Out of the Kiln – Rooster Lecture

NOV 18, 2023 to NOV 18, 2023

2:00pm – 3:00pm

ACUA Gallery
10554 110 street NW
Unit 100, Edmonton AB

In April 2022 when Borodyanka, Ukraine was liberated, the world was taken aback by photos of a ceramic rooster, peacefully sitting on a shelf in an apartment which had been destroyed by bombs. This rooster has since become a symbol of the resilience shown by the people of Ukraine. It has been gifted to political leaders who have visited Ukraine, brought knowledge of Ukrainian folklore to the general public through various exhibitions, and has even been the subject of internet memes. This presentation will explore the history behind ceramics and pottery in Ukrainian culture, the symbolism of the rooster in Ukrainian folklore and its newfound fame after being rescued from a shelf in Borodyanka.

Victoria Kostyniuk received her MA in Transnational and Comparative Literature in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies in Spring of 2023. She is currently a PhD student in Media and Cultural Studies and is focusing her research on Ukrainian church halls in Alberta and their role as heritage spaces for Ukrainian Canadians. In her spare time, Victoria is a Ukrainian dance instructor with St. Basil’s School of Dance and enjoys cooking Ukrainian cuisine with her family.