Join us on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at SVI for a captivating discussion with graphic novelist Michael Cherkas, who will take us through his latest work, "Red Harvest."
Delve into the historical-fiction masterpiece that sheds light on the Holodomor, a tragic chapter in Ukrainian history, during which at least 4 million Ukrainians lost their lives in the early '30s under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's regime. Cherkas, a Ukrainian-Canadian author renowned for "The Silent Invasion," masterfully weaves together true stories and historical accounts to illustrate this dark period. The terror-famine was the result of the Soviet Communist Party's forced collectivization, which targeted Ukrainian peasants, leading to the confiscation of their property, livestock, and crops. As we witness the unfolding horrors in the current Ukrainian war, it's essential to remember this prior Russian aggression.
Cherkas's journey to create this graphic novel began in 2008 when a colleague with Ukrainian roots approached him about doing a graphic novel about the Holodomor. The project gained momentum during the 2020 pandemic, leading to its completion just before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Through the lens of protagonist Mykola Kovalenko, a Ukrainian immigrant to Canada and famine survivor, Cherkas vividly illustrates the cost of resisting Stalin and the ruling Communist Party. Kovalenko's memories transport us to a time when Ukrainian families and villagers struggled not only to comprehend the war waged against them but also to survive.
Don't miss this eye-opening event featuring "Red Harvest," hailed by Publishers Weekly as a Top 10 Fall Adult Comics & Graphic Novels pick.
A Q&A session will follow the discussion.
Moderated by Sophia Isajiw
You can purchase The Red Harvest by Michael Cherkas at the book launch.
All proceeds from sales will go to the Canada Ukraine Foundation’s Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal.
Presented Presented by Holodomor Research and Education Consortium - HREC, NBM Graphic Novels, and St. Volodymyr Institute
While participation is free, DONATIONS are appreciated to support continued cultural programming at St. Volodymyr Institute.
Contact cultural.svi@gmail.com with any questions.
Presented by Holodomor Research and Education Consortium (HREC), NBM Graphic Novels, and St. Volodymyr Institute
About Michael Cherkas
Ukrainian-Canadian author Michael Cherkas was born in Oshawa, Ontario in 1954. He has worked for over 40 years as a graphic designer, art director, cartoonist and illustrator. He still makes comics the old-fashioned way using non-repro blue pencils, brush and India ink on paper.
His comics include the upcoming RED HARVEST: The Terror Famine in Soviet Ukraine, The Silent Invasion (with Larry Hancock), Suburban Nightmares (with Larry Hancock and John van Bruggen), The Purple Ray (with Larry Hancock) and The New Frontier (with John Sabljic).
About Sophia Isajiw
Sophia Isajiw is Assistant Director of Education of the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium, Toronto, and a Research Associate at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta. She served as lead interviewer for the Children of Holodomor Survivors Speak oral-history project organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, Toronto.
She is an educator, translator, and award-winning artist. Sophia Isajiw’s notable work includes an installation at Canada’s World War I internment camp in Banff, Alberta, which is now housed in the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. She is also the founding Editor-in-Chief of the Voices of Ukraine international translation project. This project celebrates its 10th anniversary and is gaining recognition in major media outlets and scholarly publications in Canada and Ukrain
REVIEWS
“Red Harvest – A Graphic Novel of the Terror Famine in 1930’s Soviet Ukraine”
Oct. 21, 2023 by NowReadThis
Foreword magazine – https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/red-harvest/
Publishers weekly – https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781681123202
WSt. Volodymyr Institute gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Shevchenko Foundation Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Fund, the SUS Foundation of Canada, and Delta Bingo & Gaming.
Інститут св. Володимира висловлює подяку Фонду Українсько-Канадських Ветеранів при Фундації ім. Т. Шевченка ,Фундації СУС в Канаді i Delta Bingo & Gaming за фінансову підтримку культурних програм.