Indiana teacher carries on Ukrainian tradition of 'pysanky' eggs

Published: 2006-03-29

VALPARAISO, Ind. (CNS) -- A teacher at an Indiana Catholic school is bringing the Ukrainian tradition known as "pysanky" eggs to a new generation. "We started with the seventh and eighth grades. They enjoyed it so much we added fifth and sixth grades and have been writing pysanky ever since," said Janet Korzow, who teaches at St. Paul School in Valparaiso. "This year we've added workshops for parents and other adults." Korzow first brought the art of drawing rich symbols on eggs into her classroom as an art project 27 years ago. Self-taught, she started with only a handful of "kistkas" -- the pencillike tool with an attached copper cone used to write with wax on the eggs. Pysanky means to write. On a recent day, 62 students filled the school gymnasium, sitting in front of burning candles at long, foil-covered tables. Hunched over their eggs, they studiously worked at applying their layers of design by alternating wax and dyes.

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