Ursula and Ostap Balaban Gifts to the Ukrainian Museum and
Library of Stamford
Ostap (1918-2002), a leading community activist and philanthropist
together with his wife Ursula (1923-2006) for many years have been
avid art collectors and have accumulated a very extensive collection
of both Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian art works. In the Balaban Living
Trust they have provided selected Ukrainian cultural institutions
to be the recipients of certain artwork from their collection amongst
which was our Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford.
Our cultural institution is extremely grateful for these bequeathed
gifts, which are as follows:
- 30 icons and religious paintings ranging
from 18th to 20th centuries;
- 2 paintings by Alexis Gritchenko;
- library of books amongst which is an early American Bible annotated
by a cousin of Washington Irving.
- 5 paintings by Mykola Butovych;
- 15 pieces of carved and inlaid furniture pieces from North Africa;
- and other items.
We are honored and proud to be the recipients of
such unique and valuable art works which have enormously enriched
our museum’s collection.
We would also like to express sincere gratitude to Halyna and Bohdan
Balaban (brother of Ostap and executor of the will) for being in
constant contact with us in the carrying out of the transaction in
a smooth and friendly manner.
Other Gifts:
- Tatiana Krynytska from Washington State donated to the Museum
a collection of 32 plates of embroidery samples from various regions
of Ukraine. Originally these embroideries were collected by and
belonged to Mother Severine Parille of the Basilian order. She
was the principal of a girl’s High School in Lviv in the 1920s
and 30s which was run by the Basilian Order. An ardent collector
of folk art, she organized a small museum at the school. Later,
in times of need, (around 1936) she sold some items to a Ukrainian
Cultural Center in Detroit and to the Ukrainian Museum and Library
of Stamford...
Plates 1-8 have floral embroidery designs from the Boiko region.
Plates 9-10 have both cross stitch and nyz designs from the Hutsul
region.
- Mrs. Maria Rejnarowycz and Anya Borysenko donated to the Ukrainian
Museum and Library 27 boxes of publications from the Library of
Lev Rejnarowycz. Among the materials are literary works, music
scores, sheet music, a unique collection of children’s books and
books on religion in German.
Lev Rejnarowycz (1914-1987) was an opera singer (baritone).He was
a graduate of the Lysenko Higher Institute of Music in Lviv and from
1941 he was a soloist at the Lviv Opera House. From 1946 he was a
member of B. Piurko’s Ukrainian Opera Ensemble in Germany. In 1949
he immigrated to Unites States and appeared on stage in various cities
and on television. He was active member of the Ukrainian community
in New York in organizing concerts and opera productions.
