when the disaster hit were able to feel the power of Chernobyl’s impact decades later. “I saw people cry just by looking at the work. These were Americans who never before had even heard of Chernobyl or of what happened, but they did feel what I wanted them to feel. They saw my pain, they saw my Chernobyl, they saw my loss.” A speaker of eight languages, Katrakis has shown exhibits all around the globe, from Greece to Kiev to Memphis. According to her blog, Katrakis actually considers her hometown to be the world itself. “The question I am often asked is, ‘Do you consider yourself an American artist or a Memphis artist or Ukrainian, Greek or European?’” she says. “And I hate that because I think a real artist should belong to the world.” Giving back These days, Katrakis is traversing the globe with a philanthropic mission, simultaneously working on her art while striving to improve the lives of those in need. For her, it is just one of the many powers that art holds. “I believe that the artist has a great power much greater than that of all the CEOs of the world combined,” says Katrakis. “The artist is a creator who creates his or her world and shares it with the viewer, forces the viewer to become a participant, and through this, influences the vision of millions who see his or her work.” With the aid of friends, Katrakis established the Give a Voice to Children foundation. The aim of the foundation is to help children overcome their “inner sorrows and despair.” The foundation has been able to deliver art kits — which include art tools, books and educational materials — to children who have undergone tragedies such as natural disasters and wars. The children then submit their artwork and it ultimately gets displayed in galleries and children’s hospitals, with the hope that it inspires others. Her activities have also supported orphans and children with cancer. Katrakis delicately balances her busy life as an artist and philanthropist. In her eyes, having the chance to spend her days helping others makes everything worth it. “Just a few days ago I was able to raise money for food for 50 children who were starving in the orphanage in Lviv, Ukraine, with no help from the government or state,” says Katrakis. “And I did it with my own example by giving them all I had and by reaching out to all the people in my network (Facebook, etc.) who were inspired to help as well. In the end I was able to find a permanent sponsor for this small, private orphanage, thus I know that these kids will never starve again! You cannot even imagine what a great and magic feeling it is to know that you made a difference. It’s worth living for.” Andrew Clark is a freelance writer based in Boston. W W W. M E M P H I S . E D U
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