From Social Realism to Church Art: the Work of the Ukrainian-Lemko Artist Nicholas Bervinchak

We invite you to view an interview with Michael Buryk about Bervinchak's biography, art, and his portrait of Anna Sten.

Born in 1903 in the northeastern Pennsylvania coal region to parents from the Lemko village of Rzepedz in the Bieszczady Mountains of southeast Poland, Nicholas Bervinchak was a coal miner-turned-artist whose work was displayed worldwide, including in the Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution and the White House. Working in the style of social realism, Bervinchak etched many daily scenes from the life of the anthracite region. His unique talent is also reflected in the ecclesiastical murals and decorations that he created for many Eastern European churches from the 1930’s to the 1960’s.

This exhibit of his etchings, his church art (including actual murals from the recently closed St. George church in Minersville, Pennsylvania), and memorabilia is in the Library Gallery of the Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center. The exhibit opening is Saturday, October 15th , from 1-5 PM with a talk by guest curator Mike Buryk at 3 PM. Regular hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM – 5 PM and Saturday from Noon – 5 PM.

There will be special hours for attendees of the Fall Nashi Predky Ukrainian Genealogy conference: the exhibit will be open on Friday, November 4th, from 7-8:30 PM and Saturday, November 5th , from Noon-1:30 PM. Curator Mike Buryk will give a talk on the life and work of the artist from 12:15-1:00 PM on November 5th.