TEXT BY MICHAELA MULLIN | VIEW IMAGES
*2024 UPDATE*
Scott Charles Ross’ Ukraine ’22 Project is to become part of the permanent collection of the National Ukrainian Museum of Chicago.
Join us for the 2024 celebration at Moberg Gallery before the series travels to its new home in Chicago.
Meet the artist and hear from people who supported this project in raising funds and awareness since its inception.
Reception: Friday, July 26, 4 – 6 pm
Remarks at 5 pm
Parking in rear of gallery
Moberg Gallery
2411 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
We are happy to announce that the National Ukrainian Museum of Chicago has accepted the generous gift of these paintings by Ross. They will be received in August, but before then, we want to gather and honor all those who helped make this a success! Ukraine ’22 Project can be viewed at Moberg Gallery. Scott Charles Ross | Ukraine ’22 Project – Moberg Gallery. We will keep this site updated about the project’s display at UNM of Chicago in future.
The Story:
After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Des Moines-based artist, Scott Charles Ross, was compelled to create a series of paintings and drawings depicting Russia’s destructive war on the Ukrainian people; this became the Ukraine ’22 Project.
While working on this project, Ross introduced to a high school foreign exchange student from Ukraine, who’d come to Iowa for his junior year in 2021 under a FLEX Scholarship funded by the U.S. Department of State. At the onset of the invasion, the U.S. Department of State determined that the foreign exchange students from Ukraine would remain and finish their senior year in the United States. Ross was privileged to meet eight other Ukrainian students in this predicament. After their graduation, these students chose to continue with their education in Iowa. They needed funds to apply for Temporary Protective Status and work permits with the U.S. Department of State.
The original charcoal studies for the painting were sold, and the funds generated created The Humanitarian Legal Fund at Drake University Law Clinic. This fund was established with $20,000.00 and were used to cover students’ expenses incurred in filings with the U.S. Department of State. In addition, Grinnell College and the University of Northern Iowa supported these students with full tuition scholarships.
The University of Northern Iowa Foundation displayed the Ukraine ’22 Project to continue raising awareness of the war, fundraising for the eight students UNI had accepted. Approximately $100,000.00 has been raised or pledged for the Ukrainian Student Scholarship Fund there.
The charcoal studies and the oil painting series that comprise Ukraine ’22 Project were first shown at Moberg Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 13, 2023. They were then exhibited at Grinnell College Museum of Art in June 2023, followed by the University of Northern Iowa.
The University of Northern Iowa Gallery of Art exhibited the series on September 29, 2023. They further utilized the works at the university’s Rod Library in November 2023 and the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center for the Kyiv Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra on March 10, 2024.
Recently, the National Ukrainian Museum of Chicago has accepted the generous gift of these paintings by Ross. They will be received in August, but before then, we want to gather and honor all those who helped make the ongoing project a success! Ukraine ’22 Project can be viewed at Moberg Gallery. Scott Charles Ross | Ukraine ’22 Project – Moberg Gallery. We will keep this site updated about the project’s display at UNM of Chicago in the future.
A heartfelt thanks to Beeline & Blue for their generous donation in support of the Ukraine ’22 Project.
Exhibit Images
