The iconographers and cross makers fair at the Museum of the Romanian Peasant

The fair of iconographers and cross makers, an event with a tradition of over two decades, is taking place from yesterday until Sunday in the inner courtyard of the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant. According to the MNŢR (National Museum of the Romanian Peasant), for four days, the museum on Şosea Street becomes the place where iconographers and cross makers continue to recover the beauty of craftsmanship and religious objects, a heritage dedicated to traditional art and especially icons, focusing on the quality of technique and craftsmanship, the purpose for which the religious object is made, avoiding kitsch expressions and industrial serializations for commercial purposes. According to MNŢR: "Year after year, we celebrate the Day of the Cross together with a fair-exhibition, where visitors can discover symbolic objects (icons painted on glass and wood, crosses, icon stands, religious objects, wood inlays, contemporary iconographic representations in various techniques and materials) that reaffirm the identity and specificity of our institution." The iconographers and cross makers are accompanied by craftsmen from related fields: bark crafting, ceramics, and woodwork. Homemade sweets, honey, bee products, as well as medicinal herbs, autumn fruits, and flowers will not be missing.

In addition to the workshops led by dedicated iconographers and cross makers for sharing their craft techniques, within the fair, coordinated by Lila Passima, Head of the Museum Education Section, a pottery workshop for children and adults, focused on experimentation, will be organized for the first time. "We invite children and adults to discover how the old iconographers worked and painted icons on glass or primed wood, how they marked and inlaid the icon stands and hearth icons in workshops led by artists and master iconographers. This year, for the first time, we also propose a workshop for processing baked earth (terracotta) to the public for a fascinating tactile and visual experience," says MNŢR. The Iconographers and Cross Makers Fair will take place between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. The ticket prices for entry to the fair are as follows: adults - 12 lei; pensioners - 6 lei; students, young adults up to 30 years old, and individuals with mild or moderate disabilities - 3 lei.