Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
THE UKRAINIAN PYSANKA: A BRIDGE THROUGH GENERATIONS "Flowers”, pysanka from the Poltava region. Artisan: Sofika Zielyk. Photo: L. Zielyk. The Ukrainian pysanka, the magnificently decorated Easter egg, has become the symbol of the beauty and wealth of Ukrainian folk art. Brilliant with color and intricate designs, the pysanka holds within its tiny form the mystery of the ages. Decorating a pysanka is a time honored craft that has been practiced by the Ukrainian people since the dawn of history and passed on from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. The art of decorat ing the pysanka is very much a part of the Ukrainian experience even in the United States, to where it has been transplanted with the Ukrainian immigration. “Grandmother Paints Pysanky, Mother Paints, and So Do I” is a charming book about the Ukrainian py sanka, featuring the work of artisan Sofia Zielyk. Pub lished in Ukraine by the Ukrainian Folk Art Center, the 48-page book presents about 100 color reproductions of pysanky, a bilingual, comprehensive, illustrated, step- by-step guide to making pysanky, an explanation of the symbolism in their designs, as well as several pages of drawings of the various symbols used. The bilingual text was prepared by Marta Zielyk. The book also has an introduction written by Vasyl Skurativsky. Lubomyr Zielyk’s photographs of the pysanky in the book are very pleasing to the eye because the eggs are present in the midst of natural settings. A close up of a flower, fruit or berries, stalks of wheat, wood bark or the tender branches of evergreen, form a background and almost a natural complement to the coloration and designs on the eggs, The pysanky shown are from six teen different regions of Ukraine and are arranged according to regional characteristics. The great variety of designs displayed and quality of work testifies to the author’s mastery of the craft and knowledge of the rich tradition of the Ukrainian pysanka. The title of the book speaks very eloquently about “Kucheriava” (curly), pysanka from the Hutsul region. Artisan: Sofika Zielyk. Photo: L. Zielyk. Sofika Zielyk and Ukrainian folk art. Born in New York, but reared in a family where Ukrainian traditions and customs were a way of life, Sofika naturally absorbed the love for and learned the skills of the many folk crafts. As a young adult she studied art history at New York University which allowed her to better understand and appreciate the cultural legacy of her people. The knowledge awoke a passion which is so distinctly reflected in her work. “I paint pysanky in order to continue the tradition of our olden craft. I consider myself but a small part of this ancient process which allowed the perpetuation of folk crafts through the long and turbulent history of our people. I am not only interested in the art of pysanka, but also in its spiritual aspects — its tradition of symbo lism and coloration. That is the reason I never incorpo rate my own or contemporary elements into my work with pysanky or ceramics. I only recreate the traditional, at times thousand year old designs and symbols.” Sofika Zielyk’s craftsmanship is well known and respected in America. She has organized countless exhibitions and demonstrations of her work. She has appeared on television programs and featured in the print media. For several years now, along with her mother Larysa Zielyk, Sofika has taught the art of pysanky decorating at The Ukrainian Museum in New York City, where some beautiful examples of her work are in the Museum’s large pysanka collection. In 1991 at the invitation of the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Kaniv, Sofika mounted her first pysanka exhibition in Ukraine. It was a great success and since then the exhibition has been traveling throughout the country, drawing many viewers and inviting praise for the young artisan. “Grandmother Paints Pysanky, Mother Paints, and So Do I” will be available in local bookstores shortly. Marta Baczynsky ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, КВІТЕНЬ, 1993 21
Page load link
Go to Top