Eve Butterly

Pysanky are more than just pretty eggs. The word pysanky comes from the Ukrainian word meaning “to write.” The eggs actually contain prayers and wishes in the form of drawn symbols. Ancient Ukrainian egg artists imbued their designs with symbols for health, fertility and good harvest; symbols which eventually took on religious meanings when Ukraine adopted Christianity in 988 A.D. The designs and techniques of pysanky have been passed down from mother to daughters for thousands of years. In 1976, my grandmother introduced me to this art of decorating eggs using wax and dye (a technique similar to batik).

My goal is to use the traditional symbols to write a story on each egg appropriate for modern times. My tools may be contemporary, but my designs are rooted in the past. I want to give each egg a meaningful message that is also pleasure to the eye.