Every country has its own unique way to welcome the new year and wish for good luck. You might be familiar with the famous ball drop in New York City, but do you know of other New Year’s Eve traditions around the world?
Before stressing about your New Year’s resolutions, why not take some time to celebrate? Read on for 5 New Year’s Eve traditions from different cultural traditions to inspire your festivities this year.
Brazil: Wearing White
This Brazilian tradition came from the Candomblé religion. People used to wear white during rituals to seek peace and spiritual purification. And now this is continued on New Year’s Eve when people hope to attract peace and spiritual protection for the coming year by wearing white outfits.
Haiti: Soup Joumou
January 1st is a special day for Haiti. It is not only the start of a new year but also the day to commemorate Haitian revolutionary leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines declaring the country’s independence from its French colonizers. For this special day, try following a recipe for a soup joumou, a squash-based soup with beef, carrots, turnips, potatoes, pasta, and more veggies.
Japan: Hatsuhinode
You might have heard of Hatsumode (first shrine visit) from popular media, but what to do on New Year’s when there is no shrine or temple in your area? No fear! Try Hatsuhinode instead by waking up at dawn to witness the first sunrise on New Year’s Day! This tradition is to welcome Toshigamisama, the deity of the New Year, for good fortune and happiness for the coming year.
Scotland: First Footing
Call your dark-haired friend or relative for a new year’s visit! Stemming back to the time of the invading Vikings in the 8th and 9th centuries, it is believed that the first person to enter a house, the “first foot”, can bring luck – or misfortune – for the year ahead. In Scottish tradition, good luck comes in the form of a tall, dark-haired man being the first footer. On the other hand, women, light-haired men, and redheads were seen as harbingers of ill fate.
Turkey and Greece: Smashing Pomegranates
Remember to grab a few pomegranates when you are doing your last-minute grocery haul next week! In both Turkey and Greece, people smash pomegranates into the floor or front door on this special day. The more seeds that burst out, the more good fortune you will acquire. The pomegranate is a sign of luck, prosperity, and fertility. It is also a sign of renewal and regeneration.
The 2022 Chicago Culture Holiday Shopping Guide is here! It’s time to refresh your cultural gear and gift your loved ones local-made cultural arts and crafts and much more! The Chicago Cultural Alliance is partnering with over 40 cultural heritage centers, museums, and heritage societies across Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs. With choices ranging from books, paintings, artisanal crafts, food and drink you are bound to find the perfect gift for your friends and family, or just for yourself!
Before we get into the gift shops, don’t forget to swing by one or more Holiday Markets!
Sat, Dec 3, 10am–5pm | Sun, Dec 4, 10am–4pm Julmarknad
Swedish American Museum 5211 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
Julmarknad is the Museum’s annual Christmas Bazaar, where traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts will be available for purchase. Visit the Children’s Museum for crafts, games, and a special visit from Santa. It is entertainment for the whole family and includes kaffestuga, Lucia processions, and folk dancers. FREE LEARN MORE HERE
Sat, Dec 10, 10am-5pm Native American Holiday Art & Gift Market
American Indian Center 3401 W Ainslie St, Chicago, IL
Want more Native American arts and crafts? Swing by the Holiday Art & Gift Market! This market will not only satisfy your gift shopping needs but will entertain you with live drum & dance exhibitions and an Indian taco sale! FREE
Sat, Dec 10, 11am-6pm Weihnachtsmarkt
DANK HAUS 4740 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
Come to a warm indoor Weihnachtsmarkt with German-inspired Christmas shopping, Glühwein, food, music and more! There will be German food and drink for sale as you stroll through rows of festive stands. FREE LEARN MORE HERE
Sat, Dec 10, 11am-5pm; Sun, Dec 11, 11am-5pm Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art Holiday Maker’s Market
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art 2320 W Chicago Ave Chicago, IL
Check out the Maker’s Market this year showcasing emerging & established creators to sell their work, grow their businesses, and join this vibrant community. $5 REGISTER HERE
