Helen Polishuk blog Archives - Helen Polishuk Blog

Gregorius-the holy sinner

January 27, 2025January 30, 2025 Helen Polishuk

When I came home after this unique performance and excitedly began to share my impressions with my husband, he listened attentively, did not interrupt and with his characteristic Eastern wisdom at the end of my story answered:,,This is possible only in Toronto”
Well, of course, I fully share his words, but I also have my own additions – such a unique work has survived and today we saw it thanks to The Toronto Consort, people who preserve the oldest works and pass them on to us, revive historical masterpieces, help to see the life of past generations through musical prism.

Thank you Daniel Taylor.

Thank you Emma Kirkby

Thank you for its exellence in the performance of medieval,renaissance and early baroque music.

12th century. Today we will talk about it.
What is wonderful and surprising is that literally my previous post talked about the same period, but in Persia, in the East. And today I am publishing about another place – about Europe in the 12th century.
Yesterday, somehow I came across my thought that in the 12th century the church was strong over society and dictated its own rules. People were looking for a way out of their life’s troubles and where then they covered themselves with it, somewhere in the opposite direction of the church they acted. In Europe, a cleavage was already coming. (Yesterday I said that the cleavage occurred in the 15th century, and we were just talking and my interlocutor decided to watch it later, whether it was so. It turned out that I was right, in the middle of the 15th century a dissent occurred, which changed the traditional framework of rules, the secession of Catholicism, Orthodoxy.)
But let’s still talk about GRIGORIOUS_THE HOLY SINNER himself.

I should retell the plot a little, because no matter how much the woman is the cause of all the misfortunes in this work, Gregorius still remains the main character and the misfortune of the whole story.

A young girl sins with her brother before her wedding. This causes her to become pregnant. She hides the pregnancy and gives birth in complete secrecy in a monastery, after which she goes down the aisle. The child is dressed in silk clothes and sent down the river with God in a small boat with a note. A fisherman finds him, brings him to a church official, who leaves the child, asks the fisherman to raise him and helps raise the child as a servant of God.
The mother gets married, but three days after the coronation, her husband and her brother die. She mourns them and buries them.
After 17 years (I am interested in this chronology, it is different from ours, I guess) the boy grows up and becomes the main priest in this area. He needs to get married and his wife becomes his… mother (he and she feel some kind of love and closeness)

Being intimate, the mother sees the signs of her son and asks about them, she understands that in front of her is her son and tells him about it.
He is confused, depressed and killed. He runs away from her, comes to the fisherman, and decides to go to the hermits, where he spends 17 years in the wild nature (again this date).Gregorius throws the key into the sea and says that when the key is found, he will return (very popular for those times).
According to the rules of the time, Paul takes the place of the missing priest and asks three servants to find out and understand what happened to Gregorius.

The messengers come to the fisherman, and the old man treats them to his catch – a big fish. When he cleaned it for them – he found a key in the fish’s belly. It was a sign, and they went to the mountains to look for the hermit. They found him alive, but changed, wild and angry, aggressive. They asked him to come back and showed him the key.
They went to the city, carrying the news of the living Gregorius. Three days later the monk returned to the city, which greeted him with greetings, singing and dancing.
He returned to the rank of Pope.

His mother came to him, having learned that he was alive.
They returned to love, began to live together and even had two heirs.

About the beautiful tales in the form of songs, created in the 12th century.

Sequentia-a series of musical narratives performed by three vocal artists @BenjaminBagby ,@jasminaCrncic and @LucasPapenfusscline

The wonderful trio of vocalists performed the story in German and the originality of the performance is a tribute to the work of Benjamin Bagby, who created this kind of innovative musical storytelling and has been transmitting it for almost 50 years since 1977, nurturing a generation of young performers and touring the world. He created more than 30 recordings spanning the entire Middle Ages(including the complete works of Hildegard von Bingen),film and television productions of medieval music drama.Today I am telling you about a work created in the 12th century.

And this kind of work is called medieval theatre and is a genre of mystery, farces and masks, as well as English cyclical dramas.

