POLSKI 
KONTRAST 
Creative tandem
Ever since they got married in 1972 Mr and Mrs Konopka are a harmonious marriage tandem of folk creators, who support and complement each other. Stanisława makes cut-outs Easter palms, kierce and byśki and she supports her husband, Tadeusz, who is processing the amber. Together, they run Izba Pamięci Czesławy Konopkówny, where, with dedication, they are keeping the memories of that famous Kurpie creator alive. She came from Tadeusz’s family and they warmly refer to her as aunty.
Stanisława is a very reliable, honest and helpful person, she’s always ready on time and is very hard working. Her products can be found in numerous museums, to include in Warszawa, Toruń, Płock, Ciechanów and Łomża. The work of this talented creator was in the hands of the Pope John Paul II and the First Lady, Jolanta Kwaśniewska. Invited by Cepelia, she attended the Folk Art Fair in Paris on two occasions, she also demonstrated her abilities in Sweden Denmark, and USA. Her creations have presented at numerous international and national exhibitions. She participated in countless folk art competition where she received awards and distinctions. Their list is very long. She received the Bronze Cross of Merit [Brązowy Krzyż Zasługi] and the Medal ‘For Merits for the Ostrołęka Voivodship’.
Tadeusz Konopka took over the family traditions, by specialising in the Kurpie fossil amber processing. He is one of the last artists using this technology. He comes from Tatars, from the family of prominent folk artists.
He processes the precious amber on the handicraft reel, which he has adapter especially to this kind of work. Tadeusