In time for Easter – traditional ancient Pysanky art returns to Bruce County Museum

Following last year’s popular Pysanky classes, the heritage Easter egg design event again returned to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre on Saturday, March 28th.

It was an exciting creative day when two classes, youth and adults, again had the opportunity to try their hand at creating traditional delicate Ukrainian Easter eggs known as ‘Pysanky’.

In Slavic cultures, the ancient tradition of delicate egg decorating and the art of wax-resist (batik) decoration is said to date back to the pre-Christian era and the word Pysanky means ‘to write’.

For larger view, click on image

During the workshops, Angela Ewtushik of Harriston, explained the meaning and history behind Pysanky and the technique of decorating traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs.

Each egg is unique with symbolic meanings and colours.  For example:

White    Purity, innocence and Birth
Yellow   Youth, hapiness, hospitality
Green    Spring, new growth and hope
Orange  Strength, endurance, eternal sun
Red       Happiness, hope, passion, the sun
Blue      Sky and good health
Black    Eternity, dark time for dawn

Requiring a steady hand, a tool/stylus called a “kistka” is used to apply hot wax to the shell of an egg. Once the design/drawing is complete, the egg is then placed in a series of dye baths. The wax that creates the pattern/design prevents the dye from reaching the surface of the egg.

Multiple layers of wax and colour are then applied to build the pattern which is revealed when the wax is removed by melting it and gently rubbing it off at the end.

While today’s dyes are manufactured in bygone days natural products were used:

• dark red/brown: — onion skins;
• black: — oak or alder bark or walnut shells;
• gold: — apple tree bark or marigold flowers;
• violet: — mallow flower petals;
• green: — rye shoots or periwinkle leaves;
• pink: — beet juice

Instructor Angela Ewtushik, master Pyshanky artist brought several pieces of her art to demonstrate the many designs that can be created on an eggshell.

Incredible works of Pysanky art – for larger view, click on image