Ukrainian Art Bridge Fellowship

Six artist-performers from Kharkiv are in residence in Chicago for the month of October as part of the John David Mooney Foundation's  Ukrainian Art Bridge Fellowship. This program was developed to provide emergency support and housing for Ukrainian Artists impacted by Russia's aggression on the people and culture of Ukraine.  The Foundation with the support of its generous benefactors is providing living accommodations and studio space for the artists and their families.

The Kharkiv Slovo Theater is a group of artists, actors, performers and directors working to write, develop, workshop, and perform an original piece while in residence at the John David Mooney Foundation.  The work is based on the writing of Mykola Khyvylovy and his 1924 novella "I am (a Romantic)," in which the head of the Cheka, a communist law enforcement agency, must decide whether or not to sentence his own mother to death following the ideals of the Commune.

This short story inspired Paris-based playwright, Audrey Rose Degez, to apply for residency at Slovo Theater in Kharkiv, where Khyvylovy suffered at the hands of Stalin, and to develop a play based on his work.   The February 24th invasion of Ukraine made this impossible; instead, she managed to bring Slovo Theater to America and to workshop in Chicago.

All are invited to attend the following events hosted by the John David Mooney Foundation, International Currents Gallery:

114 West Kinzie Street, Chicago, IL, 60654

Valet Parking is available next door at 108 West Kinzie, and self-park in the Sterling Park Garage directly across the street from the Foundation

Saturday, October 15 from 11am to 1pm

Discussion and workshop on the author Khyvylovy and Kharkiv's Slovo Theater, Methodology and personal experiences.

Thursday, October 20, at 7pm

Performance of work in progress.

Friday, October 21, at 7pm

Performance of work in progress.