"Pysanky: Then & Now"

There's one more chance to catch to see my multimedia presentation about Ukrainian Easter eggs at St.Vladimir Institute on Mar. 31st. The slides start off with traditional batik-style pysanky; goes on to visiting Pysanky Museums in USA and Ukraine; and ends with a contemporary beaded eggs. 

Maria wearing Nina McDaniel's 'gerdan' with an ostrich egg shell pendant. Photo: Ian Archer

This was first presented at the weeklong Pysanky Event from Feb. 25 to 29th organized by the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (UCWLC) Museum of the Toronto Eparchy in conjunction with Canadian Ukrainian Art Foundation at the KUMF Gallery. 

 Beaded 'pysanky' display and Maria and Eugene's 'pysanky'. Photo: Ian Archer  

Maria's article in A Needle Pulling Thread, Spring 2011

Beaded 'pysanky' by artists from Ukraine

There was an exhibit of 'pysanky' by several artists, pysanky-making workshops, and a Sunday afternoon program with my presentation and a performance by a children's choir. I showed the pysanky presentation three more times to school children tours.

Ukrainian School students writing 'pysanky' at a Chromej Family workshop

Maria and Joyce try out electric 'kistky' styluses

Removing wax to reveal an electric 'pysanka'

Children's Choir from St. Mary's Dormition UCC. Photo: Ian Archer

UCWLC Museum Chair Marta Chomyn thanks pysanky artists: Maria Rypan, Parania Sozansky, Cassandra Wojchikowskyj, Maria Steventon, Doris Cherkas, Irene Chromej-Johnston. Photo: Ian Archer. (Lower) Olenka Kleban and Oksana Hawrylak of Kosa Kolekiv conducted pysanky workshops for St. Sophia School

St. Sophia School visit Pysanky Exhibit at KUMF Gallery

Grade 1 students journaling beaded 'pysanky'

Helen Basaraba's 'pysanky' inspire Grade 1 students

Best journal compliment by Grade 1 student