Eggs in the Mail

On the way to Hungary for a mail art call.....🥚📬

Eggs in the Mail

 Egg-themed mail art on the way to Hungary for a mail art call.  

Hand-Painted Wood Pisanki

This is the time of the year when I gather with friends to spend a day making pisanki — the traditional springtime eggs that are made in Poland, the Ukraine and other parts of Eastern Europe.  Often associated with Easter, this is a custom that predates Christianity in that part of the world.   Alas, Covid is still shutting down many traditions.  

On my own, I have been hand-painting wooden eggs (a form of folk art also found in Poland).  With pisanki the process involves layers pf dye and wax on the eggs.  A layer of wax, a layer of dye, a layer of wax, etc.  When the wax is removed from the surface of the egg, the complete colorful design is revealed.  

With wooden eggs, it is just paint.  But I do not have the steady hand required for the delicate paint work.  I have been experimenting with using small pieces blue painters’ tape to cover areas of the egg as I apply different colors.  The tape method is similar to the wax method.   These are the results so far.

“Traditional” Ham Eggs

 

Over the past few years, I have been exploring what I call post-folk art.  I have used traditional Polish and Kashubian folk art as the inspiration for a new direction in my mixed media work (see tofuart.com for examples).  

Painted and dyed eggs, pisanki are a spring tradition in Poland.  I realize I have pushed the limits of what might be post-folk art – but another great Polish tradition is producing the best ham in the world.  Could you make folk art by painting wooden eggs to look like they are made of ham?  Well, of course you can….

Mail Art Breakfast

Is possible to send scrambled eggs in the mail?  What can one do when there is an art call for egg-themed mail art?  How about painting a scrambled egg landscape onto a postcard. This one is on the way to Hungary.

Eibrot - Egg Sandwiches in Osnabrück

I will not get to make it to Germany to see the Eibrot Mail Art show, but a friend sent me some photos and it’s good to know my own Eibrotpostkarte made it.  The show is up until July 2^nd – more photos and details here.