The Artist
I learned this art from my mother, Zenovia, who in turn learned it from her mother. I was just six years old when I first began decorating pysanka. I am first generation Ukrainian-American, and hold my heritage close to my heart. For the first 16 years of my life, my Saturdays were spent in Ukrainian school, learning history, grammer and literature all in Ukrainian. Then I spent another few hours at Ukrainian scouting, PLAST. I belong to the Ukrainian Catholic church, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is one of the many churches in the Southern California which has services in Ukrainian. The Ukrainian community is, in fact, very large. At last count, there are approcimately 50,000 Ukrainian descendants living in Southern California, not all of whom are active. When I have children of my own, they too will be enrolled in Ukrainian school and scouting.