Medieval theaters originate from the Roman Empire (again Rome, the Roman Empire. How much the Roman Empire gave us – it left its notes, its traces and affected our lives for a long time, although it itself fell apart and today it is no longer there). From the time of the Roman Empire until the 15th century (when a lot changed in Europe, including what I wrote above) The themes of medieval theaters were always religious themes. Modern interpretation or traditions of medieval performances are plays of mummers, which are staged in the USA and Britain. The parade of mummers takes place every New Year in Philadelphia and is considered a folk parade. But as we can see, it is a continuation of the traditions of medieval performances.

Medieval plays also include mysteries, which are often performed in Britain. Our play is an example of a morality play as a types of drama from Middle Ages.

But how can I tell you now or describe everything that happened on stage yesterday – after all, you have to see it and it is so beautiful and refined that everything that I described to you above is very subtly told to us, the spectators in the hall, with the help of the vocalists playing the harps.

A very beautiful combination of musical harmony, playing instruments and narrative performance.

An hour and a half in one breath. And it seems that we know what will happen now, and again a curl and another story that captivates and makes you listen and follow the story.

I consider myself lucky to have listened and been a spectator of this evening.

Before the performance there was a lecture where we were told about Gregorian chant .This knowledge goes deep into the Roman Catholic origins of the church.Greagorian chant is named after St.Gregory I(590-604) it was collected and codified.

Harmonic monophonic texture makes medival music unique.

Have I filled you with intrigue?
Whenever possible, when you see posters about medieval performances, go without hesitation and enjoy this performance.
I wish you good luck

January 2025

About traditions

January 27, 2025January 30, 2025 Helen Polishuk

My admiration for the art of the ancient and modern East knows no bounds. I am inspired by their elegance and careful observance of traditions. Imagine that most often in the shops at the bazaar or in the salons of small workshops you find entire generations of masters who have dedicated their lives to the work that their great-grandfather and father did. Wood inlay, olive wood carving, ornamentation on the walls and ceilings of mosques – all this is masterfully executed work that is passed down from generation to generation. And despite all the changes taking place in the East with the change of borders of countries and their existence, these people remain devoted to their craft. Simple, talented, modest masters who will take with them their accumulated knowledge, just as the masters who created the Persian rock baleriefs of Mesopotamia once disappeared.

(the combination of carving, inlay and very fine workmanship, finished in silver, creates the shine and magnificence of this door)

I have already described my admiration for the wooden door, made of silver inlay with mother-of-pearl. I will show you its appearance here.
But this is the smallest gold that I would note as a reward for love of the East.
I want to tell you that from the first books that were written in Arabic there are interesting books that we will talk about.

Masnavi by Rumi

This is an interesting collection of jokes and stories taken from the Koran, Hadith stories and simply Persian tales.

Can you, my readers, imagine the old days when books first appeared? That is, letters, written words, paper on which they wrote, and all this was formed into books. Books were written specifically for preservation and transmission to posterity, therefore, rules of conduct and lessons for edification, social order, descriptions of stories, examples of how to live and coexist were written in books. But also, the wise Persians had funny stories and jokes. Everything for the family, so to speak. In one book you could find everything

This is wisdom.
This is Eastern, Islamic wisdom. It would be interesting to get a translation of these stories, because they focus on Sufi interpretations.

This is a work of Rumi – spiritual couplets. And it is the Koran in Persian. It is a six-volume poem.

It was written by Mawlada Jalaluddin Muhammad Rumi, who lived 1207-1273, a Sufi poet, Islamic theologian, faqih. He is originally from the region of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, those places are also called Balkh and therefore he is sometimes called Balkh. His influence, after he created this poem, goes far beyond his place of residence and covers Turks, Greeks, Pashtuns, Persians. His poems have been translated into many languages of the world, and what is interesting is that he has become the best-selling poet in the United States in the modern world.

