Vera Volodymyrivna Zaichenko - 85!

Vira Volodymyrivna Zaichenko is an honored worker of culture of Ukraine (1988), Knight of the Order of Princess Olga, III century. (2007), лауреат обласної премії імені Михайла Коцюбинського (2006). Awarded an honorary certificate of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (2012). He is a member of the National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine and the National Union of Masters of Folk Art, which was awarded the prize named after S. Taranwşenka (2011). She is a recognized authority on issues of folk culture of Chernihiv Oblast and the only specialist, which comprehensively researched Chernihiv embroidery in all its diversity, a tireless collector and popularizer of folk art, talented embroiderer, art critic and local historian.

Do 2019 In 2018, the Vasyl Tarnovsky Chernihiv Historical Museum nominated Vera Volodymyrivna Zaichenko for the title of "Honorary Citizen of the Chernihiv Region". Despite the crazy support of the whole world in online voting, the then leadership of the regional council invented some kind of "hacker attack", did not recognize support and, in violation of the provisions on the assignment of rank, chose "its". They had a chance to correct their mistake, but the regional council refused to use it.

A researcher was born 23 December 1937 Dr.. in the Zabarivka farm of Chernihiv district. Father - Volodymyr Yakovych Zaichenko (1906–1978) - farmer, participant in World War II, in 1938 Dr.. forcibly joined the collective farm, where he worked as a groom. Mother - Natalia Hryhorivna Movchan (1906–2000) - came from a poor family with many children, was illiterate, worked in a collective farm. Vera's birth was registered 1 January 1938 Dr.. in the village council. cats. Therefore, the date and place of birth were indicated in the documents: 1 January 1938 р., with. Cats of Chernihiv district (now - Chernihiv). Shortly, due to the resettlement of farms, the family moved to Masani, which in 1973 Dr.. also found itself within the limits of Chernigov. Тут, Vira Volodymyrivna Zaichenko still lives in her parents' house today.

She received her primary education at the Masanov school. Then she studied at the Novo-Bilou seven-year school and the Chernihiv medical school. In 1954 Dr.. a young nurse was sent to work in the city of Zorynsk, Luhansk region. Тут, at the "Nikanor" mine, the girl worked for one year as the manager of an underground medical center and two years as a paramedic of a mining rescue unit, received secondary education in the evening school for working youth. Do 1957 Dr.. returned home. For ten years she was a nurse-educator in a nursery school. Do 1968 Dr.. graduated from the correspondence department of the Faculty of History of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. In August of the same year, she came to the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky. Since then, the life of Vira Volodymyrivna Zaichenko has been connected with the history of Chernihiv Oblast, folk culture and art, museum case.

Vira Zaichenko worked in the department of modern history, was the head of the scientific and methodical department, learned secretary. She took part in the creation of many museums in the Chernihiv region. Do 1978 Dr.. she headed the newly created department of folk decorative art of Chernihiv Oblast, the topic of which was very close to her, after all, she was born in a family of peasants, knew and understood peasant life well, its culture and traditions. The creation of the museum has begun: studied ethnographic collection, developed scientific concept and structure, dozens of collecting expeditions were carried out, 21 December 1979 Dr.. The Museum of Folk Decorative Art of the Chernihiv Region was opened in Chernihiv. Created by V.V. The Zaichenko Museum enjoyed great attention and love of Chernihiv residents and visitors to the city, was an extremely popular tourist attraction, he was admired by official delegations; Concert tours prepared by Vira Volodymyrivna, the only ones in Ukraine, were very popular.

Vira Zaichenko headed the Museum of Folk Decorative Art of Chernihiv Oblast for almost 15 years. It is here that her organizational skills are best demonstrated, industry, love for the chosen cause and the history of Chernihiv Oblast. The museum became the Ukrainian studies center of Chernihiv Oblast: thorough lectures and excursions were held here, exhibitions and theatrical performances were organized, since the beginning of teaching Ukrainian studies in schools and universities, methodological advisors developed by Vira Volodymyrivna served as a source for teachers in the absence of textbooks, consultations and lessons-excursions in the museum; here with her, women studied and mastered Chernihiv embroidery techniques; here they consulted all those who wanted to about Chernihiv woodcarving, folk costume, etc. Organized by V.V. Zaichenko circles of folk embroidery for adults, schoolchildren and students worked in museums and educational institutions. Thanks to her ascetic activity, the thread of Chernihiv embroidery was not interrupted, it was preserved and revived, got a new life. Many members of the Chernihiv branch of the National Union of Folk Art Masters became known thanks to the museum, who organized exhibitions of their works. Do 1981 Dr.. VV. Zaichenko was also accepted into the union as a master embroiderer, where she became an active member, was elected to the Small Council - the governing body of the Union. The creation of the Museum of Folk Decorative Art of the Chernihiv region led to a significant intensification of the activities of the Chernihiv Historical Museum in the collection of ethnographic monuments and the formation of a collection of works by masters of folk art as a section of the art collection, supported other museums of the region in this activity.

