Soyuzivka
Encyclopedia
Soyuzivka, also known as Suzi-Q or The Q, is a Ukrainian
cultural center located in Kerhonkson, New York
in the Shawangunk Ridge
area south of the Catskill Mountains
of upstate New York, providing children's heritage camps, workshops, seminars, festivals, concerts, dance recitals and art exhibits for those interested in learning about Ukraine and its rich culture.
Soyuzivka's mission to promote, preserve and propagate Ukrainian culture. It seeks, with its programs, to instill pride of the Ukrainian heritage among in Ukrainian-American youth. Soyuzivka seeks to showcase the culture to American audience.
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.
Soyuzivka is also a venue that is used frequently by various Ukrainian organizations for Conventions and Reunions, such as the Ukrainian American Veterans
and the Ukrainian National Women's League of America
.
Soyuzivka is home to the Roma Pryma Dance Academy which offers six weeks of instruction and dance camps and workshops for all levels of Ukrainian folk Dance. Over 400 children participate annually in this program. The most advanced dancers are featured (after the completion of a two week intensive Dance Workshop) at Soyuzivka's annual cultural festival.
Soyuzivka also partners with SITCH, a Ukrainian-American Sports organization to provide sports camps for children of Ukrainian Descent. Ukrainian heritage and language is also emphasized in all the programs.
Some of the programs include: language immersion camps for pre-schoolers under the administration of Pershi Stezhi, part of the Ukrainian-American Scouts-Plast. English-language heritage camps are offered for children with limited knowledge of Ukraine and its culture.
In joint partnership with Ukraine's embassy in Washington DC, a unique workshop is offered to families who have adopted children from Ukraine. The programs seeks to address the problems these children may have integrating into American culture and help these parents have a greater understanding of the culture of their new children.
, 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 for its members. Soyuzivka provided language workshops, heritage studies, festivals, concerts, dances, 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.
Kwas modeled the resort after the architecture of the Carpathian mountains, with the famous woodcarver, Cherniovsky embellishing the individual buildings that made up the premises. 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. Other more recent artists include Vitaly Kozlovsky in 2008 and Ruslana in 2009. Haydamaky in 2010 and Maria Burmaka in 2011. Pete Seeger, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, was a special guest at the Festival, performing with Ukrainian folk singer, Maria Burmaka.
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.
The Gogol Bordello
song "Suddenly... (I Miss Carpaty)" makes a reference to Soyuzivka. Actress Vera Farmiga
spent many summers at Soyuzivka, as a participant in the dance camps and workshops.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
cultural center located in Kerhonkson, New York
Kerhonkson, New York
Kerhonkson is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 1,684 at the 2010 census.Kerhonkson is a small hamlet which, along with Accord, makes up the Town of Rochester on US 209, just south of the town's boundary with the Town of Wawarsing and just north of where US 44...
in the Shawangunk Ridge
Shawangunk Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge , also known as the Shawangunk Mountains or The Gunks, is a ridge of bedrock in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in the state of New York, extending from the northernmost point of New Jersey to the Catskill Mountains.The ridgetop, which widens considerably at...
area south of the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
of upstate New York, providing children's heritage camps, workshops, seminars, festivals, concerts, dance recitals and art exhibits for those interested in learning about Ukraine and its rich culture.
Soyuzivka's mission to promote, preserve and propagate Ukrainian culture. It seeks, with its programs, to instill pride of the Ukrainian heritage among in Ukrainian-American youth. Soyuzivka seeks to showcase the culture to American audience.
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.
Soyuzivka is also a venue that is used frequently by various Ukrainian organizations for Conventions and Reunions, such as the Ukrainian American Veterans
Ukrainian American Veterans
The Ukrainian American Veterans is a 501 non-profit organization of the United States, composed of Honorably Discharged Veterans of the United States Armed Forces, who are of Ukrainian heritage or descent. The UAV obtained its tax-exempt status from the IRS in 1984 and was incorporated in the...
and the Ukrainian National Women's League of America
Ukrainian National Women's League of America
The Ukrainian National Women's League of America is a charitable and cultural organization that unites women of Ukrainian descent as well as those who are active in the Ukrainian communities of the United States...
