Sunday 13 January 2019

Turning Back the Pages to the 2008 Pysanka Symposium in Washington, DC

The dawn of a new year is a good time to reflect on the past and make dreams for the future. Tomorrow is New Years Eve according to the Julian calendar, and for the team of pysanky experts at Baba's Beeswax it brings back memories of the First Pysanka Symposium in Washington, DC eleven years ago. It was an engaging immersive retreat for pysanka enthusiasts from all over North America. Pysanky specialists, lobbyists and collectors gathered for the opportunity to meet other pysanka artists, experience presentations from guest speakers and celebrate the art of pysankarstvo. Perhaps it was the catalyst for other cities like Vancouver and Toronto who are now following suit with their own events.

Did you attend the symposium? What memories of it do you have? 

Here are several places to check out videos, photos, and links. Do you recognize any people in these images?

1. this link for the newpaper article with photos from The Ukrainian Weekly (No. 17 April 27, 2008) by Olenka and Jurij Dobczansky

2. a photo montage on our YouTube ChannelCheck it out here in the Events Playlist and remember to share it

3. if you're a fan of photo albums, we have two on our flickr platform here:


The symposium included the following topics:

Creation, Tradition, Dissemination
  • Jurij Dobczansky – welcoming remarks
  • Dr. Andrew Sorokowski – introduction of speakers
  • Helen Badulak – the life of a pysanka artist
  • Joan Brander – author’s presentation About the Pysanka : It Is Written!
  • the late Orysia Paszczak Tracz – the new and old in a new land, the pysanka in North America: from the sublime to the ridiculous
Creation, Collection, Preservation, Exhibition
  • Dr. Anrij Hornjatkevyc – Damian Hornjatkevyc’s pysanka collection
  • Lubow Wolynetz – pysanky: collecting and exhibiting
Book Launch – author Joan Brander

Paths to the Pysanka Exhibit
  • Luba Chornodolsky, Baltimore, MD
  • Jurij Dobczansky, Silver Spring, MD
  • Olha Kurylas, Wheaton, MD
  • Lesia Mandzia, Arlington, VA
  • Ihor Masnyk, Potomac, MD
  • Nadia O’Shea, Chester, MD
  • Ihor Slabicky, Portsmouth, RI
  • Sofika Zielyk, New York, NY
Tools for the Pysanka Exhibit
  • Ulana Kushnir and her father the late Wasyl Ohar, developer of the electric kistka
 25th Annual Pysanka Workshop, Easter Bazaar and Luncheon
  • Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family
  • Divine Liturgy
  • Easter Bazaar and Luncheon
  • Workshop
We wish you a prosperous and joyful year in 2019! 

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Sunday 6 January 2019

Seasonal Greetings from Guy Kistka – January 6 Ukrainian Christmas Eve


Tonight we will honour and remember the rich traditions celebrated by our ancestors.

Guy Kistka will join other children for Christmas carols (koliadky) in the likes of an ancient folk opera: one carrying a lighted six-pointed star; another dressed as a goat; while others prepared to collect gifts that people will give them.

Later today children will look for the first star in the sky, another ancient ritual, to indicate that it’s time for the Holy Supper (Svyata Vechera) of 12 lenten dishes.

See his greeting here:  https://youtu.be/PAJJlvP2Im0

Guy and the team of pysanky experts at Baba’s Beeswax wish that the magic of Christmas Eve leave its richest blessing in the hearts of you and yours.




Visit our website to discover the magic of pysanky kits, supplies and books published by Baba’s Beeswax:

If you like what you see, comment below. If you don't please let us know how we can make improvements. We value all feedback.

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