| APRIL 6, 2014 -- Just in time for Easter, special Pysanky holiday egg decorating workshops are being offered at the Norfield Grange.
Pysankys are pretty Polish Easter eggs decorated with old-world folk designs using a wax resist (batik) method. The designs on real eggs are not painted on, but are written on with beeswax.
The Norfield Grange at 12 Goodhill Road is holding four Pysanky Easter egg decorating workshops: Tuesday, April 8, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 4 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 7 to 9:30 p.m., and Thursday, April 10, 7 to 9:30 p.m.
The workshops are being taught by international award-winning artist Krystyna Celichowska, mother of Ewa Ojarovska of Weston.
“My mother is from Poland and loves promoting her Polish heritage. She travels around schools in Connecticut showing kids how to decorate Pysanky Easter eggs,” Ms. Ojarovska said.
The workshop includes a discussion about the history of Pysankys, a demonstration, tools, dyes, and eggs. Everyone in the class will have the opportunity to decorate an egg.
The Pysanky tradition of decorating Easter eggs using the wax resist method dates back to ancient times, Ms. Ojarovska said, and is still a common practice in Poland and all over the world.
Pysanky Easter eggs can be simple or highly elaborate. If handled carefully, they can last for many years. Ms. Ojarovska said she still has Pysanky Easter eggs she decorated 10 years ago.
The cost of a Pysanky workshop is $45. Space is limited and reservations may be made by calling Ms. Ojarovska at 203-722-0708 or emailing her at ewajohn@gmail.com. |
