Folk Arts - Master Artist - Oleksandra Pryveda

Oleksandra Pryveda is a master pysanka artist. Pryveda was born in Western Ukraine and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Pryveda is a master in several different traditional Ukrainian folk arts. Her other talents include paper weaving as well as straw and textile weaving. Pryveda graduated from Lviv College of Arts and the Lviv Academy of Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally including countries such as Ukraine, Poland, France, Austria, Russia, and the U.S.

The word pysanka comes from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty” which means to write, making Oleksandra Pryveda a master author of the pysanka tradition. Archeologists have dated ceramic pysanka to 1300 B.C. Many pysanka designs have been linked to designs found on Egyptian ceramics dating from 1500B.C. The symbols used in pysanka writing come from Ukrainian Trypillian culture dating from 3000 B.C. The Trypillian people used these symbols to record knowledge including, spiritual practices, deities, everyday life, and death. Many of the ancient pysanka designs are still in use today and have not changed in 8,000 years. Pysanka writing has been passed from generation to generation.

As a recipient of a 2005 Apprenticeship grant, Pryveda shared her traditional pysanka knowledge on to apprentice Deborah BanDrosky. Pryveda focused her teachings to the preparation of eggs, wax, tool making, prayer, and the meaning of each color and form. Deborah BanDrosky currently lives in Seattle, Washington. Deborah was exposed to the art of pysanka writing early on. Her Ukrainian grandmother was a passionate pysanka artist who had been practicing the art for forty-five years. Deborah had been using books on the traditional art before her apprenticeship with Pryveda. Deborah feels that “all the books in the world cannot equal what a master teacher can show you, even something as simple as how to hold the kistka properly.” Deborah took her first class from Pryveda In 2004. In correlation with the apprenticeship Deborah will be collaborating with her brother to design high performance kistka tools. Deborah hopes to document her study of pysanka by writing an Internet publication, sharing pysanka and its traditions with others around the world.