Highly professional scientist Vira Zaichenko has done a lot for the development of historical, local history and ethnological research in the Chernihiv region and their implementation in educational and cultural and artistic projects, because they are based on knowledge and competent interpretation of artifacts, it concerns something like museum expositions, or exhibitions, festivals or historical and folklore performances. With his knowledge, V.V. Zaichko generously shared, publicizing their own scientific developments to the general public. Her multifaceted achievements become a source for the progress of subsequent generations and pave the way for the further development of Chernihiv Oblast in the scientific, and in the applied sense. Let's mention only the catalogs of broken fabrics compiled by the researcher, antique jewelry belts, sheet, chest, women's headdresses, embroidered shirts, interior and ceremonial fabrics, porcelain and earthenware, beadwork, articles on the clothing of the Cossack elder of the 18th century., about the painstaking embroidery of nuns or about the wedding ceremony in the village. Masany at the beginning of the 20th century. And her contribution to research, preservation, the popularization and development of Chernihiv Oblast embroidery cannot be overestimated. Phenomena of scientific and cultural life not only in Chernihiv Oblast, and all of Ukraine were written by her on the basis of processing the collection of the Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum named after. VV. Tarnovsky and many years of field research of the monograph "Embroidery of Chernihiv region" (2010, reissue 2019), "Embroidery of Chernihiv region. Рушники. catalog of the collection of the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after. VV. Tarnovsky " (2018) - the first among similar studies of Ukrainian museology; "National Dress of Chernihiv Region" is waiting for its publisher, catalog of embroidered works, catalogs of embroidered women's and men's shirts, aprons, skirts, catalog of porcelain and earthenware from the museum collection. Музей, who frankly did not keep up with Vira Volodymyrivna will be in her debt for a long time.

Vira Volodymyrivna Zaichenko is the only researcher in Ukraine, who at a high professional level took care of traditional Chernihiv embroidery and not only it, and other types of embroidery art. Do 2001 Dr.. the catalog "Embroidery of Cossack Elders of the XVII-XVIII centuries" was published: catalog of the collection of the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after. VV. Tarnovsky ". He became the first, and currently remains the only one, similar publications in Ukraine, a sample for describing embroidery, regarding which there was not even an established terminology at that time, so V.V. Zaichenko not only introduced the works of Ukrainian culture of the XVII-XVIII centuries into scientific circulation., thanks to her work, the name "Cossack elder's embroidery" became widely used, the norm among art critics and amateurs. Published separately in Ukrainian, in English and French, the catalog contributed to the popularization of Ukraine and Chernihiv Oblast in the world. And the album "Embroidery of Cossack Elders of the XVII-XVIII centuries.". Techniques" (2006) became a desktop guide for embroiderers and immediately became a bibliographic rarity. Today, the publishing house "Rodovid" undertakes to republish this work.

Vira Zaichenko also turned to the study of another field of embroidery, characteristic of Chernihiv Oblast as well, - hapting: researched the museum collection, determined cells, where this art was developed in Chernihiv Oblast, published many articles and created a number of exhibitions on this topic, and now the publishing house "Rodovid" is working on the preparation for the publication of this catalog.

VV. Zaichenko did a lot to research and popularize the material culture of the Ukrainian people, and intangible heritage - holidays, rites, traditions. She headed the folklore and ethnography section of the regional organization of the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments. Collected folk songs, was a member of a number of folklore groups, together with V.G. Boykom and K.Ya. Arap based on the records of O.P. Dovzhenka prepared the program "Mother's Songs". She argued for the preservation and development of folk crafts. She advised the organizers of theatrical performances, spectacular mass events on issues of Chernihiv folk authenticity, designed sketches of costumes for the Menshchyna folk choir, participated in embroidering the "Towel of National Unity", etc. As a well-known and respected historian, culturologist, museum curator and art critic Vera Volodymyrivna was constantly invited to participate in the radio- and TV programs. She was a member of the jury and a scientific consultant of the All-Ukrainian historical and ethnographic expedition of school and student youth "Embroidered Ukraine", gave lectures for students of free Ukrainian language courses.

Vira Zaichenko is a member of the National Union of Local Historians of Ukraine, a participant in many scientific conferences. Her research is published in scientific collections, professional journals, placed in the ESU, are issued in separate editions. In general, the research output of the researcher is more than 140 публікацій. It was duly appreciated by the professional community at the Lviv Forum of Publishers, Book Arsenal, And, II, ІІІ, V All-Ukrainian museum festivals, promotions "Museum event of the year".

A few years ago, a serious illness put Vira Volodymyrivna Zaichenko to bed. Very difficult, but Vira Zaichenko does not give up and fights. In her native Masany, she experienced a hellish February and March, his second war.

Congratulating Vera Volodymyrivna Zaichenko on her anniversary, we ask only one thing - the world with its troubles, diseases, wars and suffering, still deserves it, that you live and hold on to it. Our prayers for your health, dear Vira Volodymyrivna. Віримо, that they will be heard. Let's hold on!

Director of the museum Serhiy Laevsky