This was the present Pivdennoukrayinsk residents received for the day of the city from the local nuclear plant administrators

Various shows are often held in Pivdennoukrayinsk, but photo exhibitions are relatively rare. This is why the New Day: Light and Shadows exhibition aroused great interest among the local public. In fact, they started to visit the display even when it was under construction: almost everybody coming to the Palace of Culture dropped in on the Hard Gallery (“I heard they brought some classy photos from Kyiv...”).

At the opening ceremony, General Director of the Pivdenno-Ukrayinska NPS Borys Bilyk said, “This year, following the good tradition to make presents for the Day of the City to its residents, we presented them a meeting with the most interesting of contemporary arts, photography. It’s an open secret that the more contacts with art a person has, the richer his or her inner life becomes. I believe this meeting with beauty will stay in memory of the townspeople.”

Representative of Den’/The Day, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Press Group Valentyn Pustovoit, in his speech related the history of photo contests conducted by our newspaper, which actively supports Ukrainian photo art: “ The Day is the only all- Ukrainian newspaper that holds annual international photo contests. Among their participants are excellent Ukrainian photo artists who are, unfortunately, better known abroad than at home,” stressing that The Day’s photo contests are open to everybody who likes photography, both professionals and amateurs. Incidentally, the conditions of the Fifth International Photo Contests the results of which will be summed up at the newspaper’s anniversary in September were distributed among the public along with the fresh issues of Den’ and The Day and Den’/The Day’s printed calendars. (The conditions of the photo contest are published on p. 8 — Ed.). The speaker expressed his gratitude to the Pivdenno- Ukrayinska NPS administration for its assistance in holding the event and presented the book Ukrayina Incognita to the local library.

The visitors literally studied the photos on display, appraising highly the authors skills and their ability to poetically depict the truth of life instead of embroidering it.

Borys BILYK, general director of the Pivdenno-Ukrayinska NPS:

“In spite of the fact that the photos depict one single moment, this moment makes one think about many things. I believe this is the main value everybody comes away with after the exhibition. Certainly, it is very important to show this beauty to our children. We hope that they will take the best things we are trying to inculcate in them. Such exhibitions are a decent contribution to the aesthetic education of the younger generation... Everybody can find something special for himself at the exhibition, making contact with eternal human values. We will try in the future not to set aside this interesting genre, photography.”

Natalia DOMINOVA, secretary of the Pivdennoukrayinsk City Council:

“The old saying goes, ‘Better see it once than hear about it a hundred times.’ Today I’ve seen various photo works here: some of them touching, others serious, still others really funny, permeated with national Ukrainian spirit. I’d like to see photos by my fellow townspeople among them (Let’s hope they’ll take part in the current contest — Ed.).”

Liliya UMANETS, Chief Manager of the Education Administration at the Pivdennoukrayinsk City Council:

“There is a variety of works displayed at the exhibition. One makes you laugh, another brings tears to your eyes. Every photo touches some strings in your soul. One can see here Ukraine’s pain and pride, sparkling folk humor, vitality, and talent.”

Yury NAHULKO, President of the Pivdenenerhobud Public Corporation, artist:

“The exhibition is very good and timely. Many interesting masters presented their mature creative works. Photography is not painting, but in reliable hands it is really a strong and truthful art. I’m glad that Pivdennoukrayinsk residents will see these works that deserve looking at them and pondering upon them.”

Den’/The Day’s photo exhibition opened a number of events dedicated to the Day of the City. The next, one to which everybody present at the exhibition was invited, was the final tour of the children’s creativity festival. Young Pivdennoukrayinsk stars Kateryna Filatova, Yuliya Serenko, the Natkhnennia [Inspiration] athletic dance ensemble, and Kviti Ukrayiny [Flowers of Ukraine] folk dance ensemble won a tough competition and was named the best at this festival. It is worth mention that the Pivdenno-Ukrayinska NPS always takes care of the young talents of the satellite towns and provides any support they might need. The children in turn are grateful to the nuclear power station where most of their parents work with their diplomas and awards from numerous creative contests.

The Pivdenno-Ukrayinska NPS administration cares not only for the townspeople’s spiritual development. They also monitor their physical health. On the eve of the Day of the City its residents received a unique gift: a new fluoroscope for the specialized medical and public health station. It is the only such device in the CIS. The level of checkup with the fluoroscope conforms to world standards without exposing patients to even minimal radiation. In addition, the result is shown on the monitor in ten seconds after use. The quality of the picture is also better than in a regular x ray.