Good Shepherd, Sumter, Hosts Pysanka Folk Artist During Easter Weekend

Good Shepherd, Sumter hosted a demonstration by Ukrainian-born, Pysanka folk artist Yevheniia Bazaliy as part of its Easter weekend celebrations. Bazaliy’s two-hour demonstration included an introduction to tools and materials—beeswax, dyes, eggshells and kistka (wax stylus)—and to the process of drawing the design on the egg, applying wax to enhance the design, and dipping the egg in dyes to create patterns and color contrasts.

Pysanka is a unique and beautiful art form that involves using melted beeswax to draw designs on eggs, which are then dyed in layers to create stunning and intricate patterns. The process is meticulous and requires patience, precision, and attention to detail. Each egg tells a story through its unique patterns and colors, and the tradition of Pysanka has been passed down for generations. 
 
Bazaliy currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina. Her interest in Pysanka was inspired by her maternal grandfather, who was a native of the Lemko region of the country. In 2020-2021 she received a South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Initiative grant to promote Pysanka art in South Carolina.