Montreal Ukrainian Festival Logo

Incorporating entities that identify its cultural heritage with symbolisms celebrating the third Montreal Ukrainian Festival and commemorating Ukraine’s 11th year of independence, brought about a challenge to graphically capture and produce a logo that is not only unique but also simplistic in its concept that would be easily recognized as the official emblem for the Montreal Ukrainian Festival.

Since its creation and introduction in 2002, the Montreal Ukrainian Festival logo has made such a positive impact on a global scale within the Ukrainian Community as a recognizable official trademark of the Montreal Ukrainian Festival, so much so, that it remains as such to this day.

What the logo represents:

-At a quick glance, one will notice that the Montreal Ukrainian Festival logo is basic in design of a traditional floral headpiece called “Vinok” worn by Ukrainian women in today’s times during many traditional cultural performances.

-At a closer glance you will also notice that the Montreal Ukrainian Festival logo depicts a number 3 and that it also contains 3 ribbons. These signify the third year of celebrating the annual Montreal Ukrainian Festival.
 
-From another perspective, one might also notice that the Montreal Ukrainian Festival logo depicts “Kaydane” open handcuffs symbolizing the long awaited and sought freedom of Ukraine from the former Soviet Union.

-There are 11 separate entities, which make up the Montreal Ukrainian Festival logo. Each one of them represents a year of Ukraine’s Independence.

-7 red poppies embrace the headband. The poppy is a flower that grows freely throughout the Steppes and the Carpathian regions of Ukraine. These flowers are often depicted in traditional embroidery and in many Ukrainian arts & crafts.

-The Green headband, spanning from left to right, symbolize the unity of Ukraine from its western to eastern frontiers.
-The Blue and Yellow ribbons are the colours of Ukraine’s national flag, the blue symbolizing the open skies and the yellow symbolizing the vast wheat fields.

-The Orange ribbon, symbolizes the Unity and Solidarity of Ukraine. The colour orange has been used as a BANNER OF FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution.

Overview:
This logo is a graphically balanced illustration, simplistic in design but strong in depicting the ethnic flair of Ukraine, its cultural richness, diversity and solidarity of independence.

Alex Gyba
President, GybaGrafix