Wire Basketry: Drotarstvo

Drotarstvo: Slovak Wire Craft dates back to the early industrialization of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Since that time, Slovak craftspeople have been using a host of unique techniques of wire craft to create simple but beautiful objects. Some decorative and some utilitarian, these objects hold a treasured place in traditional Slovak culture. Artist and designer, Zac Banik shares a piece of his cultural tradition in this 3-hour introduction to drotarstvo. Students will gain experience using wire as a sculptural material. With Zac’s instruction, students will also see how wire can be used as an unconventional form of textile. Students will practice basic wire craft skills, leaving with a small wire bowl or vessel.