What is especially interesting is that his poems have received recognition both in the Arab world and in the Persian world, they have been translated and today they are read both in the original language and in translation. His works have influenced the popularity of Persian literature, the literary tradition of the Persians.
I do not really understand what the differences are, so I ask if anyone knows more, please help me and correct me if I am wrong.
After the death of his father, his son, in order to perpetuate the glory of his father’s works, founded the Sufi order of Mavavi, in whose rituals the works of Rumi are used.
Remember those dancing darvishes in Turkey, who spin around themselves, twisting until they feel weightlessness? These darvishes, these men in long white dresses with caps on their heads, who can dance their amazing dances for a very long time, mastering weightlessness and standing firmly, not falling, dancing in a circle. Rami was their spiritual ancestor.
Very interesting.
Rum, Rumi – something familiar. Oh, yes. After all, this is the name of Byzantium, ancient Byzantium, Byzantine Anatolia, a place in southern Turkey. Before the conquest of this place by the Persians and Islamic Turks, it was known as Rome. Roman places. In Arabic, “Rumi” – Roman. Perhaps this refers to the Romans who lived in those places, to the Anatolian areas themselves. In Turkey, there is a tomb of Rumi – also known as the Mevlana Museum – in the city of Konya, Türkiye.

Rumi was from a family of a noble court theologian and his family faced flight, poverty and wandering because of the Mongol invasion of their state of Khorasan. They stopped in the region of southern Turkey, among the Seljuk Turks, where young Rumi received an education and was imbued with a Sufi mood. The most interesting thing that I would like to emphasize is that all the troubles, wars, the death of his son – strengthened him in his views and in old age he devoted himself to literature and preaching. Although his legacy is small, it is very significant. In his poems, he glorifies man, the values of man, his greatness. And this was revolutionary for the society of that time, since it went against the religious teachings of that time.

And thanks to this, his Masnavi appears – the most widely read poem in the world from his legacy. These are couplets in rhyme. And although there is no connection in his work, the tempo and rhythm are felt. The author wrote his work in part already reading it to his student – and here is the purest crystal purity of relations – no one appropriated it, did not sign under the lines, but passed it on, put it on paper and left a legacy as the work of Rami, indicating that the student wrote it. Rumi’s wisdom is beautiful and his poems are magnificent. His tone and tact in writing couplets is beautiful, it is refined and light. And it conveys the mood and talent of Rumi. At least that passage that is known to everyone – about the elephant. That everyone who touched the elephant described it in the dark as if they were feeling a certain part of the animal. And the end of the story is that everyone called it in their own way without seeing everything in general, but if they had turned on the light……
Beautiful…..

January 26,2025

I express my gratitude to the @AgaKhanMuseum Toronto

All exhibits shown in the post are exhibits of the museum and are presented for viewing. There is nothing better than looking at the past through today’s history. Thank you.

Intersections.Threads of tradition and identity.Third Edition.

December 25, 2024January 7, 2025 Helen Polishuk

For the third time, Art Etobiko is hosting a juried exhibition on New Year’s Eve that celebrates the multiculturalism and richness of our Toronto artist community.
This year’s exhibition ran from November 21 to December 21,2024.

Cloverdale Mall,The East Mall,Etobicoke,Ontario

The exhibition presents works by many artists from all over the world who work in Toronto. And this is what distinguishes our exhibition, that it is always multifaceted, rich and bright.

Present the works both in decorative, and illustrations and paintings of artists. There was stand with knitting – knitting techniques were shown. It is wonderful to see the revival of ancient art. The works of artists from India especially stood out.

My works were presented by two plates, painting in the Petrikivka style.
This is the second exhibition where I present my works. Last year there were paintings – Petrikivka. This year my collection was replenished with painting on wood.
All works are unique, these are author’s works. There is a signature on each of the plates.Size:14″x14″x 1″
One plate is created on a black background. This is a wood base plate.

The second work is an autumn composition, created on an oval plastic tray.Size: 14″x11″x1″.
Both works were selected by the jury of the competition and exhibited for visitors to the exhibition. The exhibition was a great success. Many guests from Toronto creative groups attended the opening exhibition on November 21,2024.
I am posting a video where you can see the exhibition visually.

This is how this artistically rich year passed.
And how did it begin?

Do you remember? This work on paper and the first work – painting on wood. It seems to me that it was so long ago. So many events have passed during this time. So many interesting events and exhibitions, sales and gallery expositions.
Taking this opportunity, I congratulate everyone on the upcoming New Year, I wish you success and good luck

At the rhythm of summer

June 20, 2024August 20, 2024 Helen Polishuk

It’s already the summer solstice. This is the middle of the summer cycle and today is the longest day of summer. It’s +30 outside. Full moon. A mixture of dense air, warmth and sun.

