAMPTON, NY — A local artist is using her talents to help the people of Ukraine.

Galina Melnik, who lives in Manorville, is exhibiting her artwork through the end of March at the Westhampton Free Library on Library Avenue. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the civilians remaining in the villages of Ukraine, she aid.

Her reason for wanting to help is deeply personal, Melnik said: She has cousins, their children, and their grandchildren, all living in the southeast of Ukraine, in Mykolaiv, and the Mikolaev and Odessa regions.

"I have had a close relationship with them all since our childhood," she said.

Reflecting on the invasion of Russian troops in her homeland, Melnik said: "I couldn't find the words to describe my feelings when the war started. I was shocked and outraged. Then there was a feeling of fear for my loved ones and all people of Ukraine and for the country — a fear that literally swallowed me up. I knew that I needed to take part in helping civilians, who suffer the most."

And so, Melnik said, she decided the best way would be to donate proceeds from her sale at the library, which began in February. "I thought this would be the best way to help those civilians who didn't leave their homeland and became victims of this hostility," she said.

Although she's donated to groups raising funds to help, now, Melnik hopes to directly reach out to those who live in the part of Ukraine where she was born.

Her artwork, she believes can be used for good in a war-torn world.

"I want to appeal to all artists to do the same, so that people who replenish their art collections can always remember their contribution to saving lives in Ukraine," she said. "Art has always been the best way to promote world peace."