Celebrating the year of the sheep in 2015

Whether celebrating the year of the sheep, ram or goat, according to the Chinese zodiac it's Spring Festival / Lunar New Year time. The festivities start today and last to February 7, 2016. Isn’t this the cutest ram written by Aaron as we celebrated BC Family Day making pysanky in my studio on February 8, 2015? Very creative work Aaron. Whether it symbolizes the Chinese year of the sheep or the Ukrainian pysanka ram symbol for leadership, victory, and joy, I hope your pysanka brings you a year filled with happiness, good fortune, and egg-cellent grades in school.

As for me, I feel doubly lucky in 2015 as a Capricorn, and luvin' my goat symbol. Baaaaa . . . . .

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Loves Pysanky

. . . . at least that's what he told me!


With Prime Minister Stephen Harper at BCIT Motive Power Centre of Excellence

2014 Doors Open – This is what Canada is all about!

It's been a busy summer.  Just a week following the European Festival, we opened our studio, gallery, and library to the public in celebration of Richmond's Doors Open event.

The weekend started with an opening ceremony at London Farm heritage house. My sister was visiting from Toronto. She loves antiques and has her own heritage house in the Ottawa Valley, so she was especially interested in this historical venue.

The weather was glorious that weekend, and the next 2 days were a flurry of activity. Guests were welcomed to a festive expanse of balloons, and my Save the World with Pysanky display. The kids in our neighbourhood had cookies, muffins and lemonade for our visitors.  

The tour started upstairs in the gallery of pysanky, followed by the opportunity to look at the expanse of books catalogued in About the Pysanka—It Is Written!  A cozy corner was set up for reading children's stories.

Many visitors were interested in watching the video, Pysanka: The Ukrainian Easter Egg. The next display to look at was How to Make Pysanky and learn how to empty eggs at the kitchen sink.

Fortunately the weather was sunny and the display expanded to include both levels of our home. Downstairs, children could take a photo in our cut-out pysanka in the garden, interact with mascots Patsy Pysanka and Guy Kistka in the yard, or colour some pysanky pictures inside.

There were puzzles set out for the pysanky timid and for those who wanted to relax.

Tom enjoyed demonstrating pysanky until it was time to facilitate the free workshops.

Everyone loved making pysanky! A group of ladies arrived to celebrate Lou's birthday.  An East Asian woman (sorry, I forgot her name) enjoyed applying traditional Indian patterns to her egg. Another some zen motifs. Everyone was very creative. Ruth arrived with two of her four daughters and was taking her pysanky back to Israel. She commented with a heart-warming "this is what Canada is all about"!

The weekend was dedicated to peace and justice in Ukraine with donations going to CNEWA. Thank you to everyone for your donations.

See more photos of the event on my Flicker Album 2014 Doors Open here.

Pysanky at 17th Annual European Festival



Tom at EuroFest

Tom and I welcomed my sister from Toronto to attend the 17th Annual European Festival with us at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Over two glorious sunny days thousands of people visited our Pysanka Pavilion of displays, demonstrations, and workshops. According to an ancient legend, as long as pysanky are being made evil shall not prevail over good in the world. The pavilion, which is always a big hit at this festival, was dedicated to peace and justice in Ukraine, and a gift of a decorated egg was given to anyone who made a donation to CNEWA to help in that cause. We enjoyed a well-deserved post-event rest in the beer gardens with entertainment and music.

See more photos on my Flickr Album here.

2014 Richmond Arts Awards

On May 6, 2014, the best artists, actors, and musicians in Richmond were recognized in several categories at the 2014 Arts Awards. I was honoured to attend the 6th Annual Awards Ceremony as a finalist in the category of Arts Education. The City of Richmond is passionate about supporting and recognizing the artistic achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The Ceremony was held in the Council Chambers at City Hall with His Worship Mayor Malcom Brodie presiding.

Award Certificate

Three finalists were selected in six categories including business and arts, volunteerism, cultural leadership, artistic innovation, arts education, and youth arts. I was so pleased and honoured to be included with the likes of The Arts Connection and Debbie Tobin for this award. The Arts Education Award recognizes an individual or organization whose achievements and contributions to arts education have been significant and far reaching and Eve Edmonds, editor of The Richmond News, announced the winner, The Arts Connection. My nomination was made by my friend, Marcia Moroz, who herself steadfastly promotes art and culture in the community.

These photo were taken by Elsa Rojas Marquez, office manager at Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko. Elsa and her partner Jose Gimenez were one of several entertainers who performed that evening.

Announcing the finalists

Following the awards, Marcia, Tom, and I mingled with the other nominees and award winners at the Post-Ceremony Reception, chatted with Mayor Brodie and councilors, and reacquainted with other community leaders and volunteers.