Wonderful.

But I have to note that I can’t keep up with everything. My calendar is out of touch with reality. Does this happen to you? Do you notice that you can’t keep up with time? Well, at least for a little bit, for one day or a little more? I notice this and then I rush, trying to catch up. And now I’m sitting near the ripe cherry tree in the garden near the house and I think that I’m a little late again. Just yesterday I watched it bloom, fed the birds near the trees. Then there was a lot of work and for a whole month we were busy with rehabilitating Chucky. For some reason, during this period, the birds flew away from us. Maybe they saw that we had no time for them, maybe they didn’t notice how the feeder was overgrown with raspberries. There were only sparrows in the pocket, and the female and male red cardinal sang and flew in other gardens .Today the female returned. I was at home, went out for a walk with Chucky, he is already seriously getting on his feet and staggering, but walking. The female red cardinal flew up and asked me for food. For more than a month. Of course, I gave it to her. And then I noticed, that I had guests – these were large scorzes with red breasts, who feasted on my cherries and were sitting on a tree. I raised my head up and saw that the cherries were really already ripe and they were feasting on them. We need to collect the cherries, otherwise in a couple of days there will be none left. This year the cherry tree was large and sweet. A Ukrainian cherry, a small tree, was hiding near it. In Ukraine they call it “Dichka”, It is strong and prolific, but it doesn’t like the neighborhood and this year it dropped almost all the flowers and does not produce a harvest .Last year I picked my first ten cherries. It was a real gift for me.

However, this year I wanted more fruits from this tree, but the tree decided everything differently. It didn’t like the proximity to the cherry tree and raspberry bushes. It threw a couple of shoots in case it conquered a new territory. Such cherries are very creeping and tenacious. And then it bloomed and dropped all the fruits that had set. Not enough space. Not enough freedom. Not enough space.
We’ll have to give it space and trim the neighboring cherry tree in the fall.
When I look now at new technologies in China, when they make fences out of trees and cherries grow in bunches, I want to try, but I’m afraid that I will ruin the life of my tree. If I had a lot of space, I would try, but I I have a very small piece of land.
I’m sitting on the balcony, watching as the sun hides in the clouds from the heat. Somewhere thunder begins to rumble. It might rain, or maybe it’s just a scare. However, the air is already changing to cooler and this is comforting. The heat is subsiding. Cooler weather is coming.
I sit and think how much we have accomplished in the last month.

Nature and the Artist VINCENT VAN GOGH

May 29, 2024June 20, 2024 Helen Polishuk

This is a very large article where I, as an experienced artist, am trying to understand and understand the work of the artist of the past, who became a symbol of Dutch artists.

The line in Museum of Van Gogh in Amsterdam

A tragic and very sensual story of the artist’s life and work introduced me to a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The museum has a separate exhibition of a contemporary Chinese artist MATTHEW WONG who follows in the footsteps of Van Gogh.

The exhibition is located on the left side on three floors and attracts visitors with its scale.

I would pay respect to the organizer this idea, since it speaks of the heredity of the artist’s work, that he really wanted it, because the whole life of Van Gogh’s brother Theo was aimed precisely at this.

Separately, three floors display the works of the artist Vincent Van Gogh himself and partly his friends.
I (I think not only me) was shocked by the story of death and the third floor, where the last days of the artist’s life are told in detail and his last works are exhibited, saturated with bright colors, which are very eye-catching, even without knowing the history of their creation.

I believe that Vincent had an unusual view of the world, in his mind there was a special view of the color scheme and he reproduced this in his last paintings. For this, huge thanks go to those initiators who saw this in his paintings and raised Van Gogh’s work to international popularity and gratitude.
Of course, I fully admit that it is possible to repeat his work, but I really like the video image generated by AI and which I will now present.
It really catches my eye. It’s the long aftertaste of his strokes and the brightness of his colors. Rich yellow, bluish, clear azure blue.
I would especially like to dwell on his love for his brother, his gratitude for him and these beautiful letters, where he addresses his brother, draws portraits of him and sends them to his brother, where he congratulates his brother on the birth of his son and gives his nephew a uniquely tender picture.

