Katya Chomitzky

Katya Chomitzky is originally from Saskatoon, SK and has a BA with a Major in Political Science and a Minor in History of Art, Design and Visual Culture, from the University of Alberta. She is now in the second year of her thesis-based master's program in Media and Cultural Studies at the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, University of Alberta. Katya also works as a Research Assistant at the Kule Folklore Centre.

Katya's research focuses on Ukrainian embroidery as a symbol of de-russification and cultural unification. She is currently looking for participants for her research project. Continue reading for more information about her research, and contact Katya directly if you are interested in participating.

 

 

Dear Friends,

Ukrainian embroidery has recently re-emerged within the national sphere of fashion as a modernized trend, decorating clothing and accessories. Since the Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity in 2013-2014 there has been a substantial resurgence of traditional patterns that had seen decreased popularity throughout the soviet period (1917-1991). This trend has since spread to adorn personal protective equipment (PPE), especially through the decoration of non-medical face masks. This survey will ask questions to the general public and designers/artisans pertaining to the personal and public functions of embroidery.

All members of the Ukrainian Canadian community and national Ukrainians, ages 18+, have been invited to participate in this study. Your insight into the representation of culture through performative means, such as facemasks, will be invaluable to my thesis based on the subject. The findings of this study may further be published in an academic journal upon approval. Funding for research has been attained through the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies.

In order to gauge community response and the motivation behind the creation of embroidered PPE, this research will contribute to the larger field of Material Culture Studies, as well as Ukrainian studies. It is valuable as it not only examines this new phenomenon that the world is currently living with, but it also explores embroidery in general. Ukrainian embroidery has only been re-popularized in society and fashion since the first celebration of World Vyshyvanka Day in 2006. Since then, embroidery has been used as a symbol of de-russification and cultural unification, a trend that is visible particularly during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan Revolution of Dignity. This new medium is only one additional avenue that embroidery has taken in its cultural resurgence.

For those wishing to participate, please email the principal investigator, Katya Chomitzky, at chomitzk[at]ualberta.ca