‘Kind of a small miracle’: Winnipeg-born actor at the helm of art auction for Ukraine

Winnipeg-born actor and playwright Michael Rubenfeld, who now lives in Krakow, Poland, is co-director of the auction along with James Arellano, who is from California.

Olena Kayinska was forced to put down her paintbrush at the end of February.

The Ukrainian artist was in the middle of a project when Russian troops invaded her country, prompting her to leave her studio and stay with her mother.

Thoughts of returning to art seemed like a luxury amid all the death and destruction, but the events also provided material for the project she had to unexpectedly abandon six months ago.

Now, some of her pieces are among those featured in a global online auction co-organized by a former Winnipegger.

“In a mystical way, it’s very connected to the war,” Kayinska said in a phone interview from Lviv, Ukraine. The project titled Trauma explores the theme of recovery.

With her career in limbo, Kayinska knew she needed to do something that would not only occupy her time, but also give her the ability to help her people. So she joined Doctors Without Borders as an interpreter and project manager with the humanitarian organization.

“Psychologically, it’s easier to overcome this fear and loss of war when you’re surrounded with people and when you are doing something useful,” she said.

Another calling, this time more in line with Kayinska’s roots, came in spring when members of FestivALT, a Krakow-based Jewish arts and activism organization, reached out on social media to see if she wanted to be part of a global art auction called Fight with Art.