Agree, how vulnerable she was the soul of this artist when you look at this picture.
And now, thanks to marketing and the image of this picture on bags, coffee cups, notepads and pens, you seem to appreciate creativity even closer. Hold it in your hands.

In general, I like this approach to perpetuating the work of talented artists of the beginning of the last century, who created several new directions in which modern artists work today. It was a time of an unusually strong economic, cultural, and industrial breakthrough of humanity.

There remain many achievements in science, cultural and scientific discoveries One of these was Vincent Van Gogh’s unusual yellow-blue mark.

This fabulous art from Vang Gogh is my favorite.

This page will add even more interesting details to you

https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/stories/nature-and-the-artist?utm_source=mus-nb-en-202405-te-zien-te-doen&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=verhalen

Mid-March

March 9, 2023March 14, 2023 Helen Polishuk

I am very glad to get a few minutes again and write little, share with you my news.
I am now in a state where all kinds of my creative activities are involved. Here is the creation of video films and the script for a future film, and the editing of an already created film and coordination, and planning the next step in community service and new acquaintances, and preparing for voting for an Oscar 2023 and….hmm…. There will be heavy snow tomorrow, another one in March.How much more?
That’s all?
No, I still regularly do household chores, from which no woman will run away.
And I’m getting ready for a big concert, which will be at the end of May. That’s all for now. Secret. I’ll tell you the rest as the month approaches.
But for now the main thing for you.

The last work, which has already been sent to the competition, SHEVCHENKO UNITES NATIONS ,,.
Today, March 9, is the birthday that every Ukrainian knows. This is the birthday of Taras Grigoryevich Shevchenko.
An outstanding poet, writer, bart and artist. His name has remained in the culture of Ukraine as one of the most prominent cultural figures, whose works give us strength and teach entire generations of Ukrainians.
Today he is known and respected not only in Ukraine, he is taught, his works are read by all the people of the planet.
For you, the performance of Mominul Hoque, the Ukrainian Cossack Sirius from Cherkasy.

November’s news

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017 Helen Polishuk

Again I’m in a hurry and I doing this post among the bustle.
Very busy after arrival.
Just uploaded the mails to the blog and say that with everyone I’m happy .
If my blog is not protected, it does not give you a reason to throw me any rubbish.

I correctly remove the dirt and sweep the excess.
But I’m sorry for your efforts.
I will write more.
Thank you,that help me.
I hear a lot of praise and collect them in my piggy bank. :))
And when you send spam, when the bots are full …. it means you are not indifferent to me…..

………………………………………………….Continue to work………………………………………………………….

I look into my calendar like in mirror. 🙂
This month we have a performance in the theater,,ZAGRAVA,, :the premiere- sketchs(fable) and a preparation for the New Year and Christmas.
I like that this year there will be a Christmas fairy tale ,,Vertep,,original Ukranian fairy tale/story be Gogol/. I will prepare everything and fly, I will not be at the premiere.But the important fact that the fairy tale is,this is the main thing, and it’s good.

It’s great that the consist of the theater group was replenished with new actors over the summer.
This is a very good sign.
Next year our theater, “Zagrava,” will be 65 years old.
It is the oldest Ukrainian theater among the North America.
It says that the theater lives and will work.

Now I will touch on another important topic for me.
I am engaged in the development and organization of the shooting of the film.Tthe film will be shot in Ukraine
This is a film in my script about bikers.
This is a comedy and a story about a young merry biker.
I carry out the work, and now it is necessary find co-production.
I’m currently looking for this.

I’m interested in European cinematograph.

I understand that European cinema is much more advanced and old and
experienced.
The difference between Europe and America is calasal.
I will try to connect them both for better effect.

Well, the last paragraph of my calendar-coming New Year!!!!
Yes, my friends, ………it will be a new year soon!!!!
Sooner or later, we will analyze what has been done.
I have done a lot, so much for such a small year. 🙂
I did some art exhibitions, expanded the audience of my readers in my website.

My paintings flew to the Baltic States and England, stayed in Toronto and Ukraine and gathered in Poland.

