art in abundance
good egg
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Artist brilliantly blends classical Ukrainian folk tradition with modern creative expressions
B Y TA RA T H U RM A N P HOTO G RA P H Y B Y JO HN MICHAE L SIMP SO N
een el Naccash is a
master in the intricate craft of pysanky, which involves decorating eggs with wax and dye. It’s a skill she’s perfected over several decades, and her passion remains as vibrant as the colors she uses. The term “pysanky” is derived from the Ukrainian word “pysaty,” meaning “to write,” and holds profound cultural significance. In Ukrainian folklore, the creation of pysanky ensures that good triumphs over evil. Each design carries meaning: Animals symbolize prosperity, wheat signifies good harvest, and birds represent spring and happiness. Leen’s journey with pysanky began in childhood when a magazine photo captured her imagination. She is self-taught and started writing pysanky with a sewing needle until she discovered the specialized kistka tool. This stylus, made for working with beeswax, enhanced the precision of Leen’s designs as her fascination with the geometry and colors grew alongside her dexterity. “When you write a pysanky, you write in reverse,” she explains. Leen honed her talent while balancing academic pursuits in applied math and statistics. She later studied at the Parsons School of Design for eight years, which further influenced her craft. The process is meticulous, requiring wax to be applied to the egg to preserve colors during dyeing. Her retirement six years ago from the field of opinion research allowed her more time to devote to her art, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, she estimates having made slightly less than a thousand eggs. 70
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Each of Leen el Naccash’s vibrant pysanky eggs tells a story, blending a time-honored tradition with modern artistry.
Leen’s work is characterized by her use of cool-toned colors and unique, original designs, drawing inspiration from other crafts like quilting and mosaic tile work. Her exhibit at the Durham Art Guild’s Truist Gallery at the end of 2023 showcased 72 eggs in three acrylic tubes, each brimming with variety and imagination. In July, Leen showed “Pysanky Quilt,” which featured nine eggs with intricate quilt designs set in a geometric frame, at DAG’s annual member showcase. Leen shares a love of art with her husband, Michael Winslow, a woodblock print artist. The couple shares a studio in their Mangum Flats apartment, often working side by side with grandchildren Oliver Ravine, 11, and Stella Ravine, 5, who both also show an interest and talent in art even at their young ages. Michael’s prints adorn the studio walls, adding to the creative atmosphere. “He’s really the one who is the artist in the family,” Leen says. For Leen, pysanky is not only a meditative and gratifying practice, but also a means to share hope and optimism. She is excited about future projects, including coming up with new and exciting ways to display the pysanky, like using shadowboxes, and continuing teaching courses and seminars, having recently led a monthlong course at Emerson Waldorf School and conducted workshops through DAG. Leen aims to keep this ancient tradition alive through her works and inspire others with its timeless symbols of rebirth and renewal.