Blacksmiths from Belarus and Russia presented the "Slavianski Bazaar" with an eternal bouquet of cornflowers
For the first time during the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" arts festival, the international festival-competition "Znich" was held. 12 blacksmiths with apprentices from different parts of Belarus and the Pskov region of the Russian Federation demonstrated their iron arguments for victory. They presented Vitebsk with a gift for the festival, essentially an eternal bouquet of forged cornflowers.
Thanks to the virtuosos of the hammer and anvil, a part of Tolstoy Street briefly became an improvised open-air forge. The rhythmic clang of metal echoed over the Dvina – the process was in full swing. There were already finished, often unusual, items. The variety and imagination of the authors were dazzling. How do you like forged paintings in the style of Aivazovsky and Vermeer? And the cute dragons and a graceful, full-sized openwork horse?
Opening "Znich", **Head of the Department of Culture of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Petr Podgursky** noted:
– Events dedicated to blacksmithing have already been held at "Slavianski Bazaar". Then there was a period when it was forgotten, but history has judged us – the competition must take place. May the fire in the furnaces of our blacksmiths never go out!
An interesting fact: among pagan Slavs, the word "znich" referred to the personification of the primary celestial fire, capable of igniting energy in a person to achieve something new. The desire to comprehend the secrets of the ancient craft, once highly developed in Belarus, was once felt by **Sergey Kudikov from Mstislavl**. We photograph the quite famous blacksmith-poet against the backdrop of his magnificent metal raven. The bird looks remarkably likeof the master himself. You are not the only ones who have noticed the resemblance, he laughs:
– I've been forging for ten years, although I'm an IT specialist by education. First, I became interested in historical reconstruction – and it took off. At even improvised knightly tournaments, you can't do without a sword. Of course, it shouldn't be made of wood…
This served as the impetus for our hero to immerse himself in the blacksmithing craft. Today, Kudikov has a large stationary forge and two mobile ones – to give master classes at events like this. This is the guest from Mstislavl's first time at "Slavyansky Bazaar". He came with an apprentice who studies in an amateur association at the Mstislavl District House of Crafts. Local guys definitely know the saying that a talented blacksmith's hands are golden up to the elbows. The fact that blacksmith's dust is a powerful amulet and was previously collected in a bag and worn on the chest is also not news to them. I work at the House of Crafts as a craft masterof folk crafts, continues Sergey Kudikov:
– I am passing on to the youth the once widespread, and today rare, undeservedly forgotten art of fire and metal. I am glad to have been invited to the Vitebsk forum. I consider participation in its competition a contribution to the promotion of blacksmithing. By the way, my forged cornflower is already on the wonder tree or – depending on how you see it – a bouquet. I brought the workpiece from home, and finished it here.
Thanks to the virtuosos of the hammer and anvil, a part of Tolstoy Street briefly became an improvised open-air forge. The rhythmic clang of metal echoed over the Dvina – the process was in full swing. There were already finished, often unusual, items. The variety and imagination of the authors were dazzling. How do you like forged paintings in the style of Aivazovsky and Vermeer? And the cute dragons and a graceful, full-sized openwork horse?
Opening "Znich", **Head of the Department of Culture of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Petr Podgursky** noted:
– Events dedicated to blacksmithing have already been held at "Slavianski Bazaar". Then there was a period when it was forgotten, but history has judged us – the competition must take place. May the fire in the furnaces of our blacksmiths never go out!
An interesting fact: among pagan Slavs, the word "znich" referred to the personification of the primary celestial fire, capable of igniting energy in a person to achieve something new. The desire to comprehend the secrets of the ancient craft, once highly developed in Belarus, was once felt by **Sergey Kudikov from Mstislavl**. We photograph the quite famous blacksmith-poet against the backdrop of his magnificent metal raven. The bird looks remarkably likeof the master himself. You are not the only ones who have noticed the resemblance, he laughs:
– I've been forging for ten years, although I'm an IT specialist by education. First, I became interested in historical reconstruction – and it took off. At even improvised knightly tournaments, you can't do without a sword. Of course, it shouldn't be made of wood…
This served as the impetus for our hero to immerse himself in the blacksmithing craft. Today, Kudikov has a large stationary forge and two mobile ones – to give master classes at events like this. This is the guest from Mstislavl's first time at "Slavyansky Bazaar". He came with an apprentice who studies in an amateur association at the Mstislavl District House of Crafts. Local guys definitely know the saying that a talented blacksmith's hands are golden up to the elbows. The fact that blacksmith's dust is a powerful amulet and was previously collected in a bag and worn on the chest is also not news to them. I work at the House of Crafts as a craft masterof folk crafts, continues Sergey Kudikov:
– I am passing on to the youth the once widespread, and today rare, undeservedly forgotten art of fire and metal. I am glad to have been invited to the Vitebsk forum. I consider participation in its competition a contribution to the promotion of blacksmithing. By the way, my forged cornflower is already on the wonder tree or – depending on how you see it – a bouquet. I brought the workpiece from home, and finished it here.
In focus
At the international festival-competition "Znich" a charter of the blacksmith brotherhood of the Vitebsk region was even signed. The contestants put their seals on the document, thereby agreeing to gather more than once during "Slavianski Bazaar" in Vitebsk.