April Pysanka Workshops To Benefit Humanitarian Relief to Ukraine
On the weekend of Apr. 9-10, The University of Scranton will offer a series of pysanka workshops to teach the art of decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs with traditional folk designs using a wax-resist method. Come, gather with us to write a pysanka in support of Ukraine. One hundred percent of the workshop fee will be donated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine via World Central Kitchen. Participants will be taught how to write pysanky, or Ukrainian Easter eggs. All materials will be provided, and each participant will take home their own, blown-out pysanka.
Four pysanka workshops will be offered as follows: on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and again on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. All workshops will take place in the Smurfit Arts Center, Scranton, PA 18510 on the corners of Vine St. and Madison Ave. Masks are required. Each workshop is limited to 10 people and children must be accompanied by an adult. The workshop cost is $25, payable by cash or check. Registration is required at: surveymonkey.com/r/PysankaApril2022
Workshops will be led by Dr. Amelia Randich, Assistant Professor of Biology at The University of Scranton. Dr. Randich is a fourth-generation Ukrainian-American, and this art has been passed down through the women in her family. She has been writing pysanky for over 30 years and teaches pysankarsvo at various retreats in the US.
“The tradition of pysankarsvo has been handed down through the women in my family and I’m tremendously proud to continue the art. I’ve been writing pysanky with my mother since before I can remember. Easter on my mom’s side has always been a treasured holiday, and the days of Lent before it are a special season for writing pysanky. I now write pysanky year-round and have the honor of having some of my pysanky in the Pysanka Museum in Kolomyya, Ukraine,” said Dr. Randich.
Dr. Randich has a dedicated website, “Saving the World One Egg at Time,” to illustrate her work in pysanka along with the meaning and importance of their creation. The act of creating is vital.
“Pysanky have always been prayers for peace and prosperity in both pre-Christian and Christian times. It is said that as long as pysanky are being written somewhere in the world, the balance between good and evil is maintained. This Lent they are particularly evocative as Ukraine faces atrocities from Russian forces.” said Dr. Randich.
To learn more about Dr. Randich and her work creating and teaching the art of pysanka, please visit https://pysankypower.wordpress.com/
You can also view Dr. Randich’s work and follow her on social media on Facebook: @pysankypower & Instagram: @AmeliaRandich.
These workshops are offered by The University of Scranton and are co-sponsored by the Hope Horn Gallery and the Office of Community and Government Relations.
“These workshops are a wonderful way for university and Scranton community members to come together, learn about Ukrainian culture and art, and create something beautiful in a way that offers solidarity during this time of violence, conflict and human suffering in Ukraine. The proceeds will provide humanitarian relief at a critical time when we continue to pray for peace,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, associate vice president of Community Engagement & Government Affairs at The University of Scranton.
For questions, please contact community@scranton.edu.
