A Kapuskasing native is helping to raise money for his late father’s homeland. Artist Nick Leniuk has created a stone carving that features the national flower of Ukraine, the sunflower, mounted with the Ukrainian flag colours in the background. Leniuk, who now lives in Peterborough, says the artwork is being auctioned off through his Facebook and Instagram pages with proceeds to the Canada Ukraine Foundation-Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
“In addition to donating to different organizations, I thought I needed to do more,” he said. “And one of the ways I was fortunately able to achieve that was by creating a collaborative sculpture to raise funds for humanitarian aids for Ukraine.”
Leniuk says the silhouette he used for the artwork was designed by a Russian.
“Fortunately, she is totally against the war and was more than happy to give her blessing, permission for me to use her illustration to create this piece of art,” he said.
Nick’s father came over to Canada from the Ukraine after World War II and settled in Kapuskasing. Leniuk says he had hoped to visit Ukraine in 2020 to put some of his late father’s ashes at the gravesite of his grandparents, but the trip was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The auction closes next Monday at 4 pm. His Facebook page is Nick Leniuk and find him on Instagram @nickleniukstonecarving.
