“Passion Week” - Limited Edition Giclee on Canvas, 29”x36”, with included hand-painted frame.

Edition of 99

This painting, to be auctioned off for the Dominican Friars, is an extremely symbolic still life and central work of the Still Alive Series. “Passion Week” embodies the indiscernible nature of the conflict. This painting is not intended to make sense of the purposes of this war, rather show how the Ukrainian and Russian peoples are like brothers and sisters.

In “Passion Week” there are elements of Ukrainian and Russian items, with some other foreign elements. In the center of the composition, we see paska bread and Easter eggs. These represent the primary religious, holy orthodox beliefs that both peoples practice. The tapestry that these items rest on resembles a traditional Russian pattern. The sunflowers represent Ukraine, their national flower. The wine bottle contains a Molotov cocktail, created originally by Russian revolutionaries and now used by the Ukrainians to ward them off. Vodka represents both countries, embraced by Ukraine and Russia, alike. The bananas, oranges, and other fruits represent foreign intervention— such produce does not grow indigenously in either nation. The bullet casings and hand grenades are nonchalantly scattered for both nations; this shows how familiar both Ukraine and Russia are with war and oppression. “Passion Week” speaks of an unfathomable uncertainty. This conflict, presented by the piece, neither makes sense nor will benefit anyone.