ABOUT LARISA

Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn, was born in Edmonton, and having graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art & Design from the University of Alberta, has become an accomplished Canadian artist.

As a painter, Larisa’s preferred medium is water colour. The bold and colourful work she produces, demonstrates a unique artistic style that has enabled her to enjoy a busy professional life. She dedicates herself to creating commissioned works as well as producing theme based collections.   Major  collections include:  Flowers of the Americas (1996) Flowers of the Bible (2000), Celebrating Women(2005) and Dance Me… (2008).

Larisa is also known for her illustration of children’s books and educational text.  Painting Stories- Having Fun with Language, a retrospective exhibit of her illustrations from the 1980’s, was featured  by Alberta Historic Sites at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in 2008-09.

The impact of Larisa’s art has reached deeply into the community. Dramatic imagery, combining reflections of relevant historical moments, environmental beauty and sensitivity, cultural influences and identities with poignant social statements, has brought her international attention and acclaim.  Her works can be found in collections across Canada, throughout South America, Australia and Europe.

Larisa’s collection Dance Me… represents a new creative direction that embraces an exciting collaboration between herself and other artists from our cultural community, particularly choreographers, dancers and animators.  The amazing energy and imagery provided by Leonard Cohen has added a unique vibrancy to Larisa’s paintings, breathing them to life from new, innovative perspectives.

In October of 2010 Larisa unveiled the largest piece she has created to date.  “An Ensemble of Colour”, measuring 4 ft high x 16 ft wide, was created commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dancers.  She also created 3 new animated/projected backdrops for  dances performed at the anniversary Gala.

Major Solo Exhibitions

A Little Illumination – Dec 2012 – Edmonton -UCAMA Museum – An exploration of light using a “poured paint” technique.

Poppies From My Palette – May 2011 – Ottawa – Featuring new pieces that explore watercolour and ink on paper.

“An Ensemble of Colour” – Unveiled at the Cheremosh 40th Anniversary Gala along with 3 new animated backdrops which accompanied choreography by Mykola Kanevetz.

Tower of Song – Edmonton September 2009 Featuring the “Dance Me…” collection of paintings and integrated arts performances – inspired by the works of Leonard Cohen.

Pioneer Suite – An integrated arts project in collaboration with the Viter Ukrainian Dancers featuring an Animated/Projected Backdrop based on three new images – “Kalyna”, “Kanada”, “Our Passion”. Unveiled at the Arden Theatre in St. Albert June 2009

Dance Me… This collection is inspired by the works of Leonard Cohen. It was originally unveiled at the International Leonard Cohen Festival in July 2008. The collection features 8 watercolour paintings and 5 animated short films which were featured in a dance performance collaboration.

Paintings Stories – A retrospective of Larisa’s book illustrations created for Kazka Production Inc. in the 1980’s. The exhibit is hosted by Alberta Historic sites and is one display at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village April 2008 – December 2009

On-Line Exhibition – 49 floral studies – cyberspace event – artbylarisa.comoriginals Nov. 2007

Sing-A-Long Adventures – A compilation of Larisa’s book illustrations

Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon, Sask Aug 2005-Jan 2006
Oseredok Museum & Cultural Centre, Winnipeg. MB April – June 2003

Celebrating Women – A collection of 25 paintings – “Celebrating Women” was a national touring exhibition initiated by the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC). It was unveiled in Ottawa in October 2004 and toured across Canada, from Victoria to Halifax in 2004-05.

Baba’s Garden – Larisa’s collection of 20 paintings was hosted at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village in 2002. It was co-sponsored by Alberta Historic Sites and CBC Radio. The project was a reflection on the ties early pioneers had with the food and flowers they grew in their hard-earned gardens.

Flowers of the Bible – a Canadian Millennium Partnership Project featured 25 of Larisa’s paintings and toured Canada in 2000-01. This exhibit was viewed by over 250,000 people and raised funds of over $400,000 for various projects such as the Rainbow Society, Breast Cancer Research and many senior and youth programs across Canada.

Blossoms of Colour – Victoria, BC Sept 1997

A Collection of Colours – Geneva Botanical Gardens, Geneva Switzerland, May 1997

Flowers of the Americas – This collection of paintings achieved international acclaim in 1995 – 96. The exhibit travelled across Canada, South America and through to Europe. Proceeds from the sales were directed to World Wildlife International (WWF), and Larisa was joined in Geneva by HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, who participated in the celebrations and recognized Larisa for her work.

