Soyuzivka

Lubomyr Hutsaliuk, Edward Kozak and Jacques Hnizdovsky at Soyuzivka in front of Slava Gerulak's sculpture "Mayana".

History

Soyuzivka, also known as Suzi-Q or The Q, is a year-round Ukrainian resort and cultural center located in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, providing workshops, seminars, concerts, dance recitals and art exhibits for those interested in learning about Ukraine and its rich culture.

In 1952, The Ukrainian National Association, a fraternal organization established in 1894, purchased the property in response to the need of its growing Ukrainian community, for use as a cultural center and resort for its members. Soyuzivka provided language workshops, heritage studies, concerts, art exhibits and children's summer camps. It has been providing this service for over 50 years.

Soyuzivka thrived under the leadership of Walter Kwas, a great supporter of the arts, who dedicated his entire life to bettering Soyuzivka, and was the person responsible for inviting fine artists, musicians and dancers to exhibit, hold recitals and workshops at the resort during the summer months and during the holidays.

Walter Kwas modeled the resort after the architecture of the Carpathian mountains, with the famous woodcarver, Cherniovsky embellishing the individual buildings that made up the resort. Each of these buildings were named after regions in Ukraine.

Many artists exhibited there over the years, including Slava Gerulak, Jacques Hnizdovsky, Lubomyr Hutsaliuk, Edward Kozak, Halyna Mazepa and others. Soyuzivka is home to many important works of art by the most famous of Ukrainian sculptors, who were commissioned to provide busts of the most famous Ukrainian literary, historic, political and religious figures. These include the busts of Lesia Ukrainka, poetess; Taras Shevchenko, poet; Cardinal Josyf Slipyj, the first Ukrainian Cardinal; Rev. Hryhoriy Hrushka, the founding Editor of Svoboda, the first Ukrainian language newspaper in the US (established in 1893); and Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the legendary hetman of Ukraine in the 17th century. The most notable statue is that of Taras Shevchenko, donated by Alexander Archipenko. Edward Kozak's relief paintings of Ukrainian dancers adorn the Veselka Hall, where exhibitions and recitals are held.

Soyuzivka has always been host to important dignitaries of Ukrainian descent. Cardinal Josyf Slipyj was honored during his first US visit, after his release from a Soviet prison, right after the Pope nominated him Cardinal. Soyuzivka also hosted the first President of an independent Ukraine, President Leonid Kravchuk in 1992. During the 1980s, 1990s and more recently, leaders and political dissidents, championing the rights of Ukraine’s self-determination were asked to lecture and meet with the community. These included Valentyn Moroz (dissident), Mykola Horyn, Taras Chornovil and others.

Well-known guests that visited and attended benefits at the resort are Jack Palance, Mike Mazurki, Miss USA and others.

For over 30 years, Soyuzivka has sponsored courses for teachers of Ukrainian language schools. This two week intensive program prepares teachers for certification for teaching the Ukrainian language, as well as its history, culture and literature.

For over 20 years, young people have attended intensive Ukrainian cultural courses taught by leading professors and teachers of Ukrainian descent.

External links

* [http://www.soyuzivka.com Resort website]