On 1-3 March 2024, 17 members of the kurin “Blyskavky” gathered at the picturesque Plast NSW oselia “Vodohrai” at St Georges Basin to hold a meeting and annual elections.
As if by design, we were greeted by rain, thunder and lightning!
Despite the weather, we all had a great time.
The most interesting part of the meeting was painting with the Samchykivka technique. The session was organised and skilfully conducted by our talented Blyskavka artists Natalka Oleksyn and Natalka Falon.
Samchykivka painting is a colourful decorative style of painting with mostly floral ornaments that was used to decorate the walls of houses to protect them from harm.
This folk art tradition spread from the village of Samchyky throughout Podillia and Volyn in the 1950s.
Samchykivka painting is as impressive as Petrykivka painting, which is better known in Ukraine and the world.
Therefore, Podillia artists aim to popularise the equally colourful and distinctive Samchykyvka. Samchykyvka painting is based on the compositions “flowerpot”, “paradise tree”, “tree of life”, “miraculous and fairy-tale tree”, “cross and world tree” and “tree of the crossroads”.
The basic colours are yellow, green, blue and red. They are complemented by purple, brown and black.
All the Blyskavky really enjoyed the painting and unleashed their individual artistic potential.
The painting session was followed by the annual kurin elections. The new leadership was elected: Tanya Karliychuk, the president of the kurin, Natalka Oleksyn, the deputy president, Halya Lawriwska, the secretary, and Elena Booth, treasurer.
We also welcomed a new Blyskavka into our ranks – Olena Kulyk. Congratulations, Olena!
A big thank you and recognition goes to the outgoing president Slavka Hoshovska, as well as the outgoing deputy president Tanya Dus. We are grateful for their great contribution to the good of our kurin!
After a delicious dinner, we had a very enjoyable campfire, singing many of our favourite songs in harmony.
The next day, when it was time to pack up and go home, the sun came out and some of the Blyskavky were lucky enough to go to the beach and swim in the warm water.
Thanks to all the Blyskavky who took part!
Vse dobre blySnuty!
SKOB!
by pl. sen. Halya Lawriwska
Secretary