6500 S Pulaski Rd Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm. Sun, 12pm-4pm.
The Balzekas’ Museum gift shop is filled with a huge variety of Lithuanian goods! Shop one-of-a-kind amber-made ornaments and jewelry imported straight from Lithuania, or pick up a history book or traditional children’s book from the shop. SHOP NOW
Level up your closet and know that your purchase supports a local charity, Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care! While you’re at it, why not drink your whiskey or beverage of choice in style with these Chicago Scots-themed glasses? SHOP NOW
238 W 23rd St Hours: Wed and Fri, 9:30am-2pm. Sat and Sun, 10am-4pm.
Learn more about Chinese American history by picking up a book from the gift shop when you visit the Chinese American Museum! Or maybe learn to cook a few Chinese dishes for your holiday potluck with an authentic cookbook. SHOP NOW
Shop postcards, glassware, cookbooks, music, and more at the HAMOC! Check out this unique faceted clear crystal two-strand necklace donated by HAMOC Advisor Board member, Sandra McCollum. SHOP NOW
9603 Woods Dr, Skokie Hours: Wed-Sun, 10am-5pm.
Make your holiday season a meaningful one by browsing through the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center’s huge selection of local survivor stories. SHOP HERE
4626 N Knox Ave Hours: Fri, 4pm-8pm, and Sat, 10am-4pm.
Whether you are hungry for sweets from the Galway Bakers or savories from Winston, you can find your Irish favorites at the Irish American HeritageCenter Gift Shop. Their merchandise is ever-changing, so you should visit our Gift Shop frequently to see what’s new.
3001 Central St, Evanston Hours: Wed, 10am-5pm, and Sat, 10am-5pm.
This gift shop showcases the talent of Native artists and craftspeople from across America. Shop handmade crafts and accessories like these small wooden tokens featuring native art of animals and motifs for a stylistic addition to your home today! SHOP NOW
984 North Milwaukee Ave Hours: Tues, Thurs, Sat, 11am-4pm.
Decorate your Christmas tree this year with a beautiful handmade ceramic ornament! Check out this one with red flowers surrounded by smaller flowers and leaves. And find more Polish crafts, books, and other goods from the website! SHOP NOW
Shop merch printed with SSCAC’s colorful logo or pick up an iconic poster that documents a ‘magical moment’ in the visual arts community with more than 100 artists gathered at the South Side Community Art Center. SHOP NOW
5211 N Clark St
Hours (through Dec 30): Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm (Fri, Dec 17 extended hours to 8pm). Sat & Sun, 11am-4pm.
Start your new year right with a calendar featuring Swedish artists or Moomin! Want more choices featuring other Swedish artists? The Swedish Museum got you covered! There are even more books for the little ones to learn more about Norse mythology. SHOP NOW
190 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg
Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-5pm. Sat, 10am-3pm.
Learn about native veterans through documentaries produced by the Trickster Cultural Center and browse through the gorgeous selection of paintings, statues, and jewelry made by Native artists! SHOP NOW
A gift shop full of everything art! Books, postcards, and posters featuring Ukrainian artists. Go visit the museum to see authentic pieces and bring back a print to post on your wall! SHOP NOW
On the note of giving, don’t forget you can also give to your local cultural institutions by purchasing a Membership to a small museum or making a donation when you visit!
Each of the 45 Core Members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance does important work to preserve, celebrate, and share a specific cultural tradition. Beyond this, though, many of them also serve as important anchors for their neighborhoods. They are much more than museums, archives, or galleries. They are serving their communities both inside their buildings and out in the public spaces of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.
While visiting OPEN Center for the Arts’ recent 8th anniversary party, it was exciting to see how important OPEN Center is to so many people. It is more than just a gallery or cultural center. It is an integral part of the Marshall Square and South Lawndale neighborhoods.
Founder and Executive Director Omar Magana addresses the crowd at OPEN Center for the Arts’ 8th Anniversary party. Photo courtesy of OPEN Center for the Arts
Another example of a Core Member that serves as a neighborhood anchor is the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center. It consistently works to balance its mission of sharing German heritage and history with outreach into the Lincoln Square neighborhood. Though DANK Haus may serve its community in slightly different ways than OPEN Center for the Arts, it is also a bedrock institution for its neighborhood.
To learn more about how each cultural center has developed such strong community ties, I interviewed Monica Jirak, Executive Director of DANK Haus, and Fernando Aburto, Development Manager of OPEN Center.
BEING A CULTURAL RESOURCE
Like all of the Core Members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, DANK Haus and OPEN Center for the Arts provide vital cultural programming. By acting as a resource for cultural knowledge, traditions, and heritage, they serve their surrounding communities.
