John McIntire Library Hosts Ukrainian Pysanky Egg Decorating

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — John McIntire Library welcomed back one artist this morning as she hosted another Ukranian egg decorating class.

Denise DiGeronimo, who is a member of the Ohio Egg Artists Guild, travels to different libraries teaching local community members the art of Pysanky.

“This is the third time that Blair Tom has invited me to the McIntire library to teach Pysanky. I love teaching Pysanky which is a Ukranian folk art design. Psanky actually means ‘egg writing’ and that’s what the people are doing today. They’re writing on an egg with a stylist that’s filled with bees wax,” explained DiGeronimo.

DiGeronimo learned about Pysanky for the first time in 1974 when a friend taught her, and said she fell in love with the process immediately.

“It’s a wax and dyed process and you start out with a white egg. Everything that you want to stay white you cover it in wax with that time, and then you dye the egg yellow, cover it with wax, dye it red, cover it with wax, and the final color is usually black, and when it comes out of the black, you wipe all the wax off over a heated candle and you have your completed egg,” added DiGeronimo.

Classes are typically 90 minutes to two hours, and are free to the participants. Community members interested in a Pysanky course can contact their local library to schedule a class.

DiGeronimo also reminded us about the 45th Annual Show & Sale of Exquisite Eggshell Artistry & More on April 1st and 2nd. The event will be held at Our Lady of the Elms in Akron, OH. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 1 and Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 2nd. Tickets are $5.00 at the gate for adults, $2.50 for kids aged 12-17, and free for children under 12.