No. 17 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008 13 Washington’s first “pysanka weekend” attracts specialists, collectors by Olenka and Jurij Dobczansky regional variations in decorative patterns. These exhibits are on display through WASHINGTON – Sixty pysanka spe- May 19. cialists, lobbyists and collectors from At the conclusion of the symposium across North America gathered at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine on the main participants and members of the March 8 for the first Pysanka Symposium organizing committee enjoyed a dinner in the United States. Five presenters next door at St. Josaphat Ukrainian shared their stories of creating, docu- Catholic Seminary, hosted by the semi- menting, collecting and preserving the nary’s rector, The Rev. Robert Hitchens. pysanka and its legacy. A very receptive Mr. Dobczansky again thanked the audience joined in a lively exchange of speakers and members of the organizing ideas on the ancient art and living tradi- committee, including: Zenowia Choma tion of pysanka writing. and Norm Thompson, who produced the The Pysanka Symposium began with handsome program booklet; Christine welcoming remarks by Jurij Dobczansky, Paclawsky, who assisted with announce- who conceived and spearheaded the ments and media publicity; Oksana event. “Our goal in organizing this sym- Sorokowski, who managed the book sale posium was to provide a forum for table; and all the community organiza- pysanka specialists, writers and connois- tions that financially supported the sym- seurs. We wanted to share our collective Mike Lent posium. Conversations continued late knowledge and experience and document into the evening. Among the many ideas it in an accessible way. Pysanka writers A view of some of the pysanky in the collection of Luba Chornodolsky (by Olena Kuzminsky and Maria Hawrych). voiced that evening was the need for today creatively reconstruct traditional another such event to explore those patterns into individual works of art lead- Pysanka – it is written! A bibliography.” pysanka workshops conducted by Mr. aspects not fully discussed at the sympo- ing some to declare it is no longer a ‘folk Her colorfully illustrated guide includes Dobczansky at the Ukrainian Catholic sium. art.’ The explosion of information about over 200 books, audio-visuals and arti- National Shrine in the form of photo- the pysanka challenges us to ensure that Sunday events cles in Ukrainian, English, German, the essence of traditional pysanka writing graphs, flyers, press clippings and related doesn’t become obscured,” he said. French, Portuguese, Italian, Polish and publications. The symposium was followed on Dr. Andrew Sorokowski, known to Japanese. Ms. Brander also displayed “Paths to the Pysanka” presented Sunday by two hands-on pysanka-deco- readers of The Ukrainian Weekly through books, clippings and photographs of her pysanky from eight pysanka-writers and rating workshops, held in conjunction his column “CrossCurrents,” introduced work in teaching and popularizing the collectors: Luba Chornodolsky, Jurij with the annual Easter Bazaar at the Holy the speakers and served as moderator of pysanka on Canada’s Pacific Coast. Dobczansky, Olha Kurylas, Lesia Family Parish. the symposium. In introducing Helen Dr. Andrij Hornjatkevyc said his illus- Mandzia, Ihor Masnyk, Nadia O’Shea, Thirteen pysanka-writers attended the Badulak of Reading, Pa., Dr. Sorokowski trated talk centered on the collection and Ihor Slabicky and Sofika Zielyk. Pysanka Master Class with Ms. Badulak, noted that she represented the creation preservation aspects of pysanky. A lin- The exhibit and the accompanying and the 25th annual Pysanka Workshop phase of pysanky. guist by profession, Dr. Hornjatkevyc’s booklet underscored the fact that every- for pysanka-writers of all ages and levels Ms. Badulak spoke about the life of a interest in pysanky comes from his father, one who has written, collected or inherit- with Mr. Dobczansky attracted a total of Damian’s, collection, which he preserved pysanka artist and displayed a selection ed pysanky has a unique story to tell. 63 participants. and whose recording in electronic format of her exquisite work. The winner of Some are hooked the minute they see a Overall, participants of the symposium, numerous awards and distinctions includ- by the Ukrainian Folklore Chairs at the pysanka emerging from beneath the University of Alberta he facilitated. He the workshop and the master class were ing Master of Pysanka by the blackened beeswax. Some are intrigued very positive about their experience. The described how his father collected by the challenge of creating the “perfect International Egg Art Guild, Ms. Badulak Ukrainian Service of the Voice of pysanky and embroidery in western pysanka.” Some cherish pysanky as gifts conducted a Pysanka Master Class on America recorded several interviews with Ukraine and safeguarded them during the that bring memories of friends or