Browse Exhibits (1 total)

Embroidery flourishes in many parts of the world. It seems to be an art whose practitioners freely trade designs since similar motifs exist in many cultures. This online collection focuses on the European country of Ukraine and embroidery as they practice it there and in Ukrainian American communities here in the United States.

Ukrainian embroiderers ascribe spiritual meaning to the designs they use in their craft. This collection looks at some of the most prevalent, enduring motifs that one can choose for special projects or intentions.

As an unsought war devastated the land and people of Ukraine, in May 2022, Twitter saw many greetings exchanged for Vyshyvanka Day, a holiday dedicated to the traditional embroidered blouse, vyshyvanka. The collection looks at the origin and celebration of this day. During such devastation, this joy and pride can seem surprising. It expressed hope and meaning that caught on beyond the borders of Ukraine.

Like all immigrants to the United States, Ukrainian people bring the gift of their culture with them; one aspect is embroidery on shirts and more. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, with local cultural heritage groups, conducts ethnographic studies around the country. This collection highlights some of the work done in Ukrainian American communities in Chicago, Illinois, and Rhode island in the 1970s.

For visitors who feel inspired to try their hand at Ukrainian-style embroidery, the last page of the exhibit displays several patterns for consideration. These patterns also provide an example of one of the ways embroiderers communicate and learn their art. 

The resources in this collection come from the Internet. The sources are online news services, a blog, an online encyclopedia, a foundation website, social media, a digital library, and a web archive. They are shared here with the intent of educating viewers as well as inspiring creativity and human solidarity.