Alexander Chekmenev on Time Cover and New York Times

This blog post shares the poignant and life-affirming work of Kyiv-based artist, Alexander Chekmenev. I helped bring his work to WMU in 2019 for a group Ukrainian exhibition, "Eyes on Ukraine", and continue to teach the lessons of that exhibition to my peers and students. I started writing Alex more when Russia began its border troop buildup in January 2022. I told him my university accessioned his artwork for their permanent collection– not knowing if/when the message would arrive. I was relieved when it did. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Alex Chekmenev has braved the life-threatening danger of his environment by making poignant, curfew-handicapped, time-sensitive, and starkly bold portraits of Ukrainians defending their homeland– by living within it, fighting for it, or a variable combination of those and other priorities. Fred Ritchin once told me that the most authentic photographs come from those who live within their photographed space. Alex's work is a tribute to that ethos. This illegal Russian occupation and invasion is nothing more than a future Ukrainian victory. I am not sure what it took to make such a great portrait... worthy of the Time Magazine cover near the 9 May annual Russian celebration for the WWII defeat of Germany. This Time cover is a stoic and strong reminder of Zelensky's media-savvy and citizen-focused leadership skills– and Alex's ability to deliver them in this stunning portrait. It all makes me wonder what date Ukraine will celebrate their own future and defensive victory and how Time and time will mark that. Images and links follow below:

Borderline - Exhibition (2022)

Exhibition Link (https://www.billdavisfotos.com/borderline-exhibition-2022)

In response to viewing 49 accessioned photographs of five Ukrainian Artists for the WMU Permanent Art Collection, Frostic School of Art Students were assigned to photograph and critique their own borderlines.
Facing the invasion of their own border, Ukrainian artists are now defending their soil– armed with cameras and/or other machines. One such artist, Alena Grom, became the juror for this second “Borderline” WMU exhibit.
Ms. Grom's statement follows in the exhibition poster and page. To practice art is a challenge. To practice wartime art is something altogether different. To jury and practice art in Bucha and Kyiv, like Alena Grom, is extraordinary.
WMU Art students immersed themselves into a self-reflective and exploratory project– learning about their own and other nation’s borders. Alena Grom, immersed in the horror of Bucha, took the time to jury and deliver her report.
Both face their own borderlines– some far more consequential than others. This online exhibit thus became an opportunity to participate in empathy, exchange, and uncommon courage–
to honor the sovereign, free, and humane will of personal, geopolitical, and cultural borders. - Bill Davis (USA - 2022)
Housing

If you may have property– best if near dependable public transportation and amenities– consider how you might house Ukraine's refugees. I can try to help interested stakeholders make connections through established organizations. I also know a few families now split between Poland and Ukraine that may someday be looking. If for resettlement, this does require significant processing under the terms and limits of the U.S. State Department Reception and placement Program, which expires after 3 months. It can be extended. Visit here also: https://www.state.gov/refugee-admissions/application-and-case-processing/

Link Your Support for Ukraine

Simple Ways to show support if you have no funding. Cut and paste items below into email signatures or other text.

слава україні, слава героям

Glory to Ukraine, Glory to Heroes


Offer a Ukrainian Citizen or Artist Server Space on your own cloud-based accounts.


Switch over to or download the Ukrainian Cyrillic Language Keyboard by pressing the bottom left globe button on an iPhone. Learn how to type, "Hello", "Glory to Ukraine", and/or "Thank you"

Additional Ways to Support Ukraine

If you use Amazon Services, assign Direct Relief to an Amazon Smile Account. 

Support for Ukrainian Scholars

For Scholars

Artist Residencies/Shelters for Ukrainian Artists

Many Artist Residency Programs around the world are setting up emergency residency aid. Please pass this on.


For Artists

§ https://www.hiap.fi/ukrainian-aid/

§ Budapest Gallery’s residency opportunity for artists or curators and their families to spend two months in Budapest in April and May: https://www.facebook.com/budapestgalleryair/posts/1170687730134680

§ University courses, meals and accommodation at the University of Art and Design Budapest (MOME): https://mome.hu/en/mome-acts-ukraine

§ Emergency resources for artists and cultural workers: https://artistsatrisk.org/2022/02/26/ukraine-emergency-resources-for-artist…

§ Karne Kunst: Emergency Residency Program for Ukrainian Artists and Families (Germany): https://www.karnekunst.com/residency-for-ukrainian-artists-art-is-urgent/

§ Romanian Solidarity Action for Ukrainian Artists, Supported by the Association of Romanian Contemporary Art Galleries: https://www.facebook.com/agacoromania/ . Due to this state of emergency, please only send us your interest to: agacor.association@gmail.com . Please contact us if you need any other details!