DANK Haus has seen the neighborhood around it change over time. “Back in the ‘70s was really the heyday of German culture in this neighborhood,” explains Monica. As German businesses in the area closed over the decades since then, DANK Haus has worked to document their history. “We want to preserve and promote their legacy,” Monica explains. “So it’s not forgotten and so that future generations can be reminded of what existed.” Their extensive archives preserve the history of the community, and their museum tells the story of Germans in Chicago.
Museum Director Rosa Gallagher surveys a portion of DANK Haus’ extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and records from the German American community. Photo by Marie Rowley
They also offer contemporary cultural programming, like German language classes, “Kaffee, Kuchen & Kino” (coffee, cakes, and a movie), and German cooking classes. Their goal is to share German culture with everyone. “I feel like with all of our programming it may help to know a little bit of German,” Monica explains “But really we want to be accessible and open and inviting to everyone in the neighborhood.”
Much of OPEN Center for the Arts’ cultural work is driven directly by the needs of their neighborhood. For example, several years ago parents from the nearby schools needed a space to host a Posada, a traditional Mexican Catholic Christmas event. OPEN Center agreed to organize the event, bringing together participants from across the community. “We had to stop people from coming in at one point, it was so packed,” Fernando recalls, smiling. Everyone on staff agreed this had to become an annual tradition, and they soon added Día de los Reyes and Candelaria celebrations. It’s clear OPEN Center’s holiday events have become an important neighborhood tradition; after a couple years with limited capacity due to COVID, community members are already asking if 2022’s festivities will be back in December.
OPEN Center’s COVID-safe “express” Día de Los Reyes event in January 2021. Photo courtesy of OPEN Center for the Arts
CONNECTING TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS
Despite having different origins, missions, and audiences, both organizations serve as strong neighborhood anchors through a mix of community outreach and creative cultural programming.
With a mission of being open to artists at all stages, OPEN Center for the Arts is actively engaged with the children of its community. “We have three schools within a block of us, and some of them do not have an art program,” Fernando explains. “We feel like we serve our community in this way.” One of their programs is Wild Marshall Square, where 4-6-year-olds learned about endangered species and then drew their own versions. Their artwork was then entered into an art show, with critiques and juries, just like their adult contemporaries. The winning drawings were made into sculptures, and displayed at Lincoln Park Zoo.
Winning polar bear sculptures from Wild Marshall Square project. Photo courtesy of OPEN Center for the Arts
DANK Haus connects with its neighborhood through creative programming too, though the audience might be slightly different. Taking advantage of the full working bars on premises, DANK Haus hosts regular “Neighborhood Nights,” with beer and a chance to meet your neighbors. Similarly, a recent popular event has been Elternabend, or “Parents’ Night Out,” which includes dinner, drinks, and (perhaps most importantly) childcare.
The Terrasse (terrace) at DANK Haus is a welcome space for events like Elternabend. Photo courtesy of DANK Haus.
Each center connects with their neighborhood through direct service and outreach as well.
“There are a number of ways we feel like we’re a part of Lincoln Square,” Monica explains. Through booths at neighborhood festivals like Maifest, Oktoberfest, and Apple Fest, DANK Haus is able to meet their neighbors face-to-face to talk about the organization and share in the community’s seasonal celebrations. They’re also an early voting site for the precinct, and they have a German-immersion preschool and kindergarten on premises.
DANK Haus staff at Maifest 2022. Photo courtesy of DANK Haus German American Cultural Center.
Fernando explains that they’ve become so strongly connected to their community through constant outreach. “One way we build those relationships is just being out there talking to people,” he says. “And another is being here every day that we can, so people in the neighborhood can come into the space.” Another connection Fernando points to is the Marshall Square Resource Network. “We are really grateful to be a part of MSRN,” he says. “We are really a network. We share resources with each other.”
OPEN Center staff ready to connect with their community at the Marshall Square Resource Network’s Education + Wellness Summit, May 2022. Photo courtesy of OPEN Center for the Arts.
CHALLENGES FOR SMALL COMMUNITY CENTERS
Both find that as small cultural centers, it can sometimes be hard to get people to come through the doors. Even with constant outreach, there are still people in their neighborhoods to connect with.
