Exhibition of Ukrainian art at Glendale, CA library ReflectSpace Gallery

Glendale Library, Arts & Culture and ReflectSpace Gallery presents Between War and Nostalgia: A Ukrainian Trajectory, a powerful group exhibition delving into Ukraine’s tumultuous journey through history, memory and resilience. 

On view from December 21, 2024 to March 9, 2025, the exhibition brings together artists who confront Ukraine’s past and present, reflecting on the nation’s struggles and spirit in the face of invasion and war. The artists in the exhibit stare directly at Russia’s assaults on their homeland and the ravages it has wreaked on their communities, psyche and property while articulating their relationship to their homeland through memory, family and return. Collectively, the artists construct a vision of Ukrainian resilience and defiance.

Historical Background

When the Russian Empire annexed much of Ukraine in 1793, it launched a long history of occupation and resistance between these two nations. Over the centuries, Russia has repressed and attempted to erase Ukrainian culture, language and identity in occupied territories. Under Soviet rule, Stalin’s genocidal death-by-starvation policy resulted in the Holodomor (1932-33) and the deaths of millions of Ukrainians. After the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, Ukraine declared independence and moved closer to Europe, increasing tensions with Russia.

The current war began in February 2014. Following Ukraine’s revolution to oust their pro-Russian president, Russia occupied and then annexed Crimea, a historically contested region between the two countries. In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine—the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has ebbed and flowed over various Eastern Ukrainian borders and has caused over 30,000 civilian deaths and almost 10 million refugees.

About the Exhibit

Against this backdrop, the artists in Between War and Nostalgia willfully straddle multiple borders between Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora. Four Ukraine-based artists—Oleksandr Glyadelov, Maksym Mazur, Mariia Matiienko and Andrii Pidlisnyi—have witnessed the occupation, independence and the horrors of war and their work is an unflinching expression of their experiences. Whether documentary or conceptual, the artists address their lived experiences. Jennifer Remenchik, Yuri Boyko and Christy Roberts Berkowitz are based in Los Angeles and have deep connections to Ukraine, either historically or through more recent returns. Their work speaks to the nuances of diasporic life: reflections on distance from the homeland and grappling with memory.

In the PassageWay Gallery, photographic work co-curated by Glenn Ruga, founder and director of Social Documentary Network, spans a wide range of Ukrainian life from the urban every day, to ravages of war, to farm life.

Taken together, the artists in Between War and Nostalgia present a personal and panoramic view of Ukraine today—its defiance and nuanced lived experience.

Between War and Nostalgia: A Ukrainian Trajectory is co-curated by Ara & Anahid Oshagan and Glenn Ruga.

Between War and Nostalgia: A Ukrainian Trajectory will be on view from December 21, 2024 through March 9, 2025 at ReflectSpace Gallery, inside Glendale Central Library located at 222 East Harvard, Glendale, CA. An artist reception will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

ABOUT REFLECTSPACE

ReflectSpace is curated by Ara and Anahid Oshagan and is an inclusive exhibition gallery designed to explore and reflect on social justice issues, human rights violations and genocides through the arts. Immersive in conception, ReflectSpace is a hybrid space that is both experiential and informative, employing art, technology, and interactive media to reflect on the past and present of Glendale’s communal fabric and interrogate current-day global human rights issues.

ReflectSpace is housed in Glendale Central Library and online at ReflectSpace.org.  

ABOUT LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE      

Founded in 1907, the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department includes eight neighborhood libraries including the Brand Library & Art Center, a regional visual arts and music library and performance venue housed in the historic 1904 mansion of Glendale pioneer Leslie C. Brand, and the Central Library, a 93,000 square foot center for individuals and groups to convene, collaborate and create.

The department also serves as the chief liaison to the Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which works to continually transform Glendale into an ever-evolving arts destination. Glendale Library Arts & Culture is supported in part through the efforts of the Glendale Library Arts & Culture Trust (GLACT) GLACT.org. For more information visit GlendaleLAC.org, or contact Library, Arts & Culture at (818) 548-2021 or via email at LibraryInfo@GlendaleCA.gov.

ABOUT GLENDALE   

Known as the “Jewel City,” Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of more than 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks, and easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking.