Talismans: Pysanky as Symbolic Gifts 4F25
Age Group:
Adults
Using the traditional Ukrainian Pysanky wax-resist process, as well as the deeply rooted symbolic meanings written on the eggs, we will create gifts of abundance and beauty for your loved ones. Come with nothing and leave with colors, aromas, kits to continue creating thereafter, and gifts to give to your family and friends in the holiday season.
The wax-resist dying process starts with placing wax where you would like to retain the base color. Then a subsequent color is dyed and wax is then placed upon this color to retain it. Each layer or color + wax then retains all the colors together upon the surface and in the final magical moment the wax is removed to reveal all the colors. We will venture deep within traditional symbolic meanings so that students can write/create an eggs that embody talisman wishes for recipients. We will also talk about techniques for varied color affects and combinations. Students will take home the Talisman egg creations they made in class, as well as their Pysanky beginner's kit so they can continue creating more gifts at home!
Feel free to take this class multiple times to accumulate practice and refine your skills.
Drop-ins are welcome for experienced Pysanky artists and past students, register here: Drop In Talismans: Pysanky as Symbolic Gifts 4F25
*This class has no make up date.
My interest in Slavic cultures inspired me to register for this workshop. I really appreciated the instructor's pace, humor, calm demeanor, enthusiasm, and expertise; also, just learning an age-old craft and trying it out. Great materials box comes along with the course for home use!
I loved the meditative time, the people we met, and the lovely community feeling of doing this together... as well as supporting Ukranian heritage!
I am a long time egg decorator. Everything was prepared so nicely. Gretjen’s depth of knowledge in the history and technique was super. It was great to sit in community to do this work!
Gretjen Helene
Gretjen Helene (mixed media/photography) is a professional photographer and fine art/sculptural photographer who works with traditional alternative photographic processes as well as in a documentary style. She has exhibited throughout the Boston area, New York City, and Alaska. She studied at Emerson College and received her undergraduate degree at The Art Institute of Boston, subsequently teaching a Publication/Exhibition of Photography class thereafter. She received her graduate degree in Fine Art Photography and Integrated Media at Lesley University's College of Art & Design.
She has an affinity for eggshells and the symbolism they evoke; autonomy and the cycle of life. She also enjoys working with natural animal materials such as bone, feather, sinew and egg. She was taught Pysanky at a young age by her mother and has been continuing the tradition each year ever since with family and friends, as well as with students in public classes and private groups. The layering of wax and the subtractive dyeing process of Pysanky has a likeness to the traditional photographic processes of developing and printing images from negatives in the darkroom; her debut into creative practices. She now teaches the Photo Collective group at the ICA in the Teen Program.
Website:
Specialty:
Mixed Media and Photography
Materials to bring to class:
Please bring $45 payable to the instructor upon class- this includes the Pysanky kit to take home to keep creating.
Please also bring an apron and/or clothes you don't mind getting dye on.