Eggs into art
Published 10:26 pm Saturday, April 7, 2007
By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Brightly colored eggs are closely identified with Easter in many cultures. Visitors to the Saint Joseph Fort Museum can see wooden eggs from Poland.
The eggs and other artifacts are all part of a collection of Polish folk art owned by Niles resident, Joyce Sieczko.
"I believe there are close to seven dozen eggs in the collection. And did you see the colors in the wonderful rooster. Didn't know a rooster could lay such beautiful eggs," Sieczko said.
The woman is as colorful as her collection of egg artwork.
Though Sieczko is not Polish herself, she fell in love with the culture as surely as she fell for her husband of 45 years, Tadeseux, "Ted." At 81, her sharp wit assures those around her she is a force to be reckoned with.
"My favorite piece of the collection was stolen from a centerpiece I had at a "Swieconka" celebration at the Polish Falcons in South Bend years ago. It was one of the carved pieces too. And it wasn't any kid who took it either," she said.
"Swieconka" is a purely Polish-American Easter party. She shakes her head still disappointed that anyone would do such a thing.
For years she was part of the Polish Falcon association in South Bend, Ind. The collection was the result of gifts brought to her by Falcon friends Charlotte and Henry Trella of Monaca, Pa. Trella had traveled from Pennsylvania as sponsor for the Sieczko's son. She did the same for their daughter.
The Trellas visited Poland every 16 to 18 months. Each trip they would ask Sieczko what she would like them to bring her.
"More eggs" would be her reply. When the eggs got to be more of a commodity and were more difficult to come by, they would bring other items such as decorative plates, wine bottles and a hanging wooden sunflower blossom.
The pieces are all made from wood that have either been painted in the vivid colors or carved and burnished with dark brown designs.
Embracing the Polish heritage, Sieczko not only joined the Polish Falcons, but held office in the organization. She had positions as both a nest officer, with the local group, and as a district officer.
"I was very interested in the Polish Falcons but I thought it was a fraternal organization. Then they asked me to join the bowling team. I said I didn't know I could join. I'm not sure my husband was pleased," she said.
Sieczko loved working with the youth she taught physical education to at MR Falcons No 4 in South Bend, Ind.
"I got $.50 a night for teaching. I drove from Niles to South Bend to do it," she said.
Each year the group would celebrate- the blessing of the baskets. Holy Saturday, the day before Easter is when the Polish people take baskets filled with boiled eggs, ham sausage, fruit bread and cake to the church for a blessing. The blessed food is then saved for the feast that will be eaten on Easter.
"It marks the end of Lent. Everyone can now eat and drink all they want and get ready for Dyngus Day," Sieczko said.
Though neither Sieczko nor her husband were born in Poland, they spent a lifetime respecting the homeland of both his parents.
"His father got out of Poland through the underground. They first lived in a Detroit suburb and then moved to Dowagiac where his father was a shoemaker. Me? I was born on Union Street in Niles. I never lived anywhere else until I moved here. I always told them to call me the Mayor of Union Street," Sieczko said.
While she never formally ran for office, her mother worked as an elections officer under several Niles city clerks. When her mother retired, Sieczko trained and was an election officer until just a few years ago. Prior to that she worked for the telephone company.
"That was when we said, 'number please'," she said.
Now living at Brentwood Assisted Living, Sieczko is still sharing with her community by allowing everyone to see her beloved collection, on display at Fort Saint Joseph Museum until April 28.
It is an excellent opportunity to see beautiful Polish folk art and learn about Polish Easter customs. A Polish Easter booklet for children of all ages is available to everyone visiting the museum.
The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no admission fee.