During a visit to the Museum of Murska Sobota in August 2001, an engaging figure 'sculpted' of cornhusk caught my eye. I knew I wanted to bring this unique handcrafted depiction of life 'in the old country' back home with me. Several months later, the idea of sharing the figures with others in the U.S. took root, and I began making inquiries to the museum. I was put in touch with the cornhusk workshop in nearby Velika Polana. Over the next year, I corresponded with the workshop about my idea. What I learned about the workshop itself, the people who labor there, and the process of hand-making cornhusk crafts, gave the small figures even more significance.
Velika Polana, in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia, is the site of an LKC workshop group which includes the cornhusk workshop. In Slovenia, as in the U.S., unemployment and underemployment are serious problems. The situation worsens when lay-offs and a lack of opportunities mean that individuals are unable to find work to complete their required service years for the Slovene equivalent of Social Security. Some women who have given over 30 years of service fall short by only a few years.
The Velika Polana cornhusk workshop is part of a creative solution to the unemployment problem. It offers a qualified employment opportunity by teaching workers a traditional craft, native to the region, which has a current business application. Although workers are only permitted inside the workshop for 2 years, employment opportunities can continue as long as the workshop attracts orders for merchandise.
On a visit in July 2003, I was patiently (though not very successfully) shown differences among types of corn growing in different fields. The corn grown primarily for this handcraft differs from that grown mainly for food or feed. It was not a surprise to learn that Velika Polana's workers hand-cut the corn stalks, as I'd seen hand work in small fields and large gardens throughout much of Slovenia. Though the corn wasn't ready for harvest during my visit, I begged my contact to send photos of that work when it began, which she very kindly did. In seeing those photos, the process she described came to life.
The ladies spend long hours harvesting the corn, then removing the husks. The husks are spread for drying, and then prepared for various applications - creating baskets, handbags, chair seats and more, including the figures available for purchase on this site.
Inside the workroom, I watched the ladies of Velika Polana skillfully transform dried cornhusks into charming figures. Strong and capable hands fold and weave the husks or whittle small looms or other accessories. Deft hands paint delicate facial features. The labor is difficult and taxing, but the women endure and they take pride in what they create.
The ingenuity of the Slovenian culture is something I am just beginning to learn about. Velika Polana has creatively applied a traditional, regional craft to a current business use. I'd like to extend my compliments and congratulations to the Cornhusk Workshop of Velika Polana. My special thanks for their valuable contribution to the successful launch of the Home From Slovenia venture.
Elizabeth Talian James
