At the end of the year, results are usually summarised. The scientists and craftspeople of the region did not break with good traditions: they discussed their achievements and future plans at the scientific and practical conference "Folk Textiles and Clothing of the Vitebsk Region".
At the end of the year, results are usually summarised. The scientists and craftspeople of the region did not break with good traditions: they discussed their achievements and future plans at the scientific and practical conference "Folk Textiles and Clothing of the Vitebsk Region". The land of Lepel welcomed those who care about national culture. On this day, guests not only appreciated the talent of our craftspeople, artists, and cooks, but also introduced the specifics of textiles from their native regions at an exhibition in the district House of Culture.
The meeting began with an excursion to the House of Crafts. The director, Alena Borodiyko, presented the results of twenty years of work to the guests. 11 areas of traditional folk crafts… Collections of folk costumes, Vitebsk towels, Belarusian sashes, dolls, and headdresses… Both reconstructed and authentic items… Surely, everyone present found something that personally interested them.
However, many had been familiar with the craftspeople of Lepel for a long time, not only through joint exhibitions and competitions. They had repeatedly been approached for help in creating national clothing by ensembles from neighbouring districts. For example, thanks to the people of Lepel, the Polotsk folklore ensemble "Palata" and the Rasony ensemble "Krynitsa" now have their own distinct image. The latter plans to order men's clothing.
Attendees were also invited to participate in master classes. Galina Zhuravlyova, a master of "vytinanka" (paper cutting), and Tatyanna Anoshka, an embroiderer, shared the secrets of their crafts. Nina Bannikova and Svetlana Chernikova made straw items on-site, and Natallya Builava created a clay sheep doll. Those who wished could also participate in wood carving: Ivan Budich was working on a rather large "bear". Natallya Petukhova, a folk craftswoman of Belarus, demonstrated how to delight children with a "finger bunny" doll.
Following the master classes, the theoretical part of the meeting took place. Conference participants discussed the specific features of the folk textiles from their respective districts. Larisa Alenskaya, Deputy Head of the Department of Ideology, Culture and Youth Affairs of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, welcomed the attendees. Ryhor Shavura, a native of the area, Doctor of Arts, Professor, and Head of the Department of Folk Decorative and Applied Arts at the Educational Institution "Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts," spoke about the historical and theoretical aspects of traditional folk art. The conference lasted for several hours, with each participant having something interesting to share with their colleagues. Incidentally, for its active participation in republican and regional cultural events, for the preservation of national historical and cultural heritage, and for the development of traditional crafts, the Lepel House of Crafts was awarded a diploma and an honorary certificate by the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
The theoretical part of the event was not the end: at the district House of Culture, the club of national Belarusian cuisine "Matyrynskiya Gaspadyni" and the amateur association "Stayskiya Prismaki" were already waiting with prepared dishes. Cream cheese, pancakes, fish, dumplings, sausage – the "self-setting tablecloth" of the Matyrynskiya Gaspadyni was laden with food. The Stayskiya culinary experts offered no less treats. From sauces to dumplings – they prepared 20 dishes overnight. Incidentally, it was their dumplings, made according to the recipe of Maria Kalituha from Matyushyno, that represent our region in the international culinary project "Bella Cuisine."
Guests could not immediately taste the delicious dishes, however: they were invited into the hall for an exhibition of folk textiles from the Houses of Crafts of the region. The tour was conducted by Lyudmila Vakar, leading methodologist of the State Institution "Vitebsk Regional Methodological Center of Folk Art." Interestingly, not only masters from the Vitebsk region brought their works, but guests from the Vetka district of the Gomel region also visited the exhibition.
The farewell chord was the festival-competition "Matčyny Krosny" (Mother's Loom). Guests saw firsthand how Olga Gonchar and her students Tatyana Gertsik and Ekaterina Sokur create tapestries. The pupils of the Starolyadna branch of the Lepel House of Crafts proved that weaving is also well mastered by schoolchildren. For example, Lada Misnik is only 11 years old, and this year she already took third place in a competition held during the Slavianski Bazaar, which brought together weavers from five countries.
The celebration, of course, also featured folk songs. This part was competently performed by the Honored Amateur Folklore Ensemble “Sunichki”, the Folk Folklore Club of the RDC “Krugovert”, the Folk Ensemble of Humorous Songs “Grymsoli”, and the Amateur Ensemble “Vyaselitsa” of the Polsvizhsky SDK. Alexander Bolotnik, accordionist Yuri Dakshanin, and chastushka singer Tamara Rivko pleased with their compositions.
Katsiaryna ASOWSKAYA.