“We have been around for a very long time, and still sometimes people in the neighborhood are just learning about us,” Monica says. “But really that’s just an opportunity for us to open up our Haus even more to our neighbors.” One way they are doing this is by converting their first-floor space into the Trefftpunkt, a gallery and cafe space that will welcome passersby into the building and make them feel at home. One of DANK Haus’ core values is Gastfreundschaft, or hospitality, and they plan to put that into action in their new space, scheduled to open next year.
Fernando says they sometimes face the exact same issue. “We still have people 8 years later that walk into our space saying ‘I live 2 blocks away, how have I never seen this before?’” he says. For them, community outreach is key. After two years of being mostly closed to visitors due to the pandemic, their recent 8-year anniversary party kicked off their new slate of in-person programming and gallery events. They’re also working more on expanding their connections. “Since 2020 our connections with North Lawndale have gotten stronger and stronger,” he explains. “We realized we’re working on the same things, but we’re working on them separately. It used to be the South Lawndale this, the North Lawndale that – now we are coming together to host these events as one community, Lawndale.”
Bringing the community together for the Lawndale Peace Party in 2021. This summer the community is hosting a series of expanded events. Photo courtesy of OPEN Center for the Arts
VISIT THESE NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL ANCHORS
One of the best ways to get to know Chicago’s neighborhoods is by visiting one of the cultural centers that preserve their history and serve their communities. Check out all of the Core Members of the Chicago Cultural Alliance!
DANK Haus German American Cultural Center and OPEN Center for the Arts are always keeping busy. Drop by for a visit, or check out these upcoming events:
Special thanks to Monica Jirak of DANK Haus German American Cultural Center and Fernando Aburto of OPEN Center for the Arts for their help with this article.
Marie Rowley, Marketing and Communications Manager
VIsiting the korean cultural center of chicago gallery
Their emphasis on using their Museum and Visual Arts Program to share both traditional Korean culture and contemporary artists was evident when our Collaborative Programs Coordinator Abby Foss visited the KCCoC recently. Abby visited the gallery in May to view the exhibition “Gyeol” by textile artist Hyelim Kim. Kim designed an avant garde collection created with both modern and traditional Korean textiles and techniques. Abby was lucky enough to meet with the artist herself, and to tour the gallery with the KCCoC’s Executive Director, Kay Kihwa Rho.
Hyelim Kim, Abby Foss, and Kay Kihwa Rho at Kim’s show “Gyeol.” Photo courtesy of Abby Foss.
Kim utilized a sewing technique, Kkaekki, which is a traditional style of seaming created for the Korean Hanbok, where fabric pieces are cut and pieced together in a way that resulted in beautifully thin and flat seams running throughout all of the garments. “As I walked around the space, the avant garde cuts, colors, and lines created by the Kkaekki technique gave a sense of movement, and the colors themselves shifted slightly as the light caught the different layers within the garments,” Abby said. “My favorite piece was a yellow and purple garment that Hyelim Kim explained had been inspired by the sunset.”
Learning More about the Korean cultural center of chicago’s visual arts program
Inspired by Abby’s visit to the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago’s museum and gallery, I wanted to learn more about how they curate their constantly changing exhibitions. I spoke with Gay-Young Cho, the Director of the Museum and Visual Arts Program at the KCCoC to learn more about the thought process behind their exhibitions and what is so unique about their program.
What is your professional background? How did you come to work for the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago?
My professional background is social psychology, specializing in organizational behavior. However, I have been involved with the art world for over 30 years as an art collector and as a volunteer in various capacities in numerous art institutions. I am a founding member of the Asian Art Council at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC, and was Vice President and Chair of Programming of the Asian Art Council Board at the Art Institute of Chicago. I serve on the Collections Committee of the Field Museum of Chicago. I assumed the role of the Director of Museum at the KCCoC as a volunteer.
Image courtesy of Gay-Young Cho
What kinds of artists do you work with or what kind of art do you look for when you are making your curatorial decisions?
One of the goals of our exhibition program is to promote Korean American artists, thereby we give preference to the Korean American artists working in the Midwest. The foremost criterion we are looking for in our exhibitions is excellence. But another criteria is the subject matter or the use of the material that relates to Korean culture, both traditional or contemporary.
Do you have a favorite exhibition that you worked on recently? If so, can you tell me what was special about it?
