ARKA records: music publishing of mid XX century Ukrainian diaspora in New York
talk + participatory listening + records exhibition
100% of the profits will be redirected to support Ukraine
the event is held in English (+Ukrainian).
ЗБІРКА
meaning
to come together (zbyratys’)
construction of objects (zbirka obyectiv)
to raise funds (zbir koshtiv)
a focal point (tochka zbirky)
006
This is the sixth event in ЗБІРКА series, where we come together to learn, create, and raise funds to help people in Ukraine.
About the event:
This event introduces the unique cultural heritage of the Ukrainian diaspora in mid-20th century New York, with a focus on the ARKA music label and the artist Mykola Butovych. Through a combination of discussion, participatory listening, singing, and a records exhibition, we will explore the journey of Ukrainian emigrants, their creative contributions, and the ways they preserved their cultural identity through music and art.
We will trace Butovych’s emigration story and examine his graphic designs for ARKA records from the late 1950s to early 1960s, followed by listening to digitized tracks from the label’s releases, with an opportunity for group sing-alongs. This event aims to highlight the cultural continuity between past and present, drawing connections between the mid-20th century diaspora and the contemporary Ukrainian experience.
100% of profits from the event will support Ukraine.
About ARKA Records:
In the early 1950s in New York, Yaroslav Pastushenko, in partnership with Roman Porytkо, opened a bookshop called "Arka" (an arch). This new location quickly became a meeting place and a crossroads for the intellectual circles of the émigré community. It was in this environment that the label of the same name, "ARKA," was born, further cementing the shop's status as a unique institution. The records released by the label featured musical works exclusively by Ukrainian soloists and choirs. The label published both music by emigrant artists and materials that trickled in from Soviet Ukraine. All of this aimed to develop and promote Ukrainian culture.
About Butovych:
An artist, graphic designer, master of book illustration, and caricaturist. A soldier of the Ukrainian People's Republic Army from 1917 to 1921, Mykola Butovych had the opportunity to study at two of Central Europe's finest graphic art schools: the Leipzig Academy of Graphic Arts and the Higher School of Arts and Crafts in Prague. After his studies, he worked in Berlin, Prague, Paris, Lviv, Carpathian Ukraine, and Yugoslavia. His deep understanding of Ukrainian mythology, folklore, and ethnography, combined with a solid education, allowed Butovych to develop into an authentic modern artist without whom the history of Ukrainian fine arts cannot be told.
Fundraiser
100% of the profits will be redirected to support Ukrainian defenders from 5ОШБр.
Further details will be shared on our Instagram page.
We will do our best to create warm atmosphere, where everyone can enjoy old Ukrainian music, homemade food, and a beautiful space.
Should you have any questions or would like to discuss your idea in advance, do not hesitate to contact us via Instagram.