North Dakota pysanka maker decorates egg for White House (03/28/04)

North Dakota pysanka maker decorates egg for White House

by Agnes Palanuk

DICKINSON, N.D. - Ukrainian American Ruth Olienyk Radebaugh of Belfield, N.D., was selected by the American Egg Board to design an egg to represent the state of North Dakota. All states submit a decorated egg for the White House exhibit that will be staged in the nation's capital in April. The egg is designed specifically with the First Lady in mind for it will become part of the White House collection.

Ms. Radebaugh used the wax-resist method to create her design. She divided the egg into four sections, each separated by netting lines. In each section, she placed the symbols for North Dakota. These symbols are a map of North Dakota showing the Missouri River, a buffalo, an eagle, wheat stalks, the wild rose, and Lewis and Clark. The ends of the egg are designed with Christian symbols shown on white, magenta and orange on a black background.

Ms. Radebaugh and her family will be invited to view the display and tour the White House in April.

Ms. Radebaugh, along with North Dakota's 2003 egg designer, Paulette Haverluk Haldeman, also teaches the wax-resist method used in creating the Ukrainian Easter egg - the pysanka. A one-day workshop was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Institute in Dickinson, N.D., on Saturday, March 6.

Ms. Radebaugh notes that she herself took a pysanka-decorating class at the Ukrainian Cultural Institute in 2000. After her sister Debbie gave her an electric kistka, the stylus used in writing on the egg, she said she hasn't been able to put it down since. "So, at age 50, I was hooked," she commented.

The pysanka designer serves on the board of directors of the Ukrainian Cultural Institute, which was founded in 1981. For information about the UCI, readers may call (701) 483-1486 or log on to www.ukrainiannd.org.

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