Folk Arts - Master Artist - Oleksandra Pryveda

Oleksandra Pryveda is a master pysanka artist. Pysanky are traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs decorated with intricate designs in a wax-method similar to batik. Pryveda was born in Western Ukraine and currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Pryveda is a master in several traditional Ukrainian folk arts. Her other talents include paper weaving, as well as straw and textile weaving. Pryveda received her education from Lviv College of Arts and the Lviv Academy of Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally in the 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 pysanky 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 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 the recipient of a 2005 Apprenticeship grant, Pryveda passed her traditional knowledge on to apprentice Deborah BanDrosky. Pryveda focused her teachings on the preparation of eggs, wax, tool making, prayer, and establishing the meaning of each color and form. Deborah BanDrosky lives in Seattle, Washington, and was exposed to the art of pysanka “writing” early on. Her Ukrainian grandmother was a passionate pysanka artist who practiced the art for over forty-five years. Deborah had been using books on the traditional art before her apprenticeship. 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.” For the apprenticeship, Deborah collaborated with her brother to design high performance kistka tools. Deborah hopes to document her study of pysanky by writing a publication for the internet, sharing pysanka and its traditions with others around the world.