Leona Barthle
Polish wycinanki
Leona Wojcik Barthle grew up in Granville, South Dakota, the state’s
only Polish settlement. One of the distinctive Polish traditions she learned
was the art of decorative paper cutting called wycinanki, in which
multi-layered designs of flowers, birds and animals are cut from brightly
colored paper. Leona has taught wycinanki to many people over the
years, both members of her family and hundreds of school children through
artist residencies. In 2004-2005, she worked with Theresa Hanna in her Sioux Falls
home to pass on this art once again through an apprenticeship. Theresa had a
Polish grandmother and has admired Leona’s work for years, so was excited to
have a chance to learn wycinanki from her.
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One of Leona Barthle’s many wycinanki
incorporating a traditional image of birds. |
Theresa Hanna designed this wycinanki with two
swans as one of her first projects. |
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Theresa Hanna and Leona Barthle. |
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Leona Barthle has been a fixture in eastern South Dakota for many
years, enthusiastically sharing her knowledge of the art of Polish
papercutting, called wycinanki, with apprentices and school children.
She learned the art as a child in the Polish community of Granville. For
this apprenticeship she worked with Karen Wunder-Colestock of Sioux
Falls, a teacher who says she has known Leona “all her life.” Karen hopes to
incorporate wycinanki in her high school English classes when they
read a story about Polish immigrants. Leona Barthle passed away only a month
after she finished this apprenticeship, active and creative to the end, and
a beloved member of South Dakota’s cultural community.
Polish wycinanki master Leona Barthle with one of her own
designs, incorporating her favorite prairie rose pattern. |
Karen Wunder-Colestock and Leona Barthle. |
Karen Wunder-Colestock works on a wycinanki piece, cutting
individual colored parts to layer onto the finished design. |
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