§ National Museum of Contemporary Art in Bucharest is supporting Ukrainian curators, artists and their families: https://www.mnac.ro/article/321/Suntem_al%C4%83turi_de_Ucraina

§ State of Concept Athens offering official invitation letters to Ukrainian artists and curators. Contact: https://www.facebook.com/iliana.fokianaki

§ A list of resources available to artists and creative workers from Ukraine:
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/03/04/help-resources-for-ukrainian-artists-and-cultural-workers-fleeing-russias-war-against-ukraine

§ Office Ukraine.Shelter for Ukrainian Artists, a platform for the coordination of various initiatives by civil society as well as by institutions and acts as a liaison between the institutions in Austria and cultural workers from Ukraine: http://www.artistshelp-ukraine.at/en/

§ SomoS Arts in Berlin are offering refuge to any artist/cultural professional from Ukraine by hosting a free live/work studio: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbDl8V0sci8/

Russia - Who is Leaving, Who is not.

Updated - 19 March - 2022

Companies are making decisions about Russian Relations. See their choices below...

No Evidenced Reduction or Divestment --

Accor -- Air Products -- AstraZeneca -- Asus -- Auchan -- Baker Hughes -- Bose -- Cloudflare -- Decathlon -- Emerson Electric -- Emirates Airlines -- Fortive -- Glencore -- Greif -- Gruma -- Halliburton -- International Paper -- IPG Photonics -- Koch Industries -- Leroy Merlin -- Metro -- Nalco -- Oriflame Cosmetics --   SC Johnson -- Schlumberger -- Subway -- Weatherford International -- Young Living

Reducing Operations or Investments

Abbott Labs -- Abbvie -- ADM -- Air Liquide -- Allen & Overy -- Allianz -- Amadeus IT Group -- AmerisourceBergen -- Arconic -- Authentic Brands Group - Reebok -- Bacardi -- Baker McKenzie -- Baker Tilly -- BASF SE -- BNP Paribas -- Bosch -- Bunge -- Cargill -- Carlsberg -- Coinbase -- Colgate-Palmolive -- Coty -- Credit Suisse -- Danone -- Deere -- Dentons -- DLA Piper -- Dow -- Dunkin Donuts -- Fieldfisher -- Focus Brands - Cinnabon -- GE -- General Mills -- GlaxoSmithKline -- Goldman Sachs -- Henkel -- Hilton -- Hines -- HSBC -- Hyatt -- ING NV -- Intercontinental Hotels -- Japan Tobacco -- Johnson & Johnson -- JPMorgan -- Kearney -- Kellogg -- Kimberly-Clark -- Kraft Heinz - JBS -- Lamb Weston -- Linde -- Marriott -- Mars -- Merck -- Michelin Tire -- Mohawk Industries -- Mondelez - Nabisco -- Natura -- Nestle -- NielsenIQ -- Nokian Tyres -- Norsk Hydro -- Otis Worldwide -- Pepsi -- Pfizer -- Philip Morris -- Pirelli -- Procter & Gamble -- Reckitt Benckiser Group -- Renault -- Rockwool -- Sanofi -- Schneider Electric -- Sidley Austin -- Siemens -- Siemens Energy AG (Independent) -- Skadden -- Societe Generale -- Thermo Fisher -- TotalEnergies -- Trafigura -- Unilever -- Whirlpool -- Yum Brands -- ZHA

