Wood was the most
available and
widespread material.
The tradition has
left us a number of
products and many
techniques used
today when
processing and
decorating wooden
products.
Shepherd's kitchen utensils and products from Shepherd's art (cups, small
cups, butter and smoked cheese moulds, walking sticks) fully follow
traditional artwork. The same applies to traditional musical instruments flutes.
Bowl production - axe work - is one of the most demanding artistic
techniques. Another name for this craft is wood chiselling. All products
made by this technique are used for foodstuffs and they are mainly used for
preparing and serving meals (bowls, dishes, bowls, spoons, serving trays).
Products made using barrel-making techniques require adequate
environmental humidity and are used for liquids. The container
construction is made from strips of wood tightened with a band to keep it
together. The basis for the technique of wood splitting is to respect the
character of the wood as an organic tissue - it does not disturb the wood
fibre, so the material keeps it original durability, resistance and elasticity.
Thinly split wood provides a special effect when used as a lampshade wood glare. Characteristics of this technique are also used to good effect in
the production of wooden toys, particularly doves. Wood turned products boxes, bowls, plates, salt-cellars, candlestick and others - are suitable
objects for using various types of decorative techniques: incision, metal
inlaying, acid etching, colour staining, combining with other materials
(metal, glass). Contemporary furniture production uses traditional, socalled dry wood joints, for example doweling and others
Pottery production was originally evenly spread
throughout the whole area of Slovakia. It was marked by a
variation in type and decoration - in techniques, motifs and
colourfulness. Contemporary pottery production is inspired
by the richness of these original elements.
The term "faience" is also used for majolica. Its
production was originally concentrated in western
Slovakia and current production continues from these
traditions in our rural area. The Habans - neophytes
brought the production of majolica to Slovakia in the
16th century. Majolica products were used for
display purposes because of their decorative motifs.
Their method of production and appearance differ
from normal pottery production.
Metal is used either as a basic or decorative material
in folk art products. Where metal is used as the basic
material, products are made using casting and
blacksmith techniques, cut metal sheet or tinkering.
Leather products in Slovakia were focused on creating
footwear to match the folk dress - boots and light leather
shoes and the production of accessories - bags, belts and
straps.
Contemporary folk art production preserves this tradition as
copies (often for the purposes of folk groups) and by
transferring it to present-day products - belts, bags, book
covers, various types of pouches, etc.
Wicker, straw, roots, cornhusks and splint are together named as
natural fibres. The most common one was wicker, because it grew
along the banks of rivers and streams. ÚĽUV products are made
from cultivated wicker.
Straw can be used in various ways - for weaving baskets,
decorations or creating ornaments from ironed straw stalks.
A single producer makes all ÚĽUV's root products - bowls and
baskets. Their value is not only in this fact but also in the fact
that it is a unique and rare material.
Cornhusk is the youngest weaving material and its processing
predominates in southern Slovakia. The techniques of using thinly
and thickly twisted cornhusk allow the creation of various useful
products.
Originally, the pictures painted on glass portrayed religious and secular
themes - they depicted scenes from the life of highwaymen, particularly
Jánošík's group. Pictures of saints were thought to protect their
owners and they were given a dominant place in the room of
traditional folk dwellings. Families who earned their living through
making glass originally started to produce these paintings. Painting
requires not only knowledge of the technique of painting on glass, but
also great artistic talent. Artists who currently follow the original
tradition of glass painting are returning thematically to copies of a
sacred character. This release from traditional forms of painting art
expression enriches the gallery of paintings on glass with each new
contribution.
The tradition of decorating eggs at Easter time is still very
much alive in Slovakia. It is derived from ancient customs
where the egg was a symbol of renewing life, spring, the sun,
love and eternity. The decorative function of Easter eggs is
currently in focus. Several types of decorated Easter eggs are
known in Slovakia and ÚĽUV works with the very best
Easter egg painters whose work displays traditional
decorating techniques: batik, wax decoration, scratching and
encasing with wire. They preserve the large variety of
traditional ornaments. Easter eggs are one of the most vividly
colourful products from current folk art production.
Embroidery was originally a significant element in
folk clothing and in Slovakia it is marked by the
richness of techniques and patterns. Contemporary
textile and clothing design can make good use of its
heritage - variation of colours and patterns to form an
unlimited number of creations.
Lace making is rightfully considered to be a technique at
the pinnacle of textile folk art. The specific characteristics
of laces from individual lace making centres in Slovakia
are nowadays used to create utilitarian textiles and
fashion clothing. Lace from Staré Hory, Špania Dolina,
Hlboké, Gemer, Solivar, Slovenský Grob and other
traditional centres are well known.
In the previous century, people provided textiles for
clothing, home and agricultural purposes by hand weaving.
Currently, several traditional weaving regions with their
specific textiles such as twisted hatch patterns, ribbed
textiles and linen fabrics, where linen and cotton were used
as materials.
Wool textiles - "gubas" - cloth with tufts of wool twisted
during the weaving process are well known because of their
characteristic appearance. Smooth wool textiles - rugs - are
one of the most beautiful accessories. This textile can also
be used for clothing.
Printing on fabrics with positive and negative
printing dates back to the beginning of the 17th
century in Slovakia. The general differentiation
of blue and white printing in traditional clothing
only occurred in the 19th century. The richness of
patterns, their motifs and sizes, are currently
used to create not only domestic and clothing
textiles, but also toys and other small items.
The production of folk costumes at ÚĽUV dates back 50
years ago. It started mainly to provide the demands of folk
groups. Folk costume production uses its own
comprehensive documentation fund, which helps maintain
the particularities of specific clothing regions and clothing
variations.
The creation of fashion clothing is the result of harmonizing
traditional and contemporary textile materials, fashion
trends in clothing generally, and sometimes even the design
of an original clothing component and traditional textile
technique into one whole.
Fujara
Traditional Slovak
instrument which is
part UNESCO
Recipe for the honey cakes
Ingredients: 400 grams of flour, 170 grams of sugar,
50 grams of butter, 3 spoons of honey, 2 eggs,
2 spoons of rum, 1 spoon of cocoa, 1 spoon of
spice for the honey cakes (cinnamon, anise, clove)
Instuctions: make a dough from all the mentioned
ingredients and leave it in a fridge for one hour, then bake
formed cakes and spread the egg on them, you can decorate
them with almonds or raisins
This tradition is really typical for
our region and all over Slovakia.
There are lots of well- known
fencings groups. All the weapons
are made in Slovakia. Number of
historical movies were shot there
like Dragon Heart or Last Legion
where some of our friends acted.
Andy Warhol
who comes from
Medzilaborce is
the most
famous artist of
Pop-art in the
world
®
Adriana Sklenaříková