Awaken the inner artist in YOU.

Ukrainian Museum, New York NY – The most recent works created by Christina Saj, for the Ukrainian Museum, explores sharing her process in way that lets the audience participate. And what fun! this exhibit encourages the unexpected, especially in a museum context — come and PLEASE TOUCH the art. As museum visitors increasingly seek to engage in more immersive experiences, in this groundbreaking exhibition Saj changes the dialogue between artist and viewer. She encourages the audience to collaborate and co-create a piece of art, which then remains as part of the exhibition.
 
Many of us occasionally secretly had that familiar pang walking through the pristine and serene gallery spaces and resisting the primal urge to touch things as we experience them. This show invites just that. Come and create a piece of art, picking up where the artist left off.
 
Christina Saj, shares that for her “the creative act is a  visceral activity that comes naturally. It’s often intuitive and even impulsive.  As a painter, physicality is an important part of the design process.  One is inspired by “the stuff” that art is made of. It’s part of where inspiration comes from. When asked to come up with ideas for a participatory exhibit she naturally thought about what brings every artist joy, the creative act itself. That feeling of  being able to combine some impulses, colors and ideas and to have an artwork seemingly magically materialize. So I’ve allowed the visitor jump in midstream. In a few moments you can build a painting with the components I have provided.” She further encourages that we embrace the changes we bring to her work and photograph the pieces we’ve made to document our participation in the show to become part of it. This way, anyone can revisit the shows progress and follow the shows virtual evolution on Instagram at #RecreateAtUM.

So for this artist, the creative act is no longer a solitary activity. But one that can shared. There are 12 panels in the gallery affording you plenty of options to participate. You can make a modest edit or revise an entire panel. It’s been fascinating to watch the public response.

There’s something about having some tools and simple “way in” that can offer those who have never created a painting a way to think about color, composition, form and meaning. Saj’s signature richly patterned bright palette grabs us and gives us a vocabulary to assume as our own as we join in mid-project, afforded this chance to create and remember how to just “play”.

At it’s best, art takes us out of the chaos of the moment and reminds us what it is to be human, to feel, to understand, or to simply be. Come, make and hang out being an artist at the Ukrainian Museum.

About the Artist

Christina Saj’s work has been widely exhibited, including such venues as the Museum of Biblical Art, The National Cathedral, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC, Union Theological Seminary, The Ukrainian Museum in New York, The Museum of Cultural Heritage (Kiev, Ukraine), the American Embassy in Qatar, as well as at the White House. Her works reside in private and museum collections in the US and abroad. She holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, an MFA from Bard College and studied Byzantine Art History at Oxford University. She has had over 20 one woman shows in as many years and maintains an active studio in NJ where she welcomes commissions.

About the Museum

The Ukrainian Museum acquires, preserves, and exhibits articles of artistic or historic significance to the rich cultural heritage of Ukrainian Americans; its collections include thousands of items of folk art, fine art, and archival material. At its founding in 1976 by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, the Museum was hailed as one of the finest achievements of Americans of Ukrainian descent. Since then, and particularly since its move in 2005 to a new, state-of-the-art building in Manhattan’s vibrant East Village, it has become known as one of the most interesting and dynamic smaller museums in New York City. Each year, the Museum organizes several exhibitions, publishes bilingual (English/Ukrainian) catalogues, and presents a wide range of public and educational programs, including concerts, films, lectures, courses, workshops, and special events.

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The Ukrainian Museum
222 East 6th Street (between Second and Third Avenues)
New York, NY 10003
T: 212.228.0110
F: 212.228.1947
info@ukrainianmuseum.org
www.ukrainianmuseum.org

Media contact:

Hanya Krill – HanyaKrill@ukrainianmuseum.org
T: 212.228.0110