Suspending Operations and/or Sales

-- 3M -- Abrdn -- Adidas -- Adobe -- ADP -- Airbus -- Akamai -- Akin Gump -- Alphabet -- Alstom -- Amazon -- American Express -- Amway -- Anheuser-Busch -- Apple -- Assicurazioni Generali -- Aston Martin -- Atlas Copco -- Bain -- Bank of China -- Bentley -- Boeing -- Bombardier -- Bridgestone Tire -- Budvar -- Burberry -- Burger King -- Canada Goose -- Canadian Tire -- Canon -- Caterpillar -- CBRE -- Chanel -- Chipperfield -- Cisco -- Citi -- Citrix -- Cleary Gottlieb -- Clorox -- CMA CGM -- Coca-Cola -- Cogent Communications -- Commerzbank -- Continental -- Dassault Aviation -- Debevoise & Plimpton -- Dell -- Deutsche Bank -- DHL -- Diageo -- DirecTV -- Discover -- Disney -- DSV A/S -- Ericsson -- Estee Lauder -- FedEx -- Ferrari -- Ford -- GM -- Grupo Bimbo -- H&M -- Hapag Lloyd -- Harley-Davidson -- Heidrick & Struggles -- Heineken -- Herbalife -- Hermes -- Hitachi Construction -- HMM -- Honda -- Honeywell -- HP -- Hyundai -- IBM -- Ikea -- Imperial Brands -- Indeed -- Inditex -- Intel -- Intuit -- Iveco -- Jaguar -- JCB -- JD Sports -- Johnson Controls -- Juniper Networks -- JYSK -- Kering -- Kinross Gold -- Komatsu -- Lego -- Leica Camera AG -- Levi Strauss -- Lexmark -- LG Electronics -- Logitech -- L'Oreal -- Louis Dreyfus -- Lumen -- LVMH -- Maersk -- Magna -- Mango -- Marks & Spencer -- Mastercard -- Mattel -- Mazda -- McCain Foods -- McCormick -- McDonald's -- Mercedes-Benz -- Meta -- Metso Outotec -- Mettler Toledo -- Microsoft -- Moncler -- Mothercare -- MVRDV -- Neste Oyj -- NHL -- Nike -- Nintendo -- Nissan -- Nokia -- Nvidia -- Oracle -- Panasonic -- Papa John's -- Paramount -- Payoneer -- Paypal -- Prada -- Preem AB -- Puma -- PVH -- Qualcomm -- Rabobank -- Raytheon -- Remitly Global -- Richemont -- Ricoh -- Rockwell Automation -- Rolls Royce -- Salesforce -- Samsonite International -- Samsung -- Sandvik -- SAP -- Scandinavian Tobacco -- Scania -- Skoda -- Snap -- SonoSim -- Sony -- Starbucks -- Stellantis -- Subaru -- Swatch -- Sylvamo -- TikTok -- Timken -- Toyota -- Trane Technologies -- Trimble -- TSMC -- Twitter -- Under Armour -- Uniqlo/Fast Retailing -- Universal -- UPS -- Valero Energy -- Valio -- Visa -- Viva Energy -- VMWare -- Volkswagen -- Volvo -- WarnerMedia -- Western Union -- Wise PLC -- Xerox -- YouTube

Leaving Russia Altogether or Suspending Major Operations and/or Sales

Accenture -- Acronis -- Activision Blizzard -- Adenza -- AECOM -- AerCap -- Airbnb -- Alaska Airlines -- Alcoa -- Aldi -- AMD -- American Airlines -- Asda -- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank -- Asos -- Autodesk -- Avery Dennison -- Avid -- Baker Botts -- BBDO -- BCG -- BlackRock -- Bolt -- Boohoo Group -- Booking -- BP -- British American Tobacco -- Brown-Forman -- Bryan Cave -- Bumble -- Carnival -- Centrica -- Clarivate -- Clifford Chance -- Coupa -- Coursera -- Crocs -- Cummins -- Daimler -- DB Schenker -- DDB -- Dechert -- Deezer -- Deloitte -- Delta Air Lines -- Dentsu International -- DXC Technology -- EarthDaily Analytics -- eBay -- Electronic Arts -- Eni -- EPAM -- Equinor -- Esri -- Eurovision -- Eversheds Sutherland -- Expedia -- Exxon -- EY -- Farfetch -- Fazer -- FICO -- Ferragamo -- FIFA -- Fitch -- Formula One -- Fortinet -- Freshfields -- Geodis -- Global Foundries -- Grainpro -- Grammarly -- Grant Thornton -- Herbert Smith -- Hogan Lovells -- ICBC -- Intercontinental Exchange -- International Boxing Federation -- International Cat Federation -- International Cycling Union -- International Ice Hockey Federation -- International Skating Union -- International Tennis Federation -- International Weightlifting Federation -- Interpublic Group -- IOC -- J Sainsbury -- JetBrains -- Knight Frank -- Korean Air Lines -- KPMG -- Kuehne + Nagel AG -- Latham & Watkins -- Linklaters -- Live Nation Entertainment -- London Stock Exchange Group -- Marsh McLennan -- McKinsey -- Monroe Energy -- Moody's -- Morgan Lewis -- Morrisons -- MSC -- MSCI -- Nasdaq -- Netflix -- Netscout -- New Development Bank -- Norton Rose Fulbright -- Norwegian Cruise Lines -- Oceana Cruises -- Omnicom Group, Inc. -- Omnicom Media Group -- OMV -- OneWeb -- Par Pacific -- Paulig -- Publicis Group -- PwC -- R&A -- Radio Free Europe -- Regent Seven Seas Cruises -- Roku -- Rolex -- S&P -- Sabre -- Savills -- Shell -- Signet Jewelers -- Spotify -- Squire Patton Boggs -- Stanley Black & Decker -- State Street -- Swarovski -- Take-Two Interactive -- TJ Maxx -- TripAdvisor -- Uber -- UEFA -- Uniper SE -- United Airlines -- Upwork -- Vanguard -- Waitrose -- WeWork -- White & Case -- Winston & Strawn -- Wintershall Dea AG -- Women's Tennis Association -- World Athletics Council -- World Boxing Association -- World Boxing Council -- World Boxing Organization -- World Federation of Exchanges -- World Rowing Federation -- World Rugby Union -- WPP PLC -- WWE -- YOOX