The Ukrainian Art Center Los Angeles celebrated the 15th “Pysanka Festival,” which brought together the Ukrainian community, artists, and guests from all over. The event featured a rich cultural program, a market, and charity initiatives in support of Ukraine.
“This year, the festival featured around 40 vendors, dance and choir groups, and solo performers, with attendance reaching nearly a thousand people. They had the opportunity to purchase a variety of handmade items: jewelry, embroidered shirts, paintings, motanka dolls, pysanky, as well as enjoy delicacies, smoked meats, baked goods, special bread, and vegan tea,” reports Vilni Media, citing journalist Hanna Matviishyna.
The festival was organized by the Ukrainian Art Center Los Angeles, drawing attention not only to art but also to important social issues. The main part of the program consisted of pysanka-making workshops led by artist Barbara Wetzel, who has been teaching this art for over 30 years and has Ukrainian roots.
In addition to cultural events, charity played a significant role. Go Ukraina founder Olena Simakovska noted that all proceeds from food truck sales will go toward prosthetics for veteran Dmytro Rybachenko. Dmytro, who participated in the Wounded Warrior Trials at Camp Pendleton, won two gold medals in swimming and three silver medals in wheelchair rugby and indoor rowing.
