Wood was the most available and widespread material. The tradition has left us a number of products and many techniques used today when processing and decorating wooden products.

Shepherd's kitchen utensils and products from Shepherd's art (cups, small cups, butter and smoked cheese moulds, walking sticks) fully follow traditional artwork. The same applies to traditional musical instruments - flutes. Bowl production - axe work - is one of the most demanding artistic techniques. Another name for this craft is wood chiselling. All products made by this technique are used for foodstuffs and they are mainly used for preparing and serving meals (bowls, dishes, bowls, spoons, serving trays). Products made using barrel-making techniques require adequate environmental humidity and are used for liquids. The container construction is made from strips of wood tightened with a band to keep it together. The basis for the technique of wood splitting is to respect the character of the wood as an organic tissue - it does not disturb the wood fibre, so the material keeps it original durability, resistance and elasticity. Thinly split wood provides a special effect when used as a lampshade - wood glare. Characteristics of this technique are also used to good effect in the production of wooden toys, particularly doves. Wood turned products - boxes, bowls, plates, salt-cellars, candlestick and others - are suitable objects for using various types of decorative techniques: incision, metal inlaying, acid etching, colour staining, combining with other materials (metal, glass). Contemporary furniture production uses traditional, so- called dry wood joints, for example doweling and others

Pottery production was originally evenly spread throughout the whole area of Slovakia. It was marked by a variation in type and decoration - in techniques, motifs and colourfulness. Contemporary pottery production is inspired by the richness of these original elements.

The term "faience" is also used for majolica. Its production was originally concentrated in western Slovakia and current production continues from these traditions in our rural area. The Habans - neophytes brought the production of majolica to Slovakia in the 16th century. Majolica products were used for display purposes because of their decorative motifs. Their method of production and appearance differ from normal pottery production.

Metal is used either as a basic or decorative material in folk art products. Where metal is used as the basic material, products are made using casting and blacksmith techniques, cut metal sheet or tinkering.

Leather products in Slovakia were focused on creating footwear to match the folk dress - boots and light leather shoes and the production of accessories - bags, belts and straps. Contemporary folk art production preserves this tradition as copies (often for the purposes of folk groups) and by transferring it to present-day products - belts, bags, book covers, various types of pouches, etc.

Wicker, straw, roots, cornhusks and splint are together named as natural fibres. The most common one was wicker, because it grew along the banks of rivers and streams. ÚĽUV products are made from cultivated wicker. Straw can be used in various ways - for weaving baskets, decorations or creating ornaments from ironed straw stalks. A single producer makes all ÚĽUV's root products - bowls and baskets. Their value is not only in this fact but also in the fact that it is a unique and rare material. Cornhusk is the youngest weaving material and its processing predominates in southern Slovakia. The techniques of using thinly and thickly twisted cornhusk allow the creation of various useful products.

Originally, the pictures painted on glass portrayed religious and secular themes - they depicted scenes from the life of highwaymen, particularly Jánošík's group. Pictures of saints were thought to protect their owners and they were given a dominant place in the room of traditional folk dwellings. Families who earned their living through making glass originally started to produce these paintings. Painting requires not only knowledge of the technique of painting on glass, but also great artistic talent. Artists who currently follow the original tradition of glass painting are returning thematically to copies of a sacred character. This release from traditional forms of painting art expression enriches the gallery of paintings on glass with each new contribution.

The tradition of decorating eggs at Easter time is still very much alive in Slovakia. It is derived from ancient customs where the egg was a symbol of renewing life, spring, the sun, love and eternity. The decorative function of Easter eggs is currently in focus. Several types of decorated Easter eggs are known in Slovakia and ÚĽUV works with the very best Easter egg painters whose work displays traditional decorating techniques: batik, wax decoration, scratching and encasing with wire. They preserve the large variety of traditional ornaments. Easter eggs are one of the most vividly colourful products from current folk art production.

Embroidery was originally a significant element in folk clothing and in Slovakia it is marked by the richness of techniques and patterns. Contemporary textile and clothing design can make good use of its heritage - variation of colours and patterns to form an unlimited number of creations.

Lace making is rightfully considered to be a technique at the pinnacle of textile folk art. The specific characteristics of laces from individual lace making centres in Slovakia are nowadays used to create utilitarian textiles and fashion clothing. Lace from Staré Hory, Špania Dolina, Hlboké, Gemer, Solivar, Slovenský Grob and other traditional centres are well known.

In the previous century, people provided textiles for clothing, home and agricultural purposes by hand weaving. Currently, several traditional weaving regions with their specific textiles such as twisted hatch patterns, ribbed textiles and linen fabrics, where linen and cotton were used as materials. Wool textiles - "gubas" - cloth with tufts of wool twisted during the weaving process are well known because of their characteristic appearance. Smooth wool textiles - rugs - are one of the most beautiful accessories. This textile can also be used for clothing.

Printing on fabrics with positive and negative printing dates back to the beginning of the 17th century in Slovakia. The general differentiation of blue and white printing in traditional clothing only occurred in the 19th century. The richness of patterns, their motifs and sizes, are currently used to create not only domestic and clothing textiles, but also toys and other small items.

The production of folk costumes at ÚĽUV dates back 50 years ago. It started mainly to provide the demands of folk groups. Folk costume production uses its own comprehensive documentation fund, which helps maintain the particularities of specific clothing regions and clothing variations. The creation of fashion clothing is the result of harmonizing traditional and contemporary textile materials, fashion trends in clothing generally, and sometimes even the design of an original clothing component and traditional textile technique into one whole.

Fujara Traditional Slovak instrument which is part UNESCO

Recipe for the honey cakes Ingredients: 400 grams of flour, 170 grams of sugar, 50 grams of butter, 3 spoons of honey, 2 eggs, 2 spoons of rum, 1 spoon of cocoa, 1 spoon of spice for the honey cakes (cinnamon, anise, clove) Instuctions: make a dough from all the mentioned ingredients and leave it in a fridge for one hour, then bake formed cakes and spread the egg on them, you can decorate them with almonds or raisins

This tradition is really typical for our region and all over Slovakia. There are lots of well- known fencings groups. All the weapons are made in Slovakia. Number of historical movies were shot there like Dragon Heart or Last Legion where some of our friends acted.

Andy Warhol who comes from Medzilaborce is the most famous artist of Pop-art in the world

Adriana Sklenaříková ®