The exhibition, “FOUNDATION; Chosuk,” which was held on March 5, 2022. It was a group show of eight emerging Korean American artists who are recent graduates of the School of Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), curated by Dabin Ahn. “Chosuk” is the foundation stone that was widely used in Korean traditional architecture providing structural support for buildings ranging from small Hanok houses to the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Bringing together a group of emerging artists, FOUNDATION showcased how each artist structures their practice by employing Culture, Longing, Color, Identity, Process, Memory and Site-specificity as its foundation. There was some fabulous cutting edge art represented in the exhibition!
Guests view the artwork at the “FOUNDATION; Chosuk” exhibition. Photo courtesy of the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
What do you want people to know about the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, its museum, and its visual arts program?
Our museum and its visual arts program is “the little engine that could!” As a small museum, we have limited resources; we work with a very small budget and limited staff. The available budget does not match our ambition. Despite this, with our excellent exhibitions we are beginning to make our presence known both in the Korean community and the Chicago metropolitan area.
We also have an interesting collection of Korean cultural artifacts and arts in our museum, including a mock Korean traditional wedding set.
Can you tell me about the Harry Ahn show happening now? What is special about this show? Why would you recommend people come to see it?
When I made a visit to Harry Ahn’s studio, I was quite stunned and moved by his paintings of homeless people. Not only is Harry an amazing and accomplished portrait artist, but in his rendering of the homeless, we are called to recognize the worth and dignity of every human being, knowing that each has untold stories behind their homelessness. When asked why he focused his art on homeless people, Harry explains:
“A homeless wanderer on the street is an endless subject. I want to make people think about the many different ways ordinary people end up on the street. An artist can transform this outcast into a human being worthy of dignity and respect. I was that same homeless wanderer during the desolation right after the Korean War.“
A guest contemplates a painting by Harry Ahn. Photo courtesy of the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
Ahn’s affinity for people who are struggling came from his own experiences as a refugee in Korea. He was born in North Korea, and was a young teen when the Korean War forced his family to flee to South Korea, leaving them destitute and homeless. In his art, the viewer can see that his remembrance of his refugee childhood has infused his art with both compassion and spirituality, and Harry seeks out the basic human value of each individual.
The exhibition, “I am not worthless, just homeless,” opened on June 3rd and will be showing through June 30th. The viewers will be moved to see what Harry saw in these homeless people.
Finally, what do you have coming up soon?
We are taking a summer break to focus on upgrading our collections and inventory system; we recently installed new collections management software, and are in the process of revamping our system to make our collections and exhibitions widely accessible online.
We are planning an exhibition, “Earthly Eloquence: Korean Contemporary ceramics.” This exhibition will be timed to coincide with the opening celebration of the Bisch Hall Performing Arts Theater, to be completed next year.
Another future exhibition we are exploring is art made with “hanji”, Korean paper.
Harry Ahn’s “I am not worthless, just homeless,” will be showing through June 30th at the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago Gallery, 9930 Capitol Dr, Wheeling, IL, 60090.
Special thanks to Gay-Young Cho, Kay Kihwa Rho, and Abby Foss for their help with this article. Image used in header is courtesy of the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago.
Marie Rowley, Marketing and Communications Manager
Haitian Heritage Month is a celebration of Haitian history, heritage, and culture for those from the Haitian diaspora. It began in the 1990s among the Haitian community in Boston, but soon spread across the country and into Canada. Celebrations revolve around Haitian Flag Day, May 18. With so much to celebrate, Haitian communities soon embraced a whole month for the festivities, with Haitian Flag Day as the centerpiece.
I recently spoke with Carlos Bossard, Executive Director of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) about the meaning of these holidays to the Haitian community. “What’s really kind of special about the Haitian Flag is how it was created,” he explains. “During the Haitian Revolution, Haitians literally tore out the white part of France’s flag and put it together, so that’s why it’s blue and red.” The flag has held great symbolic meaning for the country ever since then.
A celebration in Montreal in 2011. Photo by abdallahh on flickr, CC-BY-2.0.
Haitian Flag Day is a major holiday within Haiti, and is celebrated by diasporic Haitian communities throughout the United States (U.S.) and worldwide. I asked Carlos what activities are common for these celebrations. “There are usually different flag-raising ceremonies, depending on the location,” he explains. “But often what you’ll see is just a big gathering, in a communal space. It’s a chance to come together, to be in community with each other, celebrating Haitian culture throughout the city and everywhere it shows up across the world.”
