The Beautiful Egg-Dying Art of Pysanky

Have you ever drawn a design on an egg with a white Crayon before dropping it into a cup of Easter egg dye? If so, you've practiced a very simplified form of pysanky, and art of egg dying that involves using applied wax to resist dye in repeating steps. Pysanky is the plural of pysanka and is a Ukrainian term meaning "to write." It's an ancient tradition dating back many thousands of years that is often associated with the rites of springtime. The process uses a tool called a kistka to draw the designs on the eggs. The kistka has a handle with a tiny pot at the end to hold a small piece of beeswax. The pot of beeswax is melted over a flame and then flows out from the tip that is below the pot when pressure is put on the egg, like a pen. While they can be dyed while full, often washed eggs will be emptied first by poking holes in both ends and blowing out the white and yolk through the hole at the opposite end (a tool called an egg blower can also be used for this). The holes are then refilled with wax before dying begins. After drawing an initial design with the kistka, the egg takes its first of several dye baths, starting with the lightest color first. New design layers can then be added before dying in graduated colors in this multi-step process. Pysanky refers to the design motifs rather than the wax-resist method, and many of the traditional motifs are geometric designs that are done in five or less colors. Often, eggs completed using the wax-resistance process without the cultural traditions are referred to as batik eggs. When the dye design is completed, the wax is melted off for a beautiful "reveal" moment, often using a low-heat toaster oven or regular oven for this final step. While you can find an endless number of websites with instructions and video tutorials online, there are several local resources available as well. Unfortunately, a workshop in Keene facilitated by MAXT Makerspace has already passed but Mill Hollow Works of Keene will also offer a pysanky workshop on Thursday, April 9 at United Church of Christ that will be led by guest instructor and pysanky artist Jenny Santa Maria. Santa Maria learned the tradition of pysanky at the age of 19 from a family friend for whom she babysat. Her ongoing interest in the art form as an art student led to the development of a workshop to teach others, and now she travels up and down the East Coast each spring to museums, community spaces and libraries to pass on this meditative art form. The opportunity to learn this unique skill and folk art will also cover the history and traditions surrounding pysanky, a demonstration and an independent practice session. Santa Maria will provide a variety of organic eggs and dyes, and all supplies needed for this project, although attendees should bring an egg carton to transport their creations home safely. This workshop can be a meditative and communal experience for many, and this art form is one that can be repeated in the springtime and enjoyed by all ages for years to come. In-person attendance for the workshop is limited, and it will be offered in two sessions for ages 18-plus only. Registration includes the cost of all tools and materials. For more information or to register for the Pysanky workshop, visit millhollowworks.org/courses. Learn more about Santa Maria and view her pysanky at flametipstudio.com and youtube.com/@Flametipstudio.