Reading test "Taras Gorodetskiy- the Man and Master in the Ukrainian and World Culture"

Taras Gorodetsky

Taras Gorodetsky was born to a patriotic Ukrainian family, on August 28, 1964 in Chervonohrad. His father, who was a former intelligence agent of the Ukrainian Revolting Army, was sentenced to 25 years in the Soviet camps of Kazakhstan and Vorkuta. However, this did not hamper his creativity. Gorodetsky graduated from Chervonohrad High School №11 (later Gymnasia, now Lyceum) with honors. He received a degree in civil engineering from "Lviv Polytechnical University".  Gorodetsky became interested in painting Easter eggs in the late 1960s. He decided to learn this difficult art, and it was his persistence and perseverance that led him to mastering ‘vizerunkotvorinnya’.  He became one of the most influential and respected pysanka masters not only in Ukraine but in the entire world. His works, of which there are about two or three thousand, are well-known in the U.S., Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. Gorodetsky was consumed with painting Easter eggs by the end of the 1980s. The impetus for that was a trip to the Museum of Architecture and Life in Pirogovo in 1992. The decline of this art form was a motivating factor for Gorodetsky. When he realized that few people were engaged with Easter eggs, he decided to make his contribution to the development of this art.  When he saw that it worked, it inspired him to further develop his technique. He also made great efforts to spread this artform throughout Ukraine by helping new learners. The success of his students encouraged him. He painted on samples of the traditional Easter eggs, and later he used his imagination to create more intricate patterns. He was a well-educated draftsman, and it is said he created the universe in his eggs and whoever saw them, could never forget them. Museum professionals and private collectors considered it an honor to have the works of Gorodetsky in their collections. The palette of his work is extremely broad. His works are grounded in a harmonious combination of old folk symbols. The half-forgotten symbols of Tripoli, Sokal and kosmatski motives were unbeaten in Taras Gorodetsky’s creative  performance. Compositional elegance, extremely rich picture and color, advanced techniques - these miniature masterpieces were very distinct.

 In his free time Gorodetsky enjoyed travelling to the Carpathians, climbing its slopes, passing mountain rivers by canoe, radiating vitality and strength.

 Taras Gorodetsky also took an active part in the cultural life of Ukraine. He was a member of the first and second International Congress of pysankariv,  as well as a jury member of the International competition of children's Easter eggs (Ivano - Frankivsk, 1996).

Taras Gorodetsky put a piece of his soul into each Easter egg. Striking compositional refinement, drawing diverse and unmatched color, exceptional skill performance of Gorodetsky, according to experts, can not be confused with others.

 On September 26, 2006 the outstanding artist of pysanka passed away but the star of his work has been shining brightly in different countries up to now. The book "The World in Eggs of Taras Gorodetsky" showed that the high aspirations of the soul do not know decay, artistic masterpieces destined to a long life. These works of art are on a par with the creative achievements of famous Ukrainian pysankariv as Oksana Bilous, Julia Burko-Romanishyn, Svetlana Deysun, Tatiana Zatserklyana, Sofia Zyelyk, Joahn Snihur, Inna , Alexander Chorniy...

In some ways, Taras Gorodetsky can be compared with the composer Vladimir Ivasyuk or actor Joahn Mykolaichuk. They had a spark of God, all of them worked selflessly, all were great Ukrainians. However, Taras Gorodetsky’s "weapon" was different, it turned out to be a peaceful  Easter egg.

A Good opportunity for learning "phenomenon of Gorodetsky" was presented at the Ukrainian festival in honour of his memory, which was held on September 24-25th in Chervonohrad. It was well-organized, people came to that festival from different parts of Ukraine and visited the grave of the great master.  They went on an interesting tour "Decorative and Applied Arts of the Sokal district," and the most interesting was the "round table" on " Taras Gorodetsky: Master and Man" - in the context of Ukrainian and world culture.

 1. Match the numbers and events

1. 1964             a) number of school

2. 25                 b)  inspiring travel

3. 11                 c) his birth

4. 1992            d) in captivity

5. 2006            e) his death

        2. Fill in the words in the sentences.

elegance, efforts, masterpieces, palette, samples, symbols

1. He made great …… to spread his art in Ukraine.

2. First he painted wrote on …… of the traditional Easter eggs.

3. The …… of his works is extremely broad.

4. The grounds of his works are old folk …… in the harmonious combination , the use of half-forgotten symbols of Tripoli, Sokal and kosmatski motives …

5. Compositional …… extremely rich picture and colors, the most perfect techniques –these miniature …… were very distinguishing among all others.

      3. Choose the correct answer.

1. Taras Gorodetsky graduated from

       a) Lviv Polytechnic University

        b)Lutsk Polytechnic University

         c)Kyiv Polytechnic University

2.Taras became interested in

        a) folk dancing

         b) painting Easter eggs

       c) folk music

3. In 1992 the artist made a trip to

         a) Dresden Art Gallery

         b) Tretyakov Gallery

         c) the Museum of Architecture and Life

4. After all, he was a well-educated

          a) musician

          b) draftsman

          c) painter

5. Anyone who had ever

         a) read his books,

         b) listened to his music,

         c) seen his eggs,

he could longer forget them.

6. The outstanding artist of pysanka died in

           a) 2005

           b) 2006

           c) 2007

7. Taras Gorodetsky can be compared with

        a) Mykola Lysenko and Volodymyr Sosyura

        b) Ihor Bilash and Vasil Stus

        c) Volodymyr Ivasyuk and Ivan Mykolaichu

     4. Answer the questions.

1. When and where was Taras Gorodetsky born?

2. Why was his father sent to Kazakstan and Vorkuta?

3. What education did he get?

4.               What was his favourite activity in the spare time?

5. What kind of art did he decide to learn? What qualities helped him in mastering it?

6. What countries are his works known in?

7.           What inspired him to take up Easter Egg painting?

8.          What are these things that distinguish Taras Gorodetsky’s works from the others?

9.              How can he be compared with other outstanding Ukrainian people that made a great contribution into the culture of our country?