What is the history of the Haitian community in Chicago?
During Haitian Heritage Month, it’s a great opportunity to remember that Chicago’s first non-Indigenous resident and Founder was a Haitian man, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. From his time in the 18th century to now, Haitians have made an impact on the city.
(Image on left: A commemorative stamp issued by the US Postal Service honored Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable in 1987, Chicago’s 150th birthday.)
According to historian William Leslie Balan-Gaubert, while their numbers were relatively small early in the 20th century, Haitian immigration to the city increased after the 1960s. HAMOC recently installed a touchscreen platform at the museum highlighting its oral history collection, donated by Haitian historian and scholar Dr. Courtney Joseph. These stories tell in detail the immigration patterns and experiences of Haitians coming to Chicago. The platform is highly recommended for all to engage with at the museum.
The Haitian Consulate General in Chicago reports that there are 30,000-40,000 self-identified Haitians and Haitian-Americans in the city today. “In the Midwest there’s not a huge population of Haitians,” Carlos explains. The museum has become an epicenter for the Haitian community in Chicago, and its role is to connect Haitians of all ages and from different regional areas of Haiti. In Chicago there are pockets of Haitians, primarily in the North Side and South East Side of Chicago, and in Evanston.
How can you celebrate Haitian Heritage Month in Chicago?
I definitely recommend a visit to the Haitian American Museum of Chicago, located in Uptown. You can interact with the oral history platform pioneered by Dr. Courtney Joseph to hear firsthand stories from Chicago’s Haitian community. You can also view art and artifacts to learn more!
On view now:
It’s Different Here: An exhibition featuring works from the Jacmel Arts Center This exhibition features works by artists from the Jacmel region of Haiti. It showcases the unique beauty and cultural expression of their home on the Southern coast. It also showcases how the artists interpret the changes of their region in response to current events.
Image courtesy of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago
You can also visit HAMOC’s website to view their virtual exhibitions, including a new exhibition, “Faces and Places: Beyond the Headlines – Haiti” by author and photographer Ildi Tilmann.
Carlos also recommends getting to know Haitian culture through its food and its music!
If you stop by the museum, you can pick up their coloring book about Soup Joumou. This hearty squash or pumpkin-based soup is traditionally served to commemorate Independence Day on January 1. It is so important to Haitian heritage that it was recently added to UNESCO’s “Intangible Cultural Heritage List.” If you want to try some Haitian food before January though, check out Kizin Creole for authentic favorites like marinad (spiced fritters) and griyo (fried pork).
Finally, connect with Haiti through its music. Carlos recommends the work of Nathalie Joachim, a Grammy-nominated flutist, vocalist, and composer, whose work spans many genres, but who always draws inspiration from her home country of Haiti. You can view an excerpt from her piece “Fanm d’Ayiti” (Women of Haiti) here:
Thanks to Carlos Bossard and the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) for their help with this article.
Marie Rowley, Marketing and Communications Manager
Recently, I joined a workshop on the art of Ukrainian pysanky hosted by the Ukrainian National Museum, a Core Member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance. At the workshop, every participant created their own pysanka, a traditional Ukrainian Easter egg. Afterwards, I spoke with the workshop’s host, Anna Chychula, about this traditional art form from Ukraine. She also shared with me the story of a special “Resilience Pysanka” that she created in partnership with the Chicago Cultural Alliance, the Field Museum, and the Ukrainian National Museum.
The Meaning and Art of Ukrainian Pysanky
A pysanka (plural: pysanky) is a Ukrainian Easter egg, decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs using a wax-resist (batik) method, according to Chychula. The name comes from the verb pysaty or “to write,” because the designs are “written” on the egg with beeswax using a tool called a kystka. The raw eggs are colored with dyes, and the wax is melted away, leaving vibrant, intricate patterns. At the end, each egg is carefully hollowed out and preserved, making them delicate, beautiful talismans.
An artist writing a pysanka with a kystka. Photo from Canva.
Many legends and traditions surround the pysanky. Anna explains that one common belief is that with every pysanka created, a link is added to a great chain that binds evil (in the form of a great dragon) and helps prevent it from wreaking havoc on the world. Therefore, the pysanka is a powerful symbol of hope and renewal.