Festival of Poppies – Winnipeg, Pantages Theatre Foyer Gallery, April 1994

Wildflowers – Edmonton, Walterdale Theatre Foyer Gallery, Jan. 1994

Festival of Poppies – Solo Show – Edmonton, Tucker Amphitheatre, Mar 1993

Edmonton Art Club – Group Show – Edmonton Art Gallery, 1992

Education

  • MA – Ukrainian Folklore (2016) University of Alberta
  • BFA – Art & Design (’81) University of Alberta
  • Banff Centre (2012) Performance and Projection bootcamp
  • Continuing Education – Watercolour Classes
  • Edmonton Art Gallery – a variety of classes between 1964 and 1994
  • Strathcona Composite High School (’76)

Awards

  • 2016 – Gregory & Julie Patrick Award in Ukrainian Culture
  • 2015 – Slavic and East European Studies 75 Anniversary MA Scholarship
  • 2015 – Gregory & Julie Patrick Award in Ukrainian Culture
  • 2015 – Kawulych Ukrainian Folklore Graduate Award
  • 2014/15 2015/16 Kuryliw Scholarship
  • 2010 – “U of A Alumni Honour Award” In September 2010, Larisa was recognized by the University of Alberta for her artistic achievements and contributions to the community
  • “Woman of Vision – May 2005” Global TV honoured Larisa for her outstanding achievements in the community by naming her the Woman of Vision for May 2005.
  • “City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence Arts Achievement Award”- 2002
    In 2002 Larisa was acknowledged by the City of Edmonton for her contribution to the community and was named recipient of the “City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence Arts Achievement Award”.

Children’s Book Illustrations

Larisa’s children’s book illustrations are known to tens of thousands of children in Ukrainian/English Bilingual education throughout Canada, the US, England, Australia, and in Ukraine. She has illustrated 5 “Canadian Best Sellers” (having sold more than 8,000 copies each) for the publisher Kazka Productions Ltd.. The Mosquito’s Wedding, Snow Folks, Spring Serenade, The Enchanted Christmas Tree, and Sing-a-long Treasures continue to be used as supplementary reading for bilingual English/Ukrainian instruction.

School Text Illustrations

Many elementary and junior high students in Alberta and Ontario are familiar with Larisa’s illustrations. Ordinary People in Canada’s Past, Ordinary People in Alberta’s Past, A Quebec Experience and Brazil were illustrated in part by Larisa and published by Arnold Publishing Ltd, as recommended reading for the Social Studies curriculum in both provinces.

Published Catalogues

  • Cheladyn, Larisa Sembaliuk (2004) Celebrating Women, Ottawa, ON: National Council of Women of Canada
  • Cheladyn, Larisa Sembaliuk (1999) Flowers of the Bible, Edmonton, AB: Ecclesia Publishing Corp.

Museum Displays

  • Cheladyn, Larisa & Iryna Jendzjowsky (2016), Lest We Forget, Edmonton, Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta.
  • Nahachewsky, Andriy, et.al. (2016), Making a New Home, Edmonton, AB: Kule Folklore Centre
  • Bissonette, Anne, Cheladyn, Larisa et al., “Stitched Narratives” – Co-curator, HECOL Gallery, University of Alberta, April 2015.
  • “What’s New?” – Co-participant – UAlberta Museums and Services, Enterprise Square, April, 2015
  • Nahachewsky, Andriy, et.al. (2011), Journey to Canada, Edmonton, AB: Kule Folklore Centre
  • Onufrijchuk, Roman and Irka Balan (2006), Vasile Avramenko: A Legacy of Ukrainian Dance, Winnipeg, MB: Shevchenko Foundation.

Papers Presentations/Lectures

  • “History of Ukrainian Embroidery in Alberta” – Costume Society of America -Western Region Conference Edmonton, AB -Guest Speaker – July 2016.
  • “Pillow Talk” – Vegreville Pysanka Society – Vegreville, AB July 2016
  • “Embroidered Memories” – Ualberta Dept. of Finance (COWFLOP) – Conference Nov 2015 Guest speaker.
  • “Collecting Embroidery” – Reflecting on Summer Fieldwork & Research” – Ukrainian Self Reliance League Luncheon – Keynote Speaker – Edmonton, AB October, 2015
  • “ACUA – 35th anniversary Key note address” – Edmonton, AB, September, 2015
  • “Embroidered Memories: The Ukrainian-Canadian Embroidered Pillow” – Student Poster Presentations, Human Ecology, University of Alberta. April 2015.
  • “Collecting Memories: The Ukrainian Canadian Embroidered Pillow” – Alberta Pioneer Association, AGM Guest Speaker, Edmonton, AB, April 19. 2015.
  • “History of the Rusalka Ukrainian Dancers in Calgary”, Friends of the Ukrainian Folklore Centre, AGM Keynote Speaker, Edmonton, AB, August 2014.

