Eggcellent Workshop...

Ojai local Bernadette sent this on over - check it out...

Ukrainian Egg Decoration Workshops

This spring get acquainted with an ancient, traditional art of the Ukraine.  Bernadette DiPietro, artist, photographer, and author has been offering these egg workshops since 1972.

This year two one-day workshops will be offered in the Ojai Valley.

For nearly 2,000 years, people from all over the world have been decorating eggs in the spring of the year.  The legends related to these decorated eggs all stem towards rebirth and the renewal of nature and life.  Each year with the first of spring, Ukrainians’ begin creating their collection of Pysanky eggs.  Then on Easter Sunday, a basket of these colorful treasures are taken to church and blessed. Afterwards the eggs are exchanged between friends and relatives. Pysanky (decorated eggs) are believed to contain special powers.  The symbolic designs represent a meaning to both the designer of the egg and the person who receives it.

Participants in the workshops will decorate in the traditional manner, combining the legends, customs, symbols, and designs of Ukrainian Pysanky eggs.  Using the batik wax method, and a tool called a kistka, they will hand decorate beautiful eggs.

The first workshop will be on Saturday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Beatrice Wood Center for the Arts located at 8560 Ojai-Santa Paula Road in the Upper Ojai Valley.  The fee for this six-hour workshop is $175.00.

The second workshop will be on Saturday, March 31 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Ojai Center for the Arts 113 S. Montgomery Street in downtown Ojai.  The fee for this four-hour workshop is $125.00.

The workshop fee includes all supplies, registration, and a set of tools to take home after the class.  Early registration is recommended since each workshop is limited to 10 participants.

For registration and information please contact: Bernadette DiPietro at 805-646-2539 or e-mail at: bamboocottagestudio@yahoo.com