Tag: pysanky

Refugee experience: art and storytelling

It was such a treat to virtually speak with students from grades 1 to 3 via Richmond Hill Public Library for Ukrainian Heritage month, discussing how art can be used to talk about the refugee experience and to discover the power of storytelling. I showed them a simplified way of creating pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) and how when the first Ukrainian pioneers came to Canada they wouldn’t have survived without the guidance and friendship of the Indigenous community. We talked about the cultural exchange of kokum scarves and I showed them a beautiful Polish beaded necklace (thank you Mateusz) and how the craft in its making blended so many cultures. I think there will be many kids making stick-tak or bubble-gum pysanky soon, and they all liked my bookshelf!

Duck egg pysanky

Perfect timing. My husband and I decided to self-isolate during this time of COVID-19. Robin Kirby, a local raiser of ducks, delivered fresh duck eggs to my door! I’ve been having some fun with them! The dyes take differently on duck eggs, so after my first (top left) I switched to a wider kistka and didn’t leave the egg soaking in the dyes, but instead, just dipped or applied with a Q-tip.