Platte City resident Tanya Pidgurska decided to organize a charity photo exhibition at the Platte City Mid-Continent Public Library recently.
The exhibition ran through the month of August and ended Aug. 31. More than $1,500 was raised by selling prints of the photos to art lover attendees. Pidgurska, who is from Ukraine thought it would be a good opportunity to feature a photo display by three Ukrainian photographers, including herself, to raise money to help fellow Ukrainians in the throes of war since the Russian invasion, which began more than six months ago.
“On Aug. 24, Ukraine celebrated its Independence Day, and I thought it would only be fitting to dedicate a photo exhibition to this important occasion, Pidgurska said. “Moreover, the war in Ukraine continues along with the suffering of its people, and so charity fund raising remains as relevant as during the start of hostilities.”
The photos are from her own collection, along with the original works of two of her friends. All of the photos were taken in Ukraine.
The photo exhibition had a total of 41 photos by three photographers: Seriya Kruchynin, Pavlo Magdenko, and Pidgurska, all from Boryspil, a small city about 20 miles southeast of the capital Kyiv.
“My first colleague, Serhiy Kruchynin, whose photo ‘Cry of Ukraine’ serves as the primary image on all posters decided to present the topic ‘Songs of Ukraine,’” Pidgurska said. “These photos were taken from 2013-2014 during the Song Unites Ukraine concert tour of the musical ensemble Colors of Ukraine, a popular folk group led by Yury Burchak and Zhanna Burchak. My second colleague, Pavlo Magdenko, is a journalist by trade but is currently performing combat missions on the front lines. The topic he decided to present to viewers is ‘Life’. In his own words, ‘This photo exhibition is an opportunity to show the American people how unique, culturally rich, and beautiful my home country of Ukraine is.’ As for me, I decided to present the topic ‘People’ because I worked as a photojournalist for a long time and I relish the idea of capturing special moments in their lives through my camera’s lens.”
Pidgurska worked for her hometown newspaper ‘Trudova Slava’ for five years in Boryspil, Ukraine.
She has hosted several fund raising projects in Platte City, including a yard sale, to help the people of Ukraine during this difficult time.
“Unfortunately, there are so many people and organizations in need that there are more cries for help rather than opportunities to help them. However, I believe that soon the war will end, and in the future, my photo exhibitions will be advertised without the word ‘charity’ in its description.”
Pidgurska is extremely grateful to the Platte City Mid-Continent Public Library administration for allowing the exposition to be held in the building.
One of her favorites of the many photos on display was Kruchynin’s Cry of Ukraine. When she first saw the photo she knew that it would be the perfect medium to invite people to see the exhibition.
“I also like Pasha’s photo of a tank carrying Ukrainian soldiers into battle with their country’s blue and yellow flag inspiring them forward,” Pidgurska said. “This was actually one of the first photos to be bought. As for me, I am very critical of my photographs so I can’t specify a favorite. Nevertheless, I think that my strongest photo is the black and white print of a grandfather walking with his loyal dog.”
For Pidgurska, the war has been a reminder that life is fleeting and she believes that with her camera, she can stop and capture any special moment.
“The photos that I decided to display are not about war, which is what most people associate Ukraine with nowadays, but rather they are about peace and why the Ukrainian people are so fierce in their determination to bring it back in their land again,” she said.
She believes that the library is one of the best ways to bring the community together through art and education.
“In Ukraine, we call the library a source of wisdom and a treasury of culture,” Pidgurska said. “In my native city of Boryspil, seasonal photo exhibitions in the local library are actually a tradition.”
Her next fund raiser is a music concert. She plays the bandura. She expects that project to be fun-filled and culturally educational as well.
“After that event concludes, I plan on taking a break from organizing any other charities until Christmas, because they can get very exhausting,” Pidgurska said. “But hopefully by that time, this terrible war will be over and the traditional American greeting of ‘Happy Holidays’ will get a renewed meaning for all Ukrainians.”