Sharing the Art of Ukrainian Pysanky
Anna teaches workshops and shares her art online. She explains that she learned the art of Ukrainian pysanky from her mother as a child. “It’s just a part of my culture,” she explains. “But then in high school it became more about showing off my talents, and I started to do it more and more.”
Anna helps prepare students’ pysanky at a workshop at the Ukrainian National Museum in April 2022. Photo by Marie Rowley
Now she sees it as a vital way to share her Ukrainian culture. Every workshop is taught “as a mini-immersion into Ukrainian culture,” she explains, not just a crafting how-to. “My pysanky are my ambassadors,” she says. “People come to admire them and then I can ask, ‘What are your Easter traditions?’ I get to connect with people at that level, and talk about the things that unite us.”
The Origin of the Resilience Pysanka
In 2020, the Field Museum partnered with many cultural organizations in Chicago, including the Chicago Cultural Alliance, to begin an effort called the Pandemic Collection. The Pandemic Collection is “an ongoing project to document the ways that COVID-19 is transforming our relationships to one another, to our homes and landscapes, to the ways we care for ourselves and others, to powers that are greater than us, and to new powers that pandemic living has let us access.”
When the Alliance reached out to Lydia Tkaczuk, the director of the Ukrainian National Museum, about participating in the project, she knew they wanted to do something a little different. The pysanka, a symbol of renewal and hope, became an obvious choice for their contribution to the collection. She contacted Anna about designing a special Resilience Pysanka for the Pandemic Collection.
The Design and Symbolism of the Resilience Pysanka
Drawing on her decades of experience sharing the art of Ukrainian pysanky, Anna began by carefully planning out a design that was steeped in meaning and symbolism.
One element she chose was 40 triangles. In traditional Ukrainian pysanky design, a prayer for protection is said with each triangle written on the egg, and 40 is a sacred number. Anna also incorporated the design element of the Berehynia, or mother goddess. Like nature itself, she can be positive or negative, making this symbol particularly resonant in 2020.
(Image on left: One of Anna’s sketches, planning the design of the Resilience Pysanka. Courtesy of Anna Chychula.)
Anna also chose the colors for the Resilience Pysanka with care. Every color in a traditional Ukrainian pysanka has meaning, and this one was no different. White symbolizes purity, yellow represents wisdom, and so on. Anna explains that she did not use any black in the pysanka, because she wanted all the colors to represent only positive emotions and resilience.
The progression of colors in the Resilience Pysanka from lightest to darkest, as Anna created it. Courtesy of Anna Chychula.
Anna also chose the colors for the Resilience Pysanka with care. Every color in a traditional Ukrainian pysanka has meaning, and this one was no different. White symbolizes purity, yellow represents wisdom, and so on. Anna explains that she did not use any black in the pysanka, because she wanted all the colors to represent only positive emotions and resilience.
In the end, Anna created two pysanky in this design, with nearly identical colors. One was donated to the Field Museum’s Pandemic Collection, and the other remains in the Ukrainian National Museum.
(Image on left: The finished Resilience Pysanka, on a hollow 3 ⅞ inch goose egg. Courtesy of Anna Chychula.)
The Resilience Pysanka Takes on New Meaning
In February 2022, Anna and the staff of the Ukrainian National Museum were invited to the Field Museum to view the Resilience Pysanka on display in the main exhibition hall. The day before their visit, Russia invaded Ukraine.
Lydia Tkaczuk (Ukrainian National Museum Director), Maria Klimchak (Ukranian National Museum Curator), and Anna Chychula at the Field Museum. Courtesy of Anna Chychula
“It was surreal,” Anna says. “Very poignant and moving, but surreal.” When planning the pysanka two years ago for the Pandemic Collections project, she knew other artists were making designs that referenced COVID directly. “I didn’t want to put a mask design on the pysanka though,” she explains. “I was digging deeper, thinking about the meaning of resilience. So now it’s like it happened just like it was supposed to. It speaks for the resilience of Ukraine in this different way. It symbolizes that we will prevail, we will find a way through.”
Very special thanks to Anna Chychula for sharing her story and her beautiful art and culture with me.
