Ukrainian National Museum
national museum
The Ukrainian National Museum (UNM) is situated in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood of Chicago, USA, and serves as a repository for a diverse range of Ukrainian cultural artifacts, artworks, and historical materials.
Foundation and Collections
Established in 1952 as the Ukrainian Museum and Archive, the Ukrainian National Museum houses a significant collection of 1,140 artifacts that reflect traditional folk arts, agricultural tools, artworks, musical instruments, and various other items.
The museum's library contains 16,320 titles, including rare books, autographed editions, monographs on émigré communities, contemporary publications, and over 600 periodicals and newspapers.
The archives focus on the Ukrainian communities in Chicago, documenting performance groups, national youth chapters, veteran organizations, local church archives, memorabilia from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, personal manuscripts of civic leaders, and a comprehensive photographic collection.
Cultural Significance
Among the notable items on display are decorated Easter Eggs, known as 'Pysanky', which represent a vital aspect of Ukrainian folk art, featuring designs that often symbolize the sun, roses, and stars.
Ukrainian embroidery, recognized as a highly developed folk art, is also part of the museum's collection.
The museum showcases Ukrainian language books donated by immigrants and visitors from Europe, further emphasizing its role in preserving Ukrainian culture.
Exhibitions and Events
The museum features an exhibit titled 'Ukrainian Genocide - Holodomor of 1932-1933', which presents photographs, documents, and newspaper articles aimed at educating the public about the forced famine in Ukraine.
Additionally, an exhibition developed in collaboration with the National Museum of the Holodomor Genocide, titled 'We Were Killed Because We Are Ukrainians', was presented in August 2020, highlighting the museum's commitment to addressing historical injustices.
Notable Exhibitions
In February 2018, the museum hosted 'World Through the Eyes of the Artist', a solo exhibition featuring original ballpoint pen and graphite drawings by Ukrainian-born artist Andrey Poletaev.
The exhibition, which opened on February 2, 2018, received a positive audience response, leading to an extension of two additional weeks, and was recognized in Ukrainian People Magazine and KP.UA, a prominent Ukrainian newspaper.
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