Joan and Rosa

Peace and Blessings on Christmas Day

Calling all Card Collectors

I just updated my pysanky postcard collection and am looking to trade or purchase missing items. I have uploaded photos of over 70 postcards (listed in 19 sections), and am missing a few to complete the respective series. This collection includes the following publishers:

• O. Kindrachuk, Madeira Park, BC
• Museum of Canadian Civilization, Hull, QC
• Surma Book and Music, New York, NY
• Ukrainian Gift Shop, Minneapolis, MN
• Ukrainian Institute for Education, Munich
• Vegreville Floral Boutique, Vegreville, AB

I hope you enjoy looking at these photos and that you will be inspired to update your own collection. The postcards missing from my collection and those available to trade are listed at the end of each section. Unless otherwise noted, all my postcards are new.
 
1. “SERIES III” (a set of 4 design cards)

Publisher – Surma, New York, N. Y.

Year – 1967

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 13648-C and 13649-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on lime green background

Missing from my collection – 2 of the 4 postcards. I'm not sure of the numbers of the 2 missing cards (I have 13648-C and 13649-C)




1967. Surma. SERIES III. #13648-C

1967. Surma. SERIES III. #13649-C

2.  “SERIES IV” (a set of 5 design cards)

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Co., New York

Year – MCMLXIX (1969)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 42771-C to 42775-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on purple background





1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42771-C



1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42772-C

1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42773-C




1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42774-C

1969. Surma. SERIES IV. #42775-C

3. Series 1 (a set of 4 cards)

Publisher – O. Kindrachuk, Madeira Park, B.C.

Year – 1969

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Traditional Ukrainian hand decorated Easter Eggs

Postcards are numbered – 47162-C to 47165-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on dark background; cards have attractive scalloped edges

Available to trade –47163-C (corner of postcard is bent); 47165-C (glue residue on reverse); 47162-C 

1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47162-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47163-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47164-C



1969. O. Kindrachuk. #47165-C





4. “SERIES I” (a set of 4 design cards)

Publisher – Surma, New York, N.Y.

Year – MCMLXXIII (1973)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 30339-E to 30342-E

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on blue background. I have an identical card to 30342-E that is numbered 17289-C and is slightly smaller at 8.5" x 6" (21.5 cm x 15 cm)




1973. Surma.  SERIES I. #30339-E

1973. Surma. SERIES I. #30340-E

1973. Surma. SERIES I. #30341-E



1973. Surma SERIES I. #30342-E

5. “Series II” (a set of 5 design cards)

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Co., New York

Year – MCMLXXIV (1974)

Size – 9” x 6” (23 cm x 15 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs, (Pysanky). Authentic miniature masterpieces hand decorated in an age-old process passed down from mother to daughter . . . designed with the symbols of Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Love.

Postcards are numbered – 34373-C to 34377-C

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on yellow-gold  background







1974. Surma. Series II. #34373-C







1974. Surma. Series II. #34374-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34375-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34376-C



1974. Surma. Series II. #34377-C

6. Series 1

Publisher – Surma Book and Music Store

Year – 1974

Postcards are numbered – one of the cards in the series is numbered 17191-C

Visual cues – postcard 17191-C has 6 pysanky photographed on blue background

(I found this image at http://www.artukraine.com/egg/postcard2.htm)

Missing from my collection – all cards

http://www.artukraine.com/egg/postcard2.htm

7. Pysanky Jewellery

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1978

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian “Pysanky“ Jewellery. Ukrainian Easter Eggs are delicately cut and shaped, then specially treated to prevent shells from breaking and finally set into beautiful jewellery mounting to enhance the intricate designs of the original Pysanky

Visual cues – pysanky designed by Ken J. Kinkiewich; photo by Con Boland




1978. Vegreville. Pysanky Jewellery

8. A set of 6 cards

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1978

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, are written in a traditional process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 6

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on linen background; photo by Con Boland

Missing from my collection – #6

Available to trade – #1, #2 and #5 (there is glue residue on the back and an ink mark on the face)




1978. Vegreville. #1

1978. Vegreville. #2

1978. Vegreville. #3

1978. Vegreville. #4

1978. Vegreville. #5

9. A set of 6 cards

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1981

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, written in a traditional process passed down through generations are exquisitely displayed on authentically embroidered linen.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 6

Missing from my collection – #1 to #5

Available to trade – #6




1981. Vegreville. #6

10. Series 2

Publisher – Vegreville Floral Boutique Ltd., “Flowers and Ukrainian Gifts”, Box 748, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T0B 4L0

Year – 1981

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – “Pysanky” Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Intricately designed eggs, symbolic of life resurrected, written in a traditional process passed down through generations are exquisitely displayed on authentically embroidered linen.

