Learn Pysanky: Review and #Giveaway

Say it Rah-shay By Rachee Mar 17, 2014 2 Comments

On the first Friday of each month ArtSpace in Lansdowne opens its doors to allow a glimpse of the what’s offered. Dill suggested we go so I rounded up The Bee and Arli and we learned all about the traditional Ukrainian art of Pysanky. Pysanky is a Ukrainian method of decorated painted eggs and during the First Friday event we got to create some.

Pysanky was so much fun! At first I watched as the kids created eggs and then I had to make my own! Marty Von Rosenstiel was so patient explaining to each person who attended the steps for creating their own eggs.

We were given raw eggs and showed how to use a Kistna, which is like a pencil or stylus to write on the eggs. Using a candle, we melted beeswax which we then used to create a design on the egg.

Next we dyed our eggs using one of the many jars of color available.

After letting the dye dry, we pricked a hole in the egg and blew out the content of the egg. Marty shared that in the Ukraine, the raw eggs are left intact! She told us we didn’t want to be around when they exploded…yuck!

Arli was very good at pricking the egg-shell and declared that we all give her our eggs to open.

After draining the content of the egg, it was time to melt the wax. We used a little toaster oven for this.

And then our eggs were ready! (These are not our eggs but samples from the studio).

More pictures from the night. The kids had a ball and, despite their reluctance to try it, I had to drag them away when it was time to leave!

More events from the night: Photography from Brian Mengini, Jewelry from Angela Urso and Music from Dante Bucci coupled with tasty nibbles and running into friends made this unexpected outing so much more fun.

Want to try Pysanky? Enter to win a pair of tickets to Art Space Lansdowne’s Eggstravaganza upcoming workshops.

Contest deets:

Contest runs from March 17th through March 23rd.
One winner will be chosen.
Winner will have a choice of a dates for a pair of tickets for either Saturday, April 5, 10 am – 2 pm or Sunday, April 6, 10 am – 2 pm
Winner will have 24 hours to reply to e-mail or an alternative winner will be chosen.

Please note: all ages are welcome but this workshop DOES involve open flames and hot, melted wax.

Mandatory entry: