DESIGNING UKRAINIAN EASTER EGGS: PYSANKY

Ukrainian culture has long been a part of Daria Klemick’s life. One of her many hobbies is traveling to Manhattan’s East Village to view the exhibits on display at the Ukrainian Museum. A favorite exhibit of Daria’s displayed there is one that shows pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Pysanky decorations, which have long been a part of Ukrainian culture, use batik wax-resist method. This involves starting with designing a raw egg using pencil on the surface. Following the initial pencil design, holes are drilled through the top and bottom of the eggshell. These holes allow the white and yolk to be drained, leaving an empty, designed shell. At this point, kistka, a wax used for decoration, is applied to the egg’s surface following the pencil lines. The eggs are then dipped in a dye, allowing the shell to retain the dye leaving the areas under the wax white. The designs are made more intricate by adding additional layers of wax and repeating the dying process. Once the desired pattern is achieved, a candle is used to remove the wax layers to reveal the final design. The pysanky can be preserved by applying varnish coatings. It is common to display the preserved pysanky on stands. With the endless possibilities in regard to design, pysanky have become sought after items worldwide and remain a large part of Ukrainian culture.