Amongst the artisans in Brasov there is Valeria Neuvirt, who makes maize husk puppets. Made of high quality natural materials, these figurines are vegetal braiding, using a string and damped maize husks. The works are intended for children of all ages, aiming to be an alternative to serial toys, so often used.
Authentic characters
The braided maize husks figurines made by Valeria Neuvirt become authentic characters inhabiting an entire world, the world of the former villages: the seeder, the harvester, the woman braking bread, the shepherd, the bourgeois, or the sawyer, the carol singers, all of them enchanting by their simplicity and fondness. The maize husks are ecologic, they are processed damped, and there are several operations required until the figurine is ready. Some husks may be painted. A maize husk puppet may be performed between 15 to 30 minutes. The final result: true works of art.
String and maize husks
?The maize husks go very well with the string braids. I make decorations such as: flower holders, little baskets, kitchen holders and little angels and heart figurines. Ideas come on the spot. The coloured maize husks puppets and flowers are very attractive. It gets harder and harder to get the materials. My sister brings them to me from Târgu Mureș, on autumn after the maize is harvested. I clean them, dry them and carefully keep them dry. They must not get wet, because they get degraded, told us the artist Valeria Neuvirt.
Working with children
?In the workshop with children we approach topics inspired from the life at the village. The characters represent the life at the country side. Objects suggest the most important events from the life in the village. Children make easier pieces. They are very smart and they impressed me because they managed to make pretty complicated little angels, hearts and flowers. We teach them to use vegetal fibres, how to combine string braids with the maize husks and how to use the stuffing. Children are very impressed when they see they managed to make works of art? concluded Valeria Neuvirt.
Contact details: 0771.529.202