I wrote plus one script(comedy)and on the table are two synopsis for melodramas.
It’s not bad.
So?my dear friends, we dress New Year’s hats, we decorate Christmas trees and houses with New Year’s decor and we will celebrate the coming of the next year. 🙂

I wish you a good mood

November 4th

November 4, 2017November 4, 2017 Helen Polishuk

Thank you for waiting for my publications in blog.
It is very difficult to write on the road .
And it’s nice to see 2760 unread mails on the blog after a 1.5-month break.

I’m slowly re-reading them all and will answer as far as possible.

Thank you for suggestions for cooperation and useful links what you share to me.
I will take into account all your suggestions.
They became very interesting. I will use and analytics of the site to improve it and sources.

Your opinion is very important for me.

Please,do again.

Yes,my blog is practical more than artistic.Thank you Annetta for filling that.I told a year ago how I started creating my website. It was absolutely new for me.
I tried to find my own business, which would be interesting to me.That year I did not imagine that I could write in English, becаuse my assessment in the Toronto language school was average.
But I wanted to overcome this fear.
I started writing by a small sentences .
I’m not trying to correct the mistakes of those first posts. On the contrary, they show how I have changed.
Just read my first blog posts and you will receive this confirmation.

I had a goal to convey to you,my audience, my understanding of what is happening to me and around me.
And it seems to me that I have reached the goal 🙂
Your letters say that you understand how I delicately convey the events and how I correctly notice the details.
You learn from my blogs, see them useful and useful.
I’m glad to see you and thank you for this.

…….,,Whats up! Exceptional blog! I favor the method
reviewed How to learn to separate necessary from unnecessary -.
Many thanks until this well-arranged document relating to How to learn to separate necessary from unnecessary -!
Available on the market I have been on the search for.,,………………..

Thanks for such praises in my address.
I will continue to work for you.

Many people write to me, who are just starting to open their blog. They ask questions about coding in the websites.
I answer:I’m not a programmer. I never studied programming and did not try.
Everything I do, I just read. I ask people around me and use the platform WORDPRESS.

This is not advertising. …..and not advice.:))
It’s really what I’m doing.
If you have any advice for me, send me,please.
I read all the letters that come to me.

I will try to further excite you with my new publications.

Have a good rest and best wishes from me……………………………………..

How to learn to separate necessary from unnecessary

August 22, 2017August 22, 2017 Helen Polishuk

Greetings again 🙂
This month I often wrote in a blog.
Do not think what, I’ll be silent for a few months soon 🙂
My breakthrough in communicating with you is connected with the unloading of my time and the opportunity to concentrate on the necessary.This is what will be discussed today.

How to concentrate on the main task for yourself
Why is this important to me?
Just a few years ago I learned to relax, learned instead of the words “No ,, say always” Yes,,
,,Yes,, ……….,,I’m ok,,……….. ,,Good,,
These words killed me 🙂
I stopped to talk out.
It’s hard for me to say ,, No ,,
“No, friends, your event is crap and I will stay at home, I will not go to it.
I will not do it, because I do not need it. ,,
It’s hard for me.

Believe me, I had to remake so much volunteer work to understand how I was cheaply exploited.
But otherwise you will not fall into the sphere where you want to.

What have I done?

A month ago I just sat on a chair and did not get up.
I wrote, painted five or ten paintings a week and did not answer calls and invitations.
I gained a little weight, my legs began to swell, I began to move a little.
But

I’m finishing writing the first script for a feature film.

I prepared for this year’s exhibition.
With the drawing there were complications. I started four paintings in the style of Klimt, but at some point stopped
I could not draw. I thought everything was bad and my work was just rubbish 🙁

I just finished them today.
Finished, they dried and I am feel good.
This week I will take pictures and publish them, but I will not put them on sale on the websites.

I chose a difficult business for myself, draw and write.

A lot of time to sit by the computer or at the table.
Believe me, it’s hard.
Therefore, for the fulfillment of my goal, I refuse all temptations and invitations.
I hope in time it will be easier and faster for me to do my work.
But for now I’m learning to separate the necessary from unnecessary and to collect useful time for myself.

But in another way I will not get what I have.
Do not get good paintings, if you do not draw regularly.
I will not get a cool story if I do not constantly write, correct, rewrite 🙂

Now the next step is to show it to all the audience.
Do not put in the table, find buyers.
And then my legs will swell again, but already from walking 🙂