|
 The
Diaspora Museum, which holds about 4,000
exhibits, was created in Chernovtsy in August,
1992. It was the first of its kind in Ukraine.
The museum exposition begins with materials
which tell us about migratory movement at the
end of the 19th and first half of the 20th
centuries. At the time of the Austro-Hungarian
empire more than 50,000 native Bukovynians left
for the other side of the ocean, mainly to
Canada and partially to the USA and other
countries. The exhibit highlights the heavy
economic and social situation of the population
-- the reason for the first, so-called economic
wave of emigration. Samples of clothes of
inhabitants of Bukovina of the period draw
attention.
Our fellow-countryman, Pavel Tsimbaljuk,
transferred to the museum many unique exhibits
of the designer of the greatest Pisanka (Easter
egg) monument in the world, which is situated in
the city of Vegrevil. The Canadian part of the
exposition ends with materials solemnly
commemorating the 100 anniversary of Ukrainian
immigration to this country, periodicals and
print editions of Ukrainian societies in Canada,
and souvenirs.
An important place in the museum is occupied
with exhibits devoted to representing the
cultural heritage of the Bukovina diaspora, and
illustrating the creativity of foreign artists
who are natives of Bukovina. Of great interest
are works of Xenia Kolotilo, the outstanding
skilled worker of applied art from Vienna.
Numerous and various embroidered items (shirts,
ritual towels, napkins, pillows, cloth), wooden
items inlaid with beads, and Easter eggs amaze
with the richness and variety of colour palettes,
composition, and high level of technical of
execution.
An Important source for studying the history of
music of the last 20 to 30 years of the 20th
century is the full collection of recordings of
the voice of Joseph Schmidt, the “Bukovinian
Caruso”, who debuted in a Chernivtsi synagogue,
and subsequently became known in Europe and
America as a singer and an actor. Materials
about his life and creativity were presented to
the museum by Alfred Fasbind – the singer and
musician, music expert from Switzerland, and
founder and keeper of the J. Schmidt archive in
Zurich.
Visitors also can become familiar with the
creativity of well known German-speaking poets -
Paul Celan and Rosa Auslender.
In the Bukovynian Diaspora Museum business and
creative meetings are held, and problems of
policy and culture are discussed.
 |
 |
|
|
