Cornell University's Ukrainian Club holds pysanka workshop (03/27/05)

Cornell University's Ukrainian Club holds pysanka workshop

by Renia Soluk

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ukrainian Club of Cornell University held its third annual Ukrainian Easter Egg Display and Workshop on Friday, March 11, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the WSH Art Gallery. The purpose of this free event was to educate the Cornell community about Ukrainian culture, specifically Easter traditions and the meaning of pysanky and their symbols.

This event was a huge success. About 200 people came into the art gallery throughout the day either to make pysanky or to just look at the displays and process. About 125 pysanky were made. Everyone enjoyed the event and some people spent hours in the afternoon working on their pysanky.

From 2-4 p.m. there was a rush of people who filled the room to capacity. For most people, this was their first time making a pysanka, and they found the process very involving. Plus, they learned you have to think ahead about which colors and designs you wanted to use. Others remembered the pysanka workshop from last year and came prepared with a design in mind. A number of people asked if the club was going to do this again this semester and one girl even suggested doing this during Senior Week.

The Ukrainian Club was thrilled with the turnout and members look forward to next spring. Some great looking pysanky came out of the workshop and there is reason to believe the event will attract an even greater crowd next year. Funding was provided by the Student Assembly Finance Comission and the International Students Programing Board.

The Ukrainian Club participates in many of the cultural displays and exchanges around the Cornell campus, from baking at an International Dessert Night and hosting tables at co-sponsored cultural events, to organizing a rally in support of free elections in Ukraine last December. The club's website is located at www.rso.cornell.edu/ukrainian; the e-mail address is [email protected].

Renia Soluk is president of the Cornell Ukrainian Club.

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