pysanka

                                  Ukrainian Easter Eggs

"Pysanky is a traditional Ukrainian method for making Easter eggs.  The artist uses a stylus to apply heated beeswax to the surface of an egg.   Once dry, the artist dips the egg into a dye, which colors everything on the surface of the egg except that portion underneath the wax.  The artist then proceeds to another layer of the pattern, again applying wax with the stylus and dipping the egg into another color of dye.  The sequence typically goes from light colors to dark ones, to facilitate more intricate patterns." [1]

Pysanky art is filled with legend and symbolism, and each egg can tell a story.  To really appreciate these awesome decorated eggs, see this color photograph of Lu Gurley holding Ukrainian Easter eggs she decorated.

Lu Gurley (Lubow Gurley, Lubow D. Gurley, Lubow (Lu) Dochwat Gurley, Mrs. Emmit C. Gurley) (1930-2005) learned the Pysanky technique and the precision and symbolism of the craft from her mother. She emigrated from the Ukraine in 1947 to the United States. In 1982 Lu married Emmit C. Gurley (1932-2010) and they lived in St. Petersburg. [2] [3]

There are many more examples of different Floridian craftspeople making Ukrainian Easter Eggs at Florida Memory archives.

Admired in Alberta Bound