Shchedryk: A Garden of Even™ Holiday Celebration
December 2 @ 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Join Quiet Tenacity presented by Garden of Even™ for its second annual holiday celebration Dec 2nd, 5:30pm – 8:30pm, Toronto.
This year, two women from the Garden of Even™ exhibition are brought into conversation across centuries: Mary, the young woman at the center of the Christmas story, and Olha Kobylianska, the visionary Ukrainian writer who imagined a different future for women and the world around them.
At first glance, they appear worlds apart. But look closer, and striking parallels emerge.
Through her signature immersive storytelling and historical reframing, Kadie Philp, Founder of Garden of Even™, traces the revolutionary visions that connected these women—and how their courage to trust what they knew transformed the worlds around them.
Rooted in the spirit of Shchedryk—the Ukrainian composition that travelled the world as Carol of the Bells—the evening also celebrates the beauty and depth of Ukrainian holiday traditions through seasonal music, imagery, storytelling, and cultural ritual.
From the hills of Nazareth to the Carpathian mountains, audiences will journey through story, art, and history to discover a new way of seeing Mary and Olha, and perhaps themselves.
The evening features a curated Garden of Even™ exhibition, including a newly commissioned portrait of Olha Kobylianska by Ukrainian artist Daria Haltazova, inviting audiences into a deeper encounter with Ukrainian cultural history and the enduring power of visionary women.
Positioned at the threshold of the holiday season and the new year, Shchedryk is an invitation to reflect on the stories that shape us, the visions we carry, and the worlds we are capable of bringing into being.
What to Expect:
- A reimagining of the Christmas story celebrating the full spectrum of women’s agency, power, curiosity and consent, where Olha Kobylianska and (mother) Mary meet across centuries.
- An exploration of Kobylianska’s life and work introducing audiences to the depth of her’s and Ukrainian cultural and intellectual history, placed in dialogue with one of the most familiar stories in the world.
- Fireside chat placing Mary’s and Olha’s story in today’s context exploring the themes outlined in keynote.
- Seasonal music and entertainment showcasing Ukrainian cultural holiday traditions.
- Bespoke Holiday Reception/Celebration in a curated space with the Garden of Even™ Exhibition showcasing the newly commissioned portrait of Olha Kobylianska.
- Premium wine and bites
- Garden of Even™ curated marketplace
Join us for an unforgettable evening—and meet Mary and Olya for the first time.