Leo Vayn

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie will present two public programs as part of its exhibition “Cultural Connections: Eastern European Artists of Greater Trenton,” which is on view through June 8.

An afternoon with photographer and filmmaker Leo Vayn will screen and discuss Vayn’s documentary The Road to Krasnostav on Sunday, May 4, at 2 p.m. Produced by the Soviet Russia-born Vayn, the film examines one family’s personal journey through the former Jewish shtetl in Krasnostav, Ukraine, to reconnect with a past that saw the town’s Jewish population executed by the Nazis in 1941. Vayn, of Princeton, is a businessperson and entrepreneur who has dedicated himself to photography and the Tsal Kaplun Foundation, created to preserve Jewish culture and heritage in the former Soviet Union. He is among the 10 area artists with artwork showcased in “Cultural Connections.” Admission is $5 at the door (free for museum members).

“Sorrow & Joy: Ukrainian Art Songs” is planned for Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m. This exploration of Ukrainian classical music will include works by Mykola Lysenko, who is considered the father of Ukrainian classical music; Kyrylo Stetsenko, one of Ukraine’s most prolific and important 20th century artists; Vasyl Barvinsky, Ukraine’s first internationally known composer; and Stefania Turkewich, Ukraine’s first female composer. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.

The May events are part of the “Cultural Connections” show developed and curated by Liz and Dan Aubrey to launch a series of exhibitions designed to highlight artistic traditions and practices in the region and to build awareness and dialog. Liz Aubrey is an active New Jersey artist and exhibitions curator. Dan Aubrey is a journalist, playwright, and arts coordinator.

The artists of “Cultural Connections” include Marina Ahun, Princeton; Irena Gobernik, Princeton; Olga Gobernik-Kon, Princeton and Israel; Adriana Groza, Hamilton; Jadwiga (Heidi), Trenton; Tatiana Oles, Princeton; Asia Popinski, Pennington; Jacek (Jack) Szymula, Trenton; Leonid (Leo) Vayn, Princeton; and Ewa Zeller, Trenton. For more information, visit ellarslie.org/cultural.

The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie is located in Trenton’s historic Cadwalader Park. Museum and museum store hours are Thursday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. There is no admission fee to view the museum’s offerings, but donations in support of its mission and programs are welcomed. Learn more at ellarslie.org or call (609) 989-1191.