Easter at SVI: A Celebration of Renewal, Tradition, and Artistry
As we celebrate this sacred time of renewal and hope, the Board and staff of St. Volodymyr Institute (SVI) send warm wishes to you and your loved ones this Easter.
ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕС! ВОІСТИНУ ВОСКРЕС!
While Toronto begins to shake off the last signs of winter, the Ukrainian community is already in full spring mode, busy with one of our most beloved seasonal traditions: pysanky.
Pysanky (from the Ukrainian pysaty, "to write") are intricately decorated Easter eggs, created using a wax-resist method and steeped in symbolism and folk tradition. And this year, we’re honoured to showcase a very special collection of pysanky created just for SVI by pysanky artist, graphic designer, and member Tanya Mykytiuk.
SVI Member Spotlight:
Tanya Mykytiuk
A second-generation Canadian of Ukrainian descent, Tanya Mykytiuk has been writing pysanky for over 45 years. Her style — avtorske, or “authorial” — is a modern, creative interpretation of traditional folk art. Using the batik method with beeswax and dye, Tanya also incorporates acid etching for texture and relief, often working with a wide variety of eggshells, including quail, duck, goose, turkey, emu, and more.
She’s a proud member of the North American pysanka community and is passionate about preserving and exploring the ethnographic history of pysankarstvo. Her mission? To promote this unique art form both within and beyond the Ukrainian diaspora — and to keep the folk traditions of her ancestors alive for generations to come.
Tanya’s 2025 pysanka series for SVI includes nine stunning eggs that reflect our Institute’s signature colours: black, white, and classic SVI blue. Each design balances sharp geometry with rich symbolism, bridging traditional motifs from various regions of Ukraine with more contemporary interpretations.
The result? A collection that feels distinctly “SVI” — grounded in heritage, yet looking toward the future. Much like the Institute itself, Tanya’s work speaks to a Ukrainian-Canadian identity that’s evolving, inclusive, and deeply rooted in both cultural preservation and artistic innovation.
This Easter, we are proud to display and cherish Tanya’s pysanky at St. Volodymyr Institute — not only as breathtaking works of art but as symbols of cultural resilience and renewal.
See Tanya’s pysanky: instagram | website
Happy Easter from all of us at SVI!
Wishing you peace, joy, and the beauty of spring traditions reborn.
