Ukrainian Snow Sculptors Win First Prize

Montreal - For the first time, sculptors from Ukraine came to Canada to compete in three international snow sculpture competitions held in Quebec City from February 1 to 9, in Ottawa from Feb. 6 to 8 and in Rouyn-Noranda from Feb. 19 to 22.

The team won First Prize at the International Festival of Snow Sculptures held in Quebec  City during the famous annual Quebec Winter Carnival. An intricate design of a “Vertep” was sculpted from huge snow blocks to the amazement of all onlookers. Roma Kupchynska of Montreal who attended stated, “by far the best [snow] ice sculpture. Everyone acknowledged this. We are very proud of Team Ukraine.” Over one million tourists attend the festival from the United States, Canada, Europe and other countries. The Quebec Winter Carnival began in 1894 and has been held without interruption from 1955.

The four artists who came from Ukraine are: sculptor and team captain Orest Dzyndra from Lviv, graduate from the Lviv Academy of Arts; Petro Romaniuk, sculptor from Kyiv, member of the National University of Arts of Ukraine and graduate in fine arts and architecture; Serhij Kliapetura, sculptor from Kamianetsk-Podilsk, graduate from the Lviv Academy of Arts in monumental art; and Myroslav Dedyshyn, sculptor from Lviv and graduate from Lviv Polytechnic National University.

In Ottawa, Ukraine won Second Prize, for its delicate work titled “Angel” by Lviv sculptor, Myroslav Dedyshyn. The Mayor of Ottawa officially invited the Ukrainian sculptor to participate in its International Ice Carving Competition at Crystal Garden 2009 in Canada’s capital. On February 4, The Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa organized a pre-competition meeting with the sculptor and members of the Ukrainian community in Ottawa.

The team’s third competition appearance at a Canadian venue was at the 4^th National Festival of Snow Sculptures held in Rouyn-Noranda, in Northern Quebec’s Abitibi-Tmiscamingue Region. The Ukrainian sculptors did not win in any of the four categories they contested and were faced with strong competition from teams from as far as Quebec City, Montreal, and the Maritimes. Arrangements to host Team Ukraine were co-ordinated by James Slobodian, whose father, Onufrij, was a pioneer settler in the northern area in the 1930s and builder of the local Ukrainian community. A special invitation was extended to them by the organizers of the region’s 26^th Winter Festival. Rouyn Noranda is situated 100 km north of Kirkland Lake, Ont. and 200 km from North Bay, Ont.

Each competition has its specific criteria. The four-member team from Ukraine was partially sponsored by la Caisse populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montréal and the Ukrainian National Federation (UNO) - Montreal Branch, helping them to offset their travel expenses to Canada. Co-ordinating all four events were Olena Zakharova from The Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa, assisted by Yurij Luhovy in Montreal, James Slobodian of Rouyn-Noranda and Olia Holdovanets of Kyiv. They were also supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Montreal Branch).

The ice sculptors have created great excitement in Montreal, especially so, with their recent victories. A farewell evening for them is being organized by SUM Cafe and Club Zustrich in Montreal on February 27, prior to their departure home to Ukraine.

To see the artists’ work, visit web-sites http://www.orestdzyndra.com.ua/uk_team.html and www.dedyshyn.com

PHOTOS

L. to R.: Snow sculptors Myroslav Dedyshyn, Serhij Kliapetura, Orest Dzyndra, Petro Romaniuk