b'Art is PowerArt has the power to transform, to educate, and to inspire. Edmonton-based theatre artist Lianna Makuch continues to demonstrate this power throughher evolving evocative work in theatre.We were first introduced to Lianna as she was developing her one-woman play, Blood of ourSoila personal story of war and trauma inspired by her grandparents that depicts the historic struggles of the Ukrainian people while drawing disturbing parallels to todays reality. Since then, she has been awarded the REACH Mentorship/Residency for the Arts grant to adapt into a feature-length screenplay. After 20 public theatre her acclaimed play Blood of Our Soil From left: Olha Volodymyrivna (Alinas mother),performances and international recognition, you can now follow its development under a newLianna Makuch and Alina Viatkina in title, Barvinok.Kyiv, Ukraine, February 2020 Liannas most recent play was inspired by a residency with the IZOLYATSIA Cultural Institute in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she met a 19-year-old volunteer Ukrainian combat medic who left everything behind to go to the front line of one of the deadliest battles of the war in Eastern Ukraine in 2015the battle for the Donetsk Airport. Lianna tells her story in Alina which premiered in Edmonton in spring 2022.Inspired by her Ukrainian heritage, the actor/playwright/director firmly believes that artists have an advantage and responsibility to share the human stories that can be universally understood.So much of our identity is encapsulated in culture and the arts. Its more important than ever to be a Ukrainian artist in light of the blatant attempt to erase Ukrainian culture, states Lianna. Its our role to help preserve and create the emotional experiences that evoke empathy and inspire engagement. A graduate of the BFA Acting Program at the University of Alberta, Lianna is also dedicated to her community. Locally, she co-founded Spark! Youth Camp which provides affordable arts education for youth in Edmontons Alberta Avenue Community. Internationally, she actively supports volunteers in Ukraine in their continuing fight. What does the future hold? Lianna is currently directing a playFirst Mtis Man of Odesa, Barvinok that will tour nationally in 2023. will be touring in fall 2022. Alina will see further development. And Liannas also developing theatre for young audiences featuring the Ukrainian Mtis tale by Saskatchewan writer Marion Mutala. (And these are just the highlights!)Further down the road she hopes to help create more opportunities for collaboration with Ukrainian artists. We will continue to do our work, fight this fight in every way we know, and keep Ukraine in peoples minds with a full season of Ukrainian-based theatre, Lianna affirms.TSF is proud to be a part of Liannas journey. You can follow Liannas work at Pyretic Productions (pyreticproductions.ca)or scan the QR code. Lianna Makuch in By asking whether or not the efforts of a single person can make a difference to a war, the playwrightBlood of our Soil Photo by also tasks each of us to imagine the impact of our choices, even as civilians in a peaceful country. The Mat Simpson play emphasizes that courageous choices by individuals, large and small, carry at least the potential for change. It matters to try.- LIANE FAULDER,Edmonton JournalSHEVCHENKO FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT /11'