Pysanky with Natural Dyes

PYSANKY with NATURAL DYES

Pysanky are decorated eggs made using the wax-resist "batik" method, in which designs are drawn or written onto the egg with beeswax, and then submerged in a series of dye baths. Beautiful and intricate, they are widely recognized and extremely popular, but their origins and traditional purpose are often overlooked. Pysanky are talismans imbued with symbols of protection and goodwill, and making them is a ritual act, a meditation. In our age of materialism pysanky have become art objects and in the interest of convenience and speed, they are made using mass produced dyes and tools. However, before aniline dyes became widely available, dyes were mostly made from natural materials close at hand. Sourcing and making natural dyes, and co-creating with nature is part of the ritual.

In this workshop, Bozena Hrycyna will guide participants in making pysanky dyes from organic ingredients provided and walk you through the rest of the process of inscribing the egg with designs to experience the miraculous birth of a pysanka. She will share some of her journey re-discovering this integral part of pysankarstvo and offer insights and encouragement for you to begin your own journey of making pysanky dyes collaboratively with nature.

* this workshop requires more waiting, and best offered in two parts (two 2-3 hour sessions)