Public Affairs Section > Cultural Events > Patchwork Quilts and Decorative Art

American Patchwork Quilts and Ukrainian Decorative Art:
Common Motifs and Symbols from a More Rustic Past
November 8 - December 7, 2003
Kyiv, 5 Tereschenkivska Str.

From the United States to Ukraine, two distinctive traditions of decorative art come together in an unusual exhibition: patchwork quilts and Ukrainian decorative art.

The quilts on display are made by Ukrainian women and designed by an American woman living in Kyiv, Eliza Burnham. The works on display — boxes, accessories for the home and greetings cards — are made in the traditional Ukrainian decorative style and are the work of Inna Kalnybolotska.

Many of the motifs and ornaments used in both these folk art forms are similar. This is probably because folk artists drew their inspiration from the same sources: everyday life, nature and religion.

Another common feature is the use of vivid color schemes, contrasted with a light or dark background.

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