Aid Through Art is a pop-up exhibition to raise funds for those affected by the war in Ukraine. It’s difficult to comprehend what is currently happening in Ukraine and many people are not aware that eastern Ukraine has been experiencing an ongoing war for the past 8 years. While it may be far away, it is affecting the whole world and some people in our community are especially affected with loved ones in an unimaginable situation. In particular, the family of one of our Wanaka Arts community, Olga Zoma.
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With the support of Wanaka Arts, the Wanaka Community Hub and many generous local businesses, we are running a live exhibition in Wanaka at the Hub, as well as an online exhibition run on Felt.co.nz.
Both Exhibitions will be running for the month of May, with ticketing and commissions donated to help those in need.
Wanaka Community Hub Exhibition
Opening Night Friday 6th May Art displayed and for sale between 2 - 31st May.
Address: 34 McDougall Street
Felt Online
Exhibition
We are selling prints on Felt in a collective web-shop.
The shop will be live between
1 - 31st May or until sold out
Olga's Story
It’s difficult to comprehend what is currently happening in Ukraine and many people are not aware that eastern Ukraine has been experiencing an ongoing war for the past 8 years. While it may be far away, it is affecting the whole world and some people in our community are especially affected, with loved ones in an unimaginable situation. In particular, the family of one of our Wanaka Arts community, Olga Zoma.
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Olga’s family lives in Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine. Sloviansk is close to what is known as the ‘line of contact’ in the grinding 8 year-long war in the Donbas. Amidst brutality which has become routine, they have tried to fashion some semblance of ‘normal existence’. However, the recent invasion has ripped away any pretence of normalcy. Currently, Sloviansk is slowly being encircled (www.liveuamap.com) by the invading forces.
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In 2014, Olga's life was uprooted in Donetsk city (2 hours’ drive from Sloviansk) when fighting broke out between Russian-backed separatists and the Ukrainian army. The city is now part of the ‘Donetsk People's Republic’ (a self-proclaimed breakaway state), which the Ukraine government considers a terrorist organisation and the area as temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. This led to the ongoing war over the territory with citizens trapped amongst it.
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Olga is among the lucky ones as she managed to find work with an NGO in Ireland, learn English and re-build her life in the Western World. However, most people in eastern Ukraine are not so lucky, as Ukraine is not part of the EU and there are no work or travel visas available for them. Given the location, most people were also never exposed to English and with this language barrier it makes it even harder to obtain visas to work outside Ukraine.
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One of Olga’s brothers and his family managed to find temporary refuge in the western part of Ukraine. However, they can’t leave Ukraine as males of fighting age, under 60, are conscripted. Olga’s other brother and his wife are doctors, and they are also unable to leave the country. Given their profession, they are considered critical workers that must attend to the wounded. Their children are having to look after themselves and are frequently having to hide in bomb shelters. Olga’s mother lives a 25 minute drive away and is suffering from the symptoms of long Covid. They are running out of supplies and cash and most banks no longer work (in the ‘front line’).
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Olga’s family recently managed to shift to a town which is slightly further away from the front line and she is hoping that they will be able to avoid the worst of the conflict. They had to leave their lives, homes and most of their belongings behind and are now having to compete with thousands of displaced people to find rental accommodation in an extremely inflated market.
OUR SPONSORS
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