Ya lublu Ukrainyu culturu!

Exter, Construction de la colour

"Alexandra Exter graduated from the Kiev Art School in 1906. . .Exter's combinations of experimental work of her time, as well as her ability to incorporate  those techniques with non-representational works make her a pioneer in her field. Her paintings were new and radical. She went on to found her own studio where she influenced many Russian artists and supported the artistic movement of Suprematism."

So wrote a young Kristin, over 13 years ago, long before starting down the adoption road that would eventually wind it's way to Ukraine, not too far from where it all began.  As a junior in college I took a class on Soviet History.  By the way, I was in that class when Putin was "elected" and remember it quite well.  My professor said it was a dark day for Russia and marked a return to totalitarianism that would affect the whole world.  Smart guy.

I've written a bit more about how that class fits into my adoption journey here but to rewind a little bit, after taking that class I turned my college career to focus on Russian art, and in doing so, discovered Ukraine. Many "Russian" artists were actually born in Ukraine or studied there.  Alexandra Exter, one of the first female artists I wrote about, Varvara Stepanova, who studied in Odessa, Ukraine, where she met her husband, Alexander Rodchenko.  Rodchenko also became a famous artist and the two of them established connections with Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich, both artists who lived in Ukraine and went on to be massive figures of change in 20th century art.  I spent the next two years studying Russian Women Artists of the Avant Garde and went on to grad school, preparing a thesis on the same topic.  I fell in love with these women, their strength, creativity, passion, and determination.  Unlike arguably every other art movement in history, this one was led by women. Their combination of past artistic tradition into present ground breaking new forms was fascinating. Learning about these women and their place in art history truly captivated my imagination for many years. At the time, I just thought I was learning about Russian art and grew my love for Russian culture. But now that I look back, I see how many of those artists were in fact Ukrainian. As I began to dig a little deeper, I discovered that this was a unique phenomenon of Ukrainian history-Russian credit for Ukrainian origins.  Okay, maybe not too unique, we could look at Greco-Roman blends but given the current Russian/Ukrainian political events, it's more than a little distasteful!  All that history can be explored further by delving into everything from geographical location, religious conversion, to Genghis Khan and on into Soviet psychology.  But, we'll leave that to a later time and just focus on how it relates to me! :)  Feel

Dusty but beloved part of my library

free to borrow the 700 page Ukrainian history book I'm currently reading!

Anyway, for the purpose of this blog, to cover hundreds of years of history in a few short paragraphs.  Much of what we now view as Russia-its culture, history, structure, grew out of what's known as Kievan Rus. Over a thousand years ago, in a complicated, slightly unknown and somewhat controversial way, varying tribes and families came together to form a ruling power over parts of what would eventually become Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. This was the creation of Slavic culture and its center was Kyiv, Ukraine.  For more than half a century power was consolidated, language developed, trade was established, and culture flourished from Kievan Rus.  Its decline began, like many societies, with the Golden Horde.  You can argue for the Mongol invasion bringing new technology, tolerance, and riches or against its atrocities, poverty, and chaos, but either way, it led to the disintegration of Kievan Rus. Largely due to its geographical location, Ukraine was fought over by surrounding powers as they grew out of the so called Tatar Yoke.  Its fertile soil, natural resources, and port cities egged on tyrannical leaders who saw Ukraine in terms of building power for themselves.  Not much has changed since then.

Several internal wars ravaged Ukraine during and after World War I and in 1922 Ukraine officially became part of USSR, giving us the now unpopular term "The Ukraine."  I've never really been able to figure out why Hitler has the worst reputation of horrifying murderous despots of the 20th century.  Even the tiniest of glimpses into Soviet times should give anyone reason to nominate Stalin for that particular award.  Forcing people off their land, taking any kind of minimum sustenance needed for their survival, gulag death camps and God knows what other atrocities were committed against Ukrainians under his reign of terror.  Although this is true of all Soviet countries, Ukraine was especially hard hit by "Holodomor" or, forced starvation. We'll probably never know if it was purposeful (I'd be shocked if it wasn't) or how many people died (could be upwards of 6 million.)  But either way, it was devastating to Ukraine, for years, and has continued to be mired in controversy, cover up, and questionable information.

Of course much the Eastern Front of World War II came right on the heals of Holodomer and Ukraine took years to recover from the devastation.  But, natural resources and industrialization, combined with many Ukrainians who grew to power-Brezhnev in the government, Korolev invented Sputnik-helped Ukraine to overcome many challenges and emerge as a leading power in the USSR.  Then of course came Chernobyl. Occurring in 1986, it was possibly the worst nuclear reactor disaster in history.  Seven million people lived in the contaminated area and we may never how many people were affected, or continuing results of the fall out.  I grew up in the 80s and doomsday nuclear scenarios were a part of my childhood.  But the real life nightmare of this catastrophe is unimaginable.  Not just a few years later though, it was followed by another unimaginable turn of events, the fall of communist Russia.  I remember this well too, "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"  In August of 1991, Ukraine was declared an independent democratic state.  Former Soviet states face many of the same challenges as colonized territories-corruption, poverty, dismal infrastructure, and powerful neighbors who still want to rule over none of their business.  You can read up on current Ukrainian events at just about any website, just try to remember if there is a bias you are reading into (my bias is fairly obvious, some are not!)  But in the meantime, I will focus on the incredible side of Ukraine. Prokofiev, Golda Meir, Sonia Delaunay, Yakov Smirnoff, Oksana Baiul, Taras Shevchenko, and Victor Petrenko.  Google any of them, you won't be sorry you did-and the best may be yet to come! Hundreds of years, a history steeped in beautiful art, rich tradition, nearly constant turmoil, and a passionate sense of identity. Ukraine. Its name is probably derived a term meaning "borderland." Ukraine borders Russia, shares many cultural aspects, but there is a border, it is its own country.

So maybe underneath my love of Russian culture, was a secret passion for Ukraine.  I'll tell you something funny.  At some point during my Russian studies, I think it was in my second year,  I came across the term, "Solnishko."  It's kind of a term of endearment, meaning, little sun, or, sunshine.  I don't know why but I promptly adored it!  I determined that I would use it someday.  I really thought I could name a child or at least a pet Solnishko, and such a cute nickname, "Sollie!"  Years went by and neither of my kids are named Solnishko and neither are my cats-somehow Sunshine doesn't work for gray cats :/  In doing research for Ukrainian adoptions I came across an orphanage in southern Ukraine.  Its name, Solnishko.  They have a website and you can support the orphanage through donations and view their financial reports.  I honestly have not researched it much so cannot speak to its integrity but the memory of my little love for this name was so striking that I have been thinking of it ever since then.

In the next blog I'll let you know where we are at with our "paper baby" but in the meantime I hope you enjoyed a bit of our heart for this country and its history with us and the world. Adopting a little boy means Ukraine will be part of our family forever, an honor and a responsibility. It's one that I can hardly wait for but also don't take lightly.  Just wait a little longer Solnishko, mama's coming.