'I have to do something': Cape Cod artists mobilize to raise money for Ukrainian people

Kathi Scrizzi Driscoll, Cape Cod Times, March 13th 2022

Telling a refugee grandmother’s story of persecution by Russian soldiers. Auctioning images of a courageous leader and a community that welcomed strangers. Sharing views of the world through young people’s eyes.

A growing number of Cape Cod and Islands artists and cultural organizations have quickly — and independently — rallied to find unusual ways their talents can make a difference to help Ukrainian people suffering because of Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Art auctions and sales, a theater show, a concert, a movie screening, exhibits, gatherings and donation pleas are among the fundraising ideas that have sprung up in recent days with the single goal of people just doing whatever they can to make a difference in the humanitarian crisis brought on by the war.

Mobilization has been quick as locals read and watched video footage about people, including children, being hurt and killed, and millions of refugees pouring over borders. Artists and cultural officials say they have recognized that the scars of war are just beginning, and are appalled, angry and anguished by what is happening so many miles away.

“I think we were all — on the Cape or across the country and everywhere — sitting around going ‘What can I do? This is awful,’” said Janine Perry, producing artistic director at Cape Rep Theatre in Brewster. “What we can do is try our best to donate some money … and we can be together and do something positive. … It’s an acknowledgment that you're all feeling the same way and that there is something you can do, however small and however remote we are.” 

Buoyed to learn of other area artists also taking steps to aid humanitarian causes, Provincetown artist Jo Hay, who raised $2,300 through a two-day virtual #ArtForUkraine auction last week of her portrait of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said the varied creative endeavors do all count as links between something.

When she tried to deflect praise for her efforts, an admirer told her, “'Think of it as that you’re inspiring people to make stuff happen,’” Hay said. "And I was able to accept that in this moment as my role.”

Eugene Zhukau, who by midweek had reached more than $1,000 in bids through his own Instagram auction of three cyanotype images of 1908 Provincetown, explained it simply this way: “Art is the language of love.”

That message has taken and will take many different forms around the region — and those already involved hope that what they’re doing will inspire even more.

Jo Hay’s portrait of Zelenskyy raised $2,300