A beginning
Every year, Balkanik Festival brings together musicians, artists and craftspeople from across the Balkans in Bucharest. When we decided to take part, we did not want a stand full of leaflets. We wanted a place where people could see with their own eyes what a traditional Roma trade looks like when it is done with real skill.
That is how the “Atelier cu meșteri bestoinici” was born: a space with banners, tools, anvils and hay bales, where craftsmen worked throughout the festival.
The jewellers: silver, fire and patience
The jewellers brought the small workshops they have used all their lives: torches, pliers, files and palm-sized anvils. Visitors could watch a silver wire become a bracelet, a setting being soldered or a ring being polished until it gleamed. The close-up photos of the craftsmen’s hands say more than any description.
The coppersmiths: copper that sings
Next to the jewellers, the coppersmiths beat copper on the anvil. The sound of their hammers drew people from far away. Coffee pots, vessels and cauldrons were heated over the fire, shaped and polished right there, in the middle of the festival. Many visitors were surprised to learn that objects they remember from their grandparents’ homes had been made, for generations, by Roma craftsmen.
Evenings at the workshop
As evening fell, the workshop filled up. People came by after the concerts, sat on the hay bales, asked questions and bought handmade objects. There were evenings full of laughter, stories and photos taken with the craftsmen, proof that a good encounter can melt, at least for one night, the distance between people.
What we learned
Our first participation showed us how curious the public is about Roma culture when it is presented with respect and authenticity. It gave us the courage to come back in 2017 with an even bigger workshop. You can find out more about these trades on the Crafts page.
Photo gallery
Photographs from the days and evenings of the festival. Click an image to enlarge it.
