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Yesterday I received a newsletter that introduced me to the work of Ivanka Demchuk, a Ukrainian artist who lives in Lviv, the largest city in Western Ukraine. Ivanka is an icon painter, and she chose to build her career in Lviv because of its rich cultural heritage based on Western and Eastern Christian traditions. Although Lviv is currently under attack, she reports that life is still relatively stable. Despite the ongoing war, Ivanka is still going about her daily business, painting icons. While tradition matters to her, she also sees value in challenging it. To minimize any gap between the viewer and her icons, she sometimes chooses to place her characters in modern exteriors or to include aspects of modernity. She also occasionally modifies traditional characters by depicting them in non-traditional ways. Painting wingless angels is an example of this. As an artist, she "hopes to create connection, cultivate an ethos of belonging, and stir a sense of spiritual solidarity." (The above was adapted from "A Letter from Lviv" in Jeff Chu's weekly email newsletter.) In the closing, the newsletter included the following: If you would like to support Ivanka Demchuck and her family, her Etsy shop is still operating. However, you'll need to be patient because they aren't able to ship as quickly as usual, given the conditions on the ground. Well, I visited Ivanka's Etsy shop and was captivated by her artistry and creativity. (And, yes, I did end up placing an order.) I recommend a visit as well, just to see her amazing images. (And, of course, you also have the option of helping support Ivanka and her family during very difficult times.)
  The Garden by Ivanka Demchuk
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I'm stepping back from social media so this is where I share links that I think others might enjoy. They will rarely be related to photography though! Archives
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