Stanisław Rząsa – - he was born and he lived in Zaczernie, died in 2002. Rząsa was occupied by literature, folk poetry and sculpture He was the founder and perpetual custodian in the Regional Museum in Zaczernie. In his works he makes reference to the history of Zaczernie and is the author of the book Zaczernie - Recollections of the Past. Together with the editorial committee he published 2 books: Zaczernie Before and Today and Picture Album “Zaczernie”. His artistic oeuvre includes 12 theatrical works which were put on in the Community Centre. “Wesele Zaczerskie” (Zaczerskie Wedding) - the most important one - was staged many times in Zaczernie, once in Rzeszów and Iwonicz. Stanisław Rząsa is the author of about 300 folk poems and 43 songs with notes which were published in print. He sculptured 28 figures of the shepherds for the nativity scene.

 

Kazimiera Nalepa – lives in Stobierna. She started the artistic work in her early youth, first painting on a board. In time she started painting on canvas. Inspired by the surrounding nature Kazimiera most often paints landscape and flower-like motives.

 

Jan Grabarz – – lives in Pogwizdów. For 20 years he has been sculpturing and creating interesting and professional works on various subjects. He makes not only sculpture, low relief, coats of arms and decorative picture frames but also forms of functional sculpture i.e. carved shelves and cupboards. Jan runs a studio open to different offers of cooperation.

http://artian.prv.pl

 

Franciszek Bałanda –he was born in Łąka, in 1926. His interest in the village life, folk traditions, singing and music resulted in the writing of many poems and short stories. Franciszek is the author of the script for “Łącki Wedding” which was staged in Rzeszów, Tarnów and many times in the surrounding villages. He was also rewarded for his statement- confidence in the contest titled “Polish Farmer” and for the memoir in the nationwide contest titled “Land Connects Us” and he was elected to the National Council of Polish Memoirists. In 2006 he presented his output in the Podkarpacki Poets Society situated in the Voivodeship House of Culture in Rzeszów. At present, Mr. Bałanda doesn't restrict himself to writing. He plays in a folk group "Zagrodzianie" and writes texts to folk melodies. Moreover, he draws and paints oil pictures depicting landscape of the region and customs from the past.

 

Jan Ryś – born in Łąka in 1952. His father was a fiddler, painter and sculptor. Being brought up in the artistic environment, he started creating works himself and by observing his father he learned how to sculpt. Jan likes to decorate old clocks, clock units and furniture with his sculptures. He uses his passion for playing the violin, which he decided to learn to play, in the folk group 'Zagrodzianie'.

 

Helena Gwizdak –- she was born in Krzemienica, in 1925. She was a very able child and her talent for painting has been visible since the early childhood. Underestimated for a long time, she transferred her dreams onto the canvas, without much publicity. After finishing primary school she had to help her parents on the farm. As a 20-year-old girl, Helena did the painting 'the Fall of Berlin' which gained her recognition of local community and it hung on the building of the Fire Brigade in Krzemienica for many years. Despite many difficulties which successfully hindered her artistic development, Ms Gwizdak did not give up. In the 1970s religious themes, mainly saint motifs, came to the fore in Helena's paintings. She painted in provisional conditions, without easels, with a finger wrapped up in a piece of cloth, dipped in paint. Underestimated for a long time, the paintings finally came to light. Thanks to the interest of the then director of the Commune Culture Centre in Czarna - Janina Szmać- Helena's works started to appear on exhibitions in Culture Centres, for example in Rzeszów, Sandomierz, Piecki and Bydgoszcz. Ms Gwizdak herself started to take part in the Art Circle meetings of the Voivodeship Culture Centre in Rzeszów. Unfortunately, sudden and serious illness stopped the artist's 'painting work'. She doesn't paint much, and yet she still feels a strong attachment to what she did when she had the strength to show the beauty of the world and people.

 

Justyna Kurowska – she was born in Wrocław, in 1978, and now lives in Zaczernie. She does the paintings which most often depict still life against a background of the interiors or with the elements of architecture, as well as religious motifs. Ms Kurowska draws inspiration from the picture albums of the old masters, interiors of the old churches and the biblical oral traditions and stories. One of her achievements is the painting of Father Pio in church in Terliczka.

 

Edward Śliż - born in 1954, lives in Stobierna. He sculpts, writes poetry, prose and is interested in music. He had three exhibitions of his works in the Garnison Club in Rzeszów (1995/96, 1996/97, 1999). His literary output resulted in publications: 'Straże' (1999), 'WIedziony losem' (2001), 'Krzykiem pokory', 'Cienie życia' (2004), 'Taszyn' (2005) and 'Jałowa Jesień' (2006 r.).