loved Sunday with her daughter Nina Badulak- participants and presenters, which were second world war. He managed to bring ones. For others, pysanky evoke a cher- McDaniel. included in a special broadcast to Ukraine The second speaker, Orysia Paszczak the collections with him when he immi- ished family tradition spanning several on March 19. (The full Ukrainian-lan- Tracz, is a writer whose column, “The grated to the United States, despite cus- generations. guage text and a video clip may be things we do ...,” also is familiar to read- toms officials damaging some in an effort The third exhibit, “Tools for the viewed at https://author.voanews.com/ ers of The Ukrainian Weekly. A to determine whether they were real eggs. Pysanka,” focused on the absolute sim- researcher, lecturer and translator based Dr. Hornjatkevyc demonstrated how plicity of tools and techniques required ukrainian/2008-03-19-voa8.cfm.) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she spoke about his father’s pysanka collection can now for pysanka-writing. It highlighted the Mr. Dobczansky observed at the out- the traditions rooted in pagan and be viewed online from any angle rotating development of the electric kistka by set: “Often it is asked why we invest so Christian rituals, as well as several mod- them 360 degrees (http://www.arts.ual- Wasyl Ohar of Detroit. This “New much time and effort into decorating a ern-day interpretations of pysanky in berta.ca/uvp/pages/media/edpysanky/ima World” innovation has significantly fragile eggshell. Were you to ask the over North America. ges/dh1/dh1.htm). In addition, Dr. changed the way pysanky are written 800 individuals who have participated in Ms. Tracz noted that, like so many Hornjatkevyc announced that he had today. The electric kistka is now widely our workshops you would probably hear other Ukrainian traditions in both North brought both collections from Edmonton, used even in the “Old World.” 800 reasons. But above all, you would America and Ukraine, the pysanka has in order to give them a permanent home A map, “Pysanky of Ukraine,” based readily sense an excitement and joy in evolved into a symbol of Ukrainian iden- at The Ukrainian Museum in New York on information and illustrations from Vira learning this craft and its traditions. Yes, tity. She illustrated her talk “From the immediately after the symposium. Manko’s book “The Ukrainian Folk it appears the eggshell is indeed fragile, sublime to the ridiculous” with numerous The last speaker was Lubow Wolynetz, Pysanka” was displayed at the entrance. but the legacy of the pysanka is quite examples – the ridiculous represented by the representative of the Ukrainian It gives an impressionistic portrait of the strong.” a set of golf balls with pysanka motifs. Museum who facilitated Dr. These two speakers set the stage for Hornjatkevyc’s donation. A librarian by the main issues discussed at the confer- profession, she is presently a professor ence: the role of the pysanka as a tradi- and museum curator of the Ukrainian tional ritual object versus the pysanka as Museum and Library of Stamford, Conn., a personal expression of an artist’s cre- as well as the folk art curator of The ativity. Should an egg, exquisitely deco- Ukrainian Museum in New York. rated in the reverse batik method but Ms. Wolynetz focused on the preserva- devoid of traditional symbolism, still be tion of pysanky for posterity based on called a pysanka? Or does it merely more than 20 years’ experience organiz- become a decorated egg? Does there have ing The Ukrainian Museum’s annual to be a connection to Ukraine or to the pysanka exhibit. In her illustrated presen- traditional Ukrainian Easter basket for an tation she traced the evolution of the very egg to be called a pysanka? Can another popular exhibit and the ways in which the object, such as a golf ball or a Christmas museum strives to make each year’s tree ornament with traditional pysanka exhibit unique by featuring the pysanka’s motifs, be called a pysanka? What about link to other elements of Ukrainian cul- whimsically designed eggs that employ ture – Easter “pasky” (breads) or embroi- traditional and non-traditional patterns dered “rushnyky” (ritual cloths), for and motifs? example. After a brief refreshment break, during Additional features which intense conversations continued, Dr. Sorokowski introduced Joan Brander Besides the program of speakers, the from Richmond, British Columbia. Ms. Pysanka Symposium featured a three-part Brander is a pysanka artist, instructor and exhibit designed and created by Larysa Larysa Kurylas the founder of Baba’s Beeswax, a popular Kurylas and Olenka Dobczanska. At the Pysanka Symposium (from left) are: Andrew Sorokowski, Lubow website devoted to the pysanka. The display case titled “Passing on the Wolynetz, Andrij Hornjatkevyc, Joan Brander, Orysia Paszczak Tracz, Jurij She presented her book “About the Pysanka Legacy” chronicled 25 years of Dobczansky and Helen Badulak.