“Hue and Heritage”
by Darina Savchuk

Moving to America changed everything, the people, the clothes, the scenery, but the food stayed the same. In a country that was completely new to me, the food I grew up with is the one piece of home that never changed. My family and I make a lot of it ourselves, but since we can’t find everything at a regular grocery store, we head to Euro markets for Slavic snacks and ingredients. 

I really love sharing my culture with my friends. Bringing them Ukrainian candy and seeing them enjoy it is so special to me because it’s such a huge part of my life. The market is always buzzing with people just like me, it’s a place where I can speak my language and bond with others over food. It really brings everyone together, and I just love sharing that part of who I am. 

I don’t consider myself an artist but I wanted to share this part of my culture with Camas. I decided to paint from memory to reflect on my Ukrainian roots and the flavors I grew up with. I used a cartoonish, 2-D style to capture that cozy, childhood memory. I hope that my artwork will offer a small glimpse into my life and show how something as simple as a meal can bring different people together.