Postcards are numbered – 1 to 14

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on embroidered linen

Available to trade – #3, #6, #7 (glue residue on reverse)




1981. Vegreville. #1 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #2 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #3 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #4 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #5 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #6 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #7 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #8 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #9 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #10 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #11 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #12 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #13 of 14




1981. Vegreville. #14 of 14

11. SERIES 1 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 217 East Hennepin, Minneapolis, Minn., M. Procai, L. Perchyshyn, J. Luciow

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down throgh generations.

Postcards are numbered – possibly C-004 to C-009

Visual cues – Interestingly, the only card that I have C-006 depicts the same photo as 471018 listed in Section 12 below. Note the unique address of the publisher

Missing from my collection – C-004, C-005, C-007, C-008 and C-009

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #C006 front





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #C006 back

12. SERIES 1 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn.

55418-3787

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 471017 to 471022

Visual cues – 6 pysanky photographed on white linen; cards have a white border

Available to trade – 471017 to 471022





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471017

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471018 front

Ukrainian Gift Shop SERIES 1. #471018 back

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471019




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471020





Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471021




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 1. #471022

13. SERIES 2 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418-3787

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 471073 to 471078

Visual cues – postcards have a white border

Available to trade – 471073 to 471078



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471073



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471074



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471075



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471076



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471077



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 2. #471078

14. SERIES 3 – a set of 7 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop, Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418-3787

Year – not shown

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs. Delicate Treasure of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 801122 to 801128

Visual cues – each card has a slightly different description (for example, 801122 and 801124 describe Trypilian Style – Neolithic Era, and others have discriminate use of the word “treasure” in singular or plural; 801124 is photographed on a red background, and the others on a yellow background; 801128 names M. Procai, L. Perchyshyn and J. Luciow

Available to trade – 801124 to 801127




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801122



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801123

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801124




Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801125



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801126



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801127



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 3. #801128

15. SERIES 4 – a set of 6

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn., 55418

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs decorated by Luba Perchyshyn. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 101 to 106

Visual cues – single pysanka photographed on green (101 and 102), red (103 and 105), and blue (104 and 106) background (discriminate pysanky displayed on egg stand in 102, 103, 105 and 106)

Available to trade – #103 to #106



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #101

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #102

Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #103



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #104



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #105



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 4. #106

16. SERIES 5 – a set of 6 cards

Publisher – Ukrainian Gift Shop Inc., 2422 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis, Minn. , 55418

Size – 5.5” x 3.5” (14 cm x 9 cm)

Description on reverse – Ukrainian Easter Eggs decorated by Luba Perchyshyn. Delicate Treasures of Art. Traditional symbols of life intricately implanted on the eggs by a process passed down through generations.

Postcards are numbered – 107 to 112

Visual cues – single pysanka photographed with large-scale “shadow/reflective effect”

Missing from my collection – 107, 108, 109, 110, and 112

Available to trade – 111



Ukrainian Gift Shop. SERIES 5. #111

17. Canadian Museum of Civilization

Publisher – Musée canadien des civilisations, 100, rue Laurier, C.P. 3100, succursale B, Hull (Québec) Canada J8X 4H2 / Canadian Museum of Civilization, 100 Laurier Street, P.O. Box 3100, Station B, Hull, Quebec, Canada J8X 4H2

Size – 6.75” x 5”(17 cm x 13 cm)

Description on reverse – Ouefs de Pâques ukrainiens. Collection du Musée canadien des civilisations. / Ukrainian Easter eggs from the Canadian Museum of Civilization collection



Canadian Museum of Civilization

18. World’s Largest Pysanka

Publisher – Vegreville Chamber of Commerce

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – World’s Largest Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg) an Engineering Marvel, Located at Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. it was erected in honour of the Alberta R.C.M.P. 100th Anniversary (1874 – 1974). It spectacularly contrives to combine the ancient traditions of one of Alberta’s largest ethnic groups with architectural and geometrical developments that represent “break-throughs” in modern science, thus linking heritage and progress.  Dimensions: Length 25.7 ft. Width 18.3 ft. Height 31 ft. Weight 5000 lbs. Rotates with the wind

Visual cues – monument photographed  by Holiday Photo, Vegreville, Alberta



Vegreville Chamber of Commerce

19. Artistic Representation

Publisher – Український Інститут освітньої політики / Ukrainian Institute for Education, Inc., Zeppelinsstr. 67, 8 München 80

Size – 6” x 4” (15 cm x 10 cm)

Description on reverse – Великодні побашання переслідуваного автора з України / Easter Greetings from Ukraine by a Persecuted Artist

 

Whew! What a lot of numbers to post! If you find any errors or anomalies, please let me know.