Marie Rowley, Marketing and Communications Manager
Rob Fojtik is Vice President for Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism and convention promotion bureau. In this capacity, Rob oversees efforts to promote and support Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to visitors from near and far. Programs include the award-winning Neighborhood Content Creator program that leverages resident-made digital content, and Chicago Alfresco, a $2.5 million placemaking initiative created in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation to transform public spaces into community plazas for outdoor enjoyment.
Before coming to Choose Chicago, Rob was a Senior Advisor to Mayor Lightfoot on economic development and international relations at City Hall, as well as LGTBQ+ affairs and the expanded outdoor dining program. In this role, he also worked to recommend and place over 150 civic leaders and residents onto City boards and commissions. Prior to government service in the Lightfoot administration, Rob ran her winning campaign in the crowded 2019 Chicago mayoral race as Chief of Staff. In past lives, Rob has worked as a public affairs manager for a Fortune 500 company downtown; had misadventures in management consulting, art sales, and personal cheffing; and spent time in Washington DC working for former Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Rob also served a one-year appointment at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence as a policy advisor on Central and Eastern Europe. In this role, he was part of the NSC’s interagency process to develop a comprehensive sanctions regime on Russia as a consequence of its 2014 invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
After receiving his BA in Slavic Languages and Literature at Northwestern University, Rob lived and worked in the Czech Republic teaching English and tending bar before moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a MA from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (CERES). He enjoys cooking, learning foreign languages, hiking with his partner and their dog, and visiting Chicago’s many neighborhoods.
Paul Durica
Board Member
Dr. Paul Durica is the Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museums and worked in a similar capacity at The Newberry Library. From 2015-2020, he served as the Director of Programs and Exhibitions with Illinois Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prior to that he drew upon his work as a writer, researcher, and teacher to produce a series of free and interactive talks, walks, and reenactments focused on narratives from Chicago’s past that resonate with its present.
These public history programs led to collaborations with cultural institutions in the city such as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Chicago History Museum, Newberry Library, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Chicago Cultural Center among others.
Each program made use of both his original research and the skills of the arts organizations, community groups, local businesses, and publications that acted as my partners. Some of these programs, such as the full-scale reenactment of the Haymarket Affair in 2011, involved recruiting and directing over 300 volunteers and 1,000 participants.
To produce these programs successfully, he wrote grants; managed budgets; generated web content; worked closely with program partners of varying sizes and resources; and identified, engaged, and sustained a diverse multi-generational audience.
Lynessa Rico
Board Member
Dr. Lynessa M. Rico is the Associate Chair of the Business Psychology Department at the The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Chicago campus. She is also a business mentor at 1871.
Lynessa is a results-driven Strategic Consultant with over 25 years of experience enabling leaders to meet strategic business objectives by identifying and aligning business growth opportunities with strategic direction of culturally diverse organizations. By leveraging her strategic experience in identifying and impacting business growth opportunities and maximizing profits in retail firms and higher education institutions, Lynessa leads workshops focused on the creative mindset, women’s entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the value and application of design thinking within entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Her services also include consulting with and educating leadership on emotional intelligence, the power of design thinking and the creative mindset, and leadership styles to support inclusive, creative workplaces. She has presented to leadership and innovation teams in small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies.
Lynessa received her undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Management from Wichita State University. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. After earning her master’s degree, Lynessa received her doctorate in Business Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she successfully completed her dissertation titled, “The Relationship Between Personality Types and Color Preference for Color Combinations.” Her current research interests include women’s entrepreneurship, design thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurship self-efficacy.
Outside of work and research, Lynessa enjoys mentoring start-ups and judging pitch competitions. Lynessa currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with her four cats. She is an avid long-distance runner, having completed 5 full marathons (and counting), and enjoys watching musical theater.
Briana Thomas
Board Member
Briana Thomas is the Museum Associate at the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education (a core member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance). She wears many hats including developing exhibition content, facilitating community programs (children and adults), liaising with visitor artists, and other responsibilities. Her previous experience in the nonprofit space includes her tenure as the Financial Empowerment Coordinator at AMERICORPS Sharing Life Center as well as engaging with the public at the Dallas Arboretum. Her past professional experience has remained rooted in marginalized communities. It is their needs,discourse and histories that she has routinely been tasked with protecting and showcasing in the face of poor infrastructure, and willing ignorance. Creating safe spaces is an ancestral practice she has inherited.