.
Soyuzivka is home to the Roma Pryma Dance Academy which offers six weeks of instruction and dance camps and workshops for all levels of Ukrainian folk Dance. Over 400 children participate annually in this program. The most advanced dancers are featured (after the completion of a two week intensive Dance Workshop) at Soyuzivka's annual cultural festival.
Soyuzivka also partners with SITCH, a Ukrainian-American Sports organization to provide sports camps for children of Ukrainian Descent. Ukrainian heritage and language is also emphasized in all the programs.
Some of the programs include: language immersion camps for pre-schoolers under the administration of Pershi Stezhi, part of the Ukrainian-American Scouts-Plast. English-language heritage camps are offered for children with limited knowledge of Ukraine and its culture.
In joint partnership with Ukraine's embassy in Washington DC, a unique workshop is offered to families who have adopted children from Ukraine. The programs seeks to address the problems these children may have integrating into American culture and help these parents have a greater understanding of the culture of their new children.
History
In 1952, The Ukrainian National AssociationUkrainian National Association
The Ukrainian National Association is a North American fraternal organization founded in Shamokin, Pennsylvanian in 1894 when the first wave of immigrants from Ukraine came to the United States and Canada...
, 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 for its members. Soyuzivka provided language workshops, heritage studies, festivals, concerts, dances, art exhibits and children's summer camps. It has been providing this service for over 50 years.
Kwas modeled the resort after the architecture of the Carpathian mountains, with the famous woodcarver, Cherniovsky embellishing the individual buildings that made up the premises. Each of these buildings were named after regions in Ukraine.
Many artists exhibited there over the years, including Slava Gerulak, Jacques Hnizdovsky
Jacques Hnizdovsky
Jacques Hnizdovsky , was a Ukrainian-American painter, printmaker, sculptor, ex libris designer, book illustrator, and art historian.- Biography :...
, 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
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, 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
Ivan Mazepa
Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa , Cossack Hetman of the Hetmanate in Left-bank Ukraine, from 1687–1708. He was famous as a patron of the arts, and also played an important role in the Battle of Poltava where after learning of Peter I's intent to relieve him as acting Hetman of Ukraine and replace him...
, the legendary hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
of Ukraine in the 17th century. The most notable statue is that of Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, donated by Alexander Archipenko
Alexander Archipenko
Alexander Porfyrovych Archipenko was a Ukrainian avant-garde artist, sculptor, and graphic artist.-Biography:...
. Edward Kozak's relief paintings of Ukrainian dancers adorn the Veselka Hall, where exhibitions and recitals are held. Other more recent artists include Vitaly Kozlovsky in 2008 and Ruslana in 2009. Haydamaky in 2010 and Maria Burmaka in 2011. Pete Seeger, of Peter, Paul and Mary fame, was a special guest at the Festival, performing with Ukrainian folk singer, Maria Burmaka.
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
Leonid Kravchuk
Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk is a Ukrainian politician, the first President of Ukraine serving from December 5, 1991 until his resignation on July 19, 1994, a former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada and People's Deputy of Ukraine serving in the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine faction.After a...
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
Taras Chornovil
Taras Vyacheslavovych Chornovil is a Ukrainian politician and is an independent member of Reforms for the Future block in the Verkhovna Rada.-Early life:...
and others.
Well-known guests that visited and attended benefits at the resort are Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
, Mike Mazurki
Mike Mazurki
Mike Mazurki was an Austrian-born American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in over 100 movies. His towering 6' 5" presence and intimidating face usually got him roles playing tough guys, thugs, strong men, and gangsters.Mazurki was born as Mikhail Mazurkevych in Tarnopol, Galicia,...
, Miss USA and others.
The Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello
Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring.Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music...
song "Suddenly... (I Miss Carpaty)" makes a reference to Soyuzivka. Actress Vera Farmiga
Vera Farmiga
Vera Ann Farmiga is an American actress and director. Farmiga made her film debut in the 1998 drama thriller Return to Paradise. This was followed by supporting roles in the 2000 romantic film Autumn in New York and the 2001 television series UC: Undercover...
spent many summers at Soyuzivka, as a participant in the dance camps and workshops.