Artisans and craftsmen from various countries have settled in Vitebsk these days

Ремесленники и мастера разных стран обосновались в эти дни в Витебске
If in the evenings the epicenter of the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is the Summer Amphitheater, where numerous crowds gather to see famous artists live, then during the day, folk craft fairs become a real place of pilgrimage for guests and residents of the city.

If in the evenings the epicenter of the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" is the Summer Amphitheater, where numerous crowds gather to see famous artists live, then during the day, folk craft fairs become a real place of pilgrimage for guests and residents of the city.

 

Everyone, even visiting stars, wants to buy a handmade souvenir as a memento of the festival. This year, the selection is more impressive than ever. These are household items, interior decorations, clothing, jewelry, and much more. All are predominantly made from natural materials – linen, wool, vine, wood, clay, etc.

 

 

 

And made with their own hands. The unity of nature's gifts and human labor, the soul that the craftsman puts into their work, makes each item unique and exclusive. Another feature of the fairs and exhibitions in festival Vitebsk is the multinationality of cultures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visiting the "City of Masters" on Tolstoy and Pushkin streets, you can see the creations of over 250 artisans from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Latvia. Another traditional gathering place is the "Zadzvinskiy Kirmaš" on the territory of the cultural and historical complex "Golden Ring of Vitebsk "Dvina".

These venues offer not only the chance to buy unique souvenirs but also to immerse yourself in the cultures of different countries. Artisans conduct master classes, decorate their stalls in folk style, and often don national costumes themselves.

Vyacheslav Mikushev from Veliky Novgorod is ready to share the story behind the creation of each of his pieces. While his wife offers goods to customers, he works at his lathe, crafting a wooden spoon or another birch bark creation. This is his third time in the city on the Dvina. Although he is a recognized and well-known master in his homeland, he is always interested in seeing the work of his Belarusian colleagues. And the festival city of Vitebsk is the perfect place for this.

 

"Slavianski Bazaar" is an excellent opportunity for local artisans to sell their products to local and visiting customers, not only for profit but also to spread awareness of the traditions of craftsmanship and folk art of the Vitebsk region to distant countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regular participants of "Zadzwinskiy Yarmarok" are Mikhail and Natalia Chernin from the regional center. For about 10 years, they have been creating baskets and decorative items, various containers from willow. They have no shortage of customers. The couple is included in the book of folk masters of the Vitebsk region.

Natalia Ryzhkova, "Vitebskiye vesti"

Photos by Elena Sys and Natalia Ryzhkova