 

Ferdynand Ciasnocha – he was born in Palikówka, in 1932, at present he lives in Łąka. He is a violin-maker. From his early childhood he has been interested in the craft of violin-making. At the age of 3 Ferdynand made his first violin from a board and thread. When he was older he took lessons in playing the violin from a folk muso in Łukawiec. He stopped playing the violin when he started working in 1963. He only repaired violins in his free time. When he retired in 1985, he established collaboration with Bronisław Fitas, a violin-maker from Stalowa Wola, and next he took up repairing and started running his small production. At present, he is a highly-regarded violin-maker who keeps repairing the violin, double bass, clarinet and dulcimer. He also has his own way and recipe for lacquer.

 

Jan Kogutek – was born in Rzeszów, in 1951. At present, he lives and sculpts in Trzebownisko. He is a self-taught sculptor. He learned to sculpt by observing sculptures and workshops of a sculptor from Rzeszów. He draws inspiration mainly from home ornaments. His first sculptures were made in the years 1980- 84 and presented large figures used for garden decoration.

 

 

Jacek Golec – - was born on 8 July 1971. At present, he is a five-year student of the Institute of Fine Arts in Krasne. He is a graduate of the Two-Year Teacher Training Institute and State Secondary School of Arts in Rzeszów, wood carving speciality. Currently, he is a driving instructor category A, B and T. In his free time he devotes himself to the artistic work. His artistic oeuvre includes hand-made garden houses, shrines, garden furniture, sculptures and occasional low relief. Jacek is also interested in sport, photography and music. His workshop is situated on the 'Pottery Trail' in Medynia Głogowska.

 

Władysława Prucnal – he was born in 1935, into the family occupied with pottery. His parents earned some extra money by selling their products at fairs. From her earliest years Ms Władysława observed her father working and started sculpting in clay. World War II painfully affected her family leaving them homeless. Difficult conditions discouraged the artist to continue the artistic work. In 1949 Wladysława's works were showed in the film made by the Ethnographic Museum in Łódź about the development of pottery in Poland. In the 1960s Władysława participated in many contests, exhibitions and art fairs. In 1972 she was made a member of the Folk Artists Association in Lublin. She also run the Art Centre at the Primary School in Medynia Głogowska. The children took part in nationwide exhibitions. The centre was established by the 'Cepelia' (Central Office of Folk and Artistic Crafts) National Association and it still exists. Together with the children Ms Prucnal visited the folk art fairs in Warsaw, Poznań, Płock, Kazimierz, Rzeszów and other cities for many years. Her works can be found in art galleries in the USA, Australia, Japan and Italy. They are also exhibited in the national museums, mostly in Toruń. The biggest private collection is located in Piecki near Mrągowo. Władysława Prucnal showed her soul of an artist not only in clay but also in paper by writing poetry. She has won many prizes and awards: In 1975 she took the second place in the Nationwide Contest: Polish Army in Sculpture (the first place was taken by Stefan Głowiak, also from Medynia Głogowska). In 1979, in Kazimierz on the Vistula River Władysława received the second prize in the contest of the contemporary folk toy. In 1990 she got the Father Kolberg memorial prize of the Minister of Culture and Art which was won in the previous years by other sculptors from Medynia: Jan Gąsior and Andrzej Ruta.) She also has the second class award named after Franciszek Kotula. In the nationwide contest of the folk artists' diaries she was awarded the third prize.

 

 

Agnieszka Zaguła – lives in Kamień, she is an artist, makes artistic dolls. She is a graduate of the Fine Arts Institute at Rzeszów University. The first exhibition of dolls took place in January, 2006 in the Gallery 'Printing House' in Rzeszów. However, they are not typical dolls which can be associated with toys but artistic creations which were breathed life into. Her works can be admired on many exhibitions and in galleries.

www.lalki.keep.pl

 

Zofia Bednarz –- artist, craftswoman, a graduate from the Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin. At present, she is an art teacher in the middle school at the Święty Stanisłw Kostka Complex School in Kamień. She draws inspiration form different styles and artistic trends. Hence, her works are characterized by the mixture of styles like expression or symbolism. The artist's works could be admired on many individual and group exhibitions. At present, working with children and teenagers gives her the greatest satisfaction.