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Ukrainians of Tucson

Ukrainians have contributed in many ways to the professional, cultural
and artistic life of Tucson. Although Ukrainians constitute a relatively recent
immigration, their rich heritage has been noted in numerous cultural events in
Tucson Their artistic, professional and cultural contributions have influenced the
development of Tucson in many positive ways.

Cele Peterson has a wonderful ethnic heritage, which blends the Ukrainian, Polish, and the French. Cele grew up in Bisbee Arizona and in 1931 opened her first dress shop in Tucson. By the 1950�s she was recognized as a top international designer. Her contributions to Tucson are numerous from being one of the founders of the Tucson Children�s Museum, the Arizona Theater Company, the Tucson Opera Company and Casas de Los Ni�os. She has served on numerous boards for the University of Arizona as well as other civic boards. Cele has received innumerable awards for her dedication to the cultural and civic life of Tucson. Her visionary and activist talents have made her a beautiful community legend.

The late Mrs. Alexandra Romanenko, was a true pioneer in her own right. Always dressed in her beautifully embroidered Ukrainian costume, she popularized the art of pysanka-writing in Tucson and fascinated not only Tucsonans with her masterful craft, but also Ukrainians in her native Ukraine. She was an invited guest to the All-Ukrainian conference on Pysanky in Kyiv and taught pysanky-writing � an art form that was prohibited during Soviet times because of its deep national meaning.

Pysanky (pysanka, the singular form), are derived from a Ukrainian word meaning �to write�. The art of pysanky is very ancient, dating to pre-Christian times. The designs and colors on the pysanka have a deep, symbolic meaning. With the advent of Christianity in Ukraine in 988 A.D. the motifs took on a religious meaning, Pysanky were typically presented as a gift of love.

Pysanky Artists

Pysanky are traditionally made during the last week of Lent � the Holy Week in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars (Both faiths are represented in Ukraine) and are blessed on Easter Sunday after which they are given away to family members and respected outsiders.

Pysanky carry a deep religious meaning for Ukrainians. But in the last century they have come to mean something more among Ukrainian immigrants in North America. Because the U.S.S.R. was an officially atheistic state, pysanka-writing with its Christian meaning, was discouraged and forbidden in Ukraine, and was replaced by export-oriented painted wooden eggs. Pysanky, therefore, became for many Ukrainian-Americans a symbol of their longing for a free, independent Ukraine - a longing that has been gratified in 1991 � when Ukraine again declared its independence from Russia.

Tucson has a number of brilliant pysanky writers. Among them are: Justyna Nahorniak who has sent numerous collections of her creations to Kolomyia, Ukraine for which she received an award from Ukrainian government. Anna Skibicky and Marta Czorniak have exhibited their crafts at numerous Tucson Events.

Anna Skibicky

Marta Czorniak

Justyna Nahorniak

Woodworking Artists

The western Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains offered many wonderful wood varieties to the local inhabitants who created exceptional carvings, meticulously inlaid boxes and crosses. Tucsonans of Ukrainian origin are among the best craftsmen in Arizona and have exhibited their art at numerous events in Tucson, the EMAT-sponsored fairs, Tucson Meet Yourself and the Slavic Festival.

Steve Tkatchyk

Zenon Korytko

Volodymyr Skibicky

Steve Tkatchyk, who can be considered the �father� of the Ukrainian woodcrafters in Tucson, arrived in Southern Arizona in 1966. Having admired the craft from the Hutsuls who live in the Carpathians and wanting to fulfill a long-time ambition, he taught himself the designs and techniques of their woodcarving while a prisoner of war in Europe.

Artists & Professionals

Juliana Osincuk made her formal debut at Lincoln Center�s Alice Tully Hall, following which Musical America profiled her as a �Young Artist to Watch�. �A scrupulous pianist� as described in the New York Times, and a champion of American and Ukrainian composers, she has performed nationally and internationally in the major concert halls of New York, Washington, London, Amsterdam and Salzburg as well as with the Tucson Philarmonic. A resident of Anchorage and Tucson, she also performs for several charitable causes such as Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Ihor Kunasz is a member of the Minerals Advisory Board at the University of Arizona. He is a world authority in the field of lithium resources, having explored all know occurrences of lithium. He was national president of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration and is the recipient of its prestigious Hal Williams Hardinge Award. As a exploration member of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, he was the first to explore the lithium deposits of western Tibet.

Nina Tritenichenko hails from Kyiv � the capital of Ukraine, where she completed her musical studies at the Faculty of Music of the Drahomaniv State University A virtuoso accordion player, she has performed in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. She directs and performs with the Barvinok Ukrainian Ensemble of Tucson. She is also principal soloist with the Tucson Balalaika Orchestra and an invited guest soloist with the Sons of Orpheus Choir of Tucson.

Ray Depa is the Vice-President and General Manager of KGUN-TV in Tucson. He is a first generation Ukrainian, born in a Displaced Persons� Camp in Germany in 1947. The family settled in Omaha NE as guests of Boys Town where his parents learned to speak English. Ray has a degree in Broadcast journalism and has been in the radio and television business since 1966. He has been the General Manager of Television in El Paso TX, Honolulu HI.

Dr. Paul Capp arrived in Tucson in 1970 to help start the University of Arizona Medical School. He was Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology from 1970 to 1993. For the last 10 years he served as Executive Director of the American Board of Radiology and now serves as Professor Emeritus at the University of Arizona. Dr. Capp is the youngest son of Mary and Michael who emigrated to the United States from the Galician province of Ukraine in the early part of the 20th century.

Dr. Robert Dzioba is an eminent orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spinal surgery. He is an Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arizona. Trained in Canada, he moved to Tucson where he held various professional positions with the University. Recognized as an authority in his field, he has published numerous scientific papers.

Andrew Makuch is an eminent and internationally respected librarian and bibliophile. He was Bibliographer for Collection Development at the University of Arizona. A fluent speaker of Ukrainian Russian and Polish, he was the official translator at city, state and federal courts. He was the personal translator of mayor Volgy in the Sister Cities program with Almaty, Kazakstan, as well as international business translator for Russian and Ukrainian business delegations at Pima College.

by: Ihor Kunasz

U k r a i n e

Zenon Korytko comes from a tradition of artists. His father, a was an icon painter. Zenon often accompanied him as he decorated church ceilings and walls. He learned his woodcarving craft from his father and uncle. He is a member of the Southwest Woodcarvers Association and the prestigious �Arizona Designer Craftsmen�. Endowed with a fine voice, Zenon is also the cantor at St. Michael�s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Volodymyr Skibicky began his woodworking career late in his life. His love for the craft began after Steve Tkachyk and Zenon Korytko encouraged him to start woodcarving. Together this threesome created some wonderful artworks for the Ukrainian church in Tucson. They have been invited by a number of organizations to exhibit their art and have demonstrated their craft at many local Tucson schools and numerous shows.

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