We’re pleased to present the 2025 Taras Shevchenko Commemorative Bookmark designed by Calgary artist and educator Iryna Bolgaryna.
At The Shevchenko Foundation we take great pride in annually honouring our namesake Taras Shevchenko – Ukrainian national poet and artist – with an original bookmark. An initiative that has become a long-standing tradition, TSF annually calls for artists to design a bookmark based on an excerpt from a Taras Shevchenko poem. The winning submission joins the collection of art pieces that have been created to celebrate the beauty of our culture while recognizing the contribution to world culture.
March 9 marks 211 years since the birth of Taras Shevchenko on this day in 1814. This year’s inspiring design is based on an excerpt from Shevchenko’s poem titled Za sontsem khmaronka plyve (Beside the setting sun drifts a little cloud).
About the artist
Iryna Bolgaryna was born in the Odesa region of Ukraine. She pursued her interest in art from a young age and studied at the M.B. Grekov Odesa Art School and later the Kyiv National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (NAOMA), Faculty of Sculpture.
Displaced by the war against Ukraine, Iryna settled with her family in Calgary, Alberta, where she teaches art to help children experience the world in new ways while further developing her artistic talent in sculpture and large-format painting.
Grateful for the opportunity presented by the competition, Iryna wrote the following about her design:
“It was wonderful to work on a design based on the words of T.H. Shevchenko. The selected excerpt also brought to mind another expression by the author: “And the sun, and the moon, and the stars – they are all for us, for people!”
Especially now, during these difficult times for Ukraine, we crave “warmth” in its various manifestations. So, I chose to combine the words and depict the warmth that radiates around us. Nature, which has embraced us, shelters and protects us and tries to grant our land and every individual peaceful dreams and rest.
I’m excited that there is such a wonderful organization as yours that unites and supports Ukrainians! I’m grateful that with your programs you have enabled me to join you in contributing. Thank you very much!”
Thousands of copies of the annual bookmark are distributed at no cost to children across Canada who are enrolled in Ukrainian language classes in public, private, and Saturday schools. The bookmark is also distributed to Ukrainian dance schools, children and youth ensembles and organizations.
If you’d like to receive copies of the commemorative bookmark, please contact our office by writing to admin@shevchenkofoundation.ca or calling toll-free 1-866-524-5314.