Workshops

Larisa has lectured and taught in various schools and institutions including:

  • The King’s University College – Edmonton – Sessional Instructor – Illustration
  • Edmonton Public Schools – Artist in residence
  • Edmonton Catholic Schools – Artist in Residence
  • Saskatoon Catholic Schools – Artist in Residence
  • Winnipeg Public Schools – Artist in Residence
  • University of Los Andes (Merida, Venezuela)
  • Jardin Botanique du Geneve (Geneva, Switzerland)
  • Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (Edmonton, AB)
  • Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Alberta Historic Sites (Edmonton, AB)
  • Oseredok Museum and Cultural Centre (Winnipeg, MB)
  • Victoria School for Visual and Performing Arts (Edmonton, AB)
  • St. Martin’s School (Edmonton, AB) – Artist in Residence Spring 2004
  • Delwood School (Edmonton, AB)

Major Collections (selected works)

International

  • Buckingham Palace (London, England)
  • Canadian Embassy (Caracas, Venezuela)
  • Canadian Embassy (Kiev, Ukraine)
  • Korean Embassy (Montevideo, Uruguay)
  • Gutzwiller & Sons Banquiers (Basel, Switzerland)
  • Smithsonian Institute (Washington DC, USA)
  • His Beatitude Patriarch Bartholomew (Athens, Greece)

Canadian

  • Edmonton Catholic School Board
  • Ukrainian Embassy (Ottawa)
  • Carpathia Credit Union (Winnipeg)
  • Hauptman Hart Cherkawsky (Edmonton)
  • The Salvation Army Agape Hospice (Calgary)
  • Imperial Oil Canada (Calgary)
  • Shevchenko Foundation (Winnipeg)
  • Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company

Performance Projection and Animation Projects

  • 2012 – “Bud’mo Cheremosh” Edmonton, Meyer Horowitz Theatre – Creator of projected animations for dances: Tamborine, Bukovynian Rhapsody and Edmonton Hopak Collaborating Choreographer: Mykola Kanavets Collaborating Technician: Nico Van Der Kley
  • 2010 – Cheremosh 40th Anniversary Gala – Edmonton Expo Centre Creator of projected animations for dances: Tamborine, Bukovynian and Edmonton Hopak Collaborating Choreographer: Mykola Kanavets Collaborating Technician: Nico Van Der Kley
  • 2009 – “Pioneer Suite” – Viter Ukrainian Dance Ensemble – Eva O Howard Theatre Creator of projected animations for Pioneer Suite Collaborating Choreographers: Tasha Orysiuk, Les Sereda Collaborating Technician: Nico Van Der Kley
  • 2009 – “Tower of Song” – Celebrating Leonard Cohen – Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton Creator of projected animations for four contemporary dances Collaborating Choreographers: Joanne Lowry, Maria Chia, Tatiana Cheladyn Collaborating Technician: Nico Van Der Kley
  • 2008 – “Dance Me…” International Leonard Cohen Festival – Shoctor Theatre, Edmonton Artistic Director and creator of projected animations for five contemporary dances Collaborating Choreographers: Joanne Lowry, Maria Chia, Tatiana Cheladyn Collaborating Technician: Nico Van Der Kley

Clothing & Textiles

  • 2004 – Silk Scarf – featuring poppy image “National Pride” produced by NCWC
  • 2006 – Vinok LaParka – Featuring image “Vinok” produced by Linda Lundstrom Inc.

Community Involvement

  • Kule Centre for Ukrainian & Canadian Folklore University of Alberta – Board Member
  • Vinok Worldance Folkloric Ensemble – Board Member

Charitable Contributions

Larisa values the importance of sharing her artistic skills and knowledge with the community. When planning an exhibition, Larisa incorporates charitable donations as part of the project objective. Contributions to date have included funds forwarded to the World Wildlife Fund International, the Salvation Army Agape Hospice in Calgary, the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton, The University of Alberta Osvita Medical Program, The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, the FreeWill Players – River City Shakespeare Festival in Edmonton, and the Walterdale Theatre in Edmonton.