Outdoor sculptors' workshop 2007
The tradition of breeding bees goes back to the pre-Slavic times and its beginnings are confirmed by Greek historian Herodot, who lived in 5th century B.C.. Other chroniclers like Ibrahim ibn Jakub , Thitmar and Gall Anonim also wrote about Slavonic beekeeping when Polish structures of statehood started to emerge. The most valuable relic of Polish beekeeping is a thousand year old hive log that was recovered from Odra river in 1901 and now can be found in Kluczbork museum.

Without doubt, the oldest form of breeding bees on Polish land was wild beekeeping that meant keeping bee swarms living in natural hollows or bees that settled in hollowed out by wild beekeeper tree logs. The fall of wild beekeeping came at the end of 18th century due to introduction of stricter forest laws that were to prevent forest from being devastated.

It was then when the apiaries started to appear and beekeeping became another branch of agriculture.

First beehives were just hollow logs but as the time passed,in 17th century, sculptured hives emerged. Being undeniably the main decoration of an apiary they also performed magical function as they were supposed to protect bees and the whole apiary from evil spirits and diseases.

At first, the most frequent motif sculptured on figural beehives were bears and owls. Later, they started to represent images of different saints and in particular St. Ambrose - the patron of beekeepers.

 The 16th Biesiada u Bartnika , taking place on 7th and 8th of July 2007 in the Beekeeping Farm 'Sadecki Bartnik', was accompanied by first outdoor sculptors' workshop that was named "St,. Ambrose - the patron of Beekeepers".
Franciszek Palka (Mp3) , who was the co-organizer and participant that happens to be an artist and a sculptor, tells more about this interesting initiative.
The workshop lasted 10 days and 10 artists took part in it, who left their 10 works that today are displayed near the "Millennium Wild Beehive" close to the Beekeeping Museum.

It is worth mentioning that figural beehives are the oldest form of decorative hives. They are monumental sculptures that manly represent St. Ambrose - the patron of beekeepers. Apart from him, the representations of St. Bartholomew - the patron of forests and land and St. Florian who protected from fire, were also carved.

The hives also depicted the sculptures of animals such as bear, wolves, and people: soldiers, noblemen, Gypsies and Jews. Some figural beehives were the monster hives that were to protect from evil and provide peace and prosperity.



Beehives, carved at the workshop in Stroze, are over 2 meters high which can be seen in the photographs shown here.

  You are welcomed to listen to the recorded conversation with the participants of the workshop (MP3).        

 

Janusz Wędzicha z Bielska-Białej (MP3) told us about his ”Bartnik”  curved from old poplar log and covered with a special protective layer. It was also the most popular with photographers sculpture.


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