The nightmares are becoming less frequent for Krystyna Makarchuk.
But memories of war remain for the woman who escaped Russian bombs to find safe haven in Vernon.
With the Russian army mercilessly bombing Bucha, Ukraine, Makarchuk had no choice but flee the advancing enemy.
She and her husband lived in Bucha for 18 years, but their life was turned upside down as war bore down on them.
Her home town of Severodonetsk was also heavily bombed by what she described as “the invasion of Russian terrorists.”
“Due to the Russian forces invading and occupying my city of Bucha and the atrocities they committed there, we were forced to hide in our root seller for over two weeks, sleeping on an unheated dirt floor while our street was hit with missiles, tanks drove around us and attack helicopters flew overhead,” she said.
In mid-March, Makarchuk managed to flee Ukraine and eventually made her way to family members in Vernon via Slovakia, Poland, Germany and the United States.
Makarchuk not only found a safe haven from war, but she also found a place to continue her art, which can be seen at the Vernon Community Arts Centre in Polson Park.
“It was here, through painting the work you see today, I have been able to take my mind from the horrors I have seen, the sounds I have heard and the nightmares I went to sleep to every night, wondering if I will see the morning,” said Makarchuk.
“It is with no exaggeration that I say having this opportunity to create art in what I know is a safe country, in a city with such amazing friendly people, that I know my mental health is recovering.”
Makarchuk's work is currently on display at the Vernon Community Arts Centre as part of the Artsolutely sale and fundraiser which runs until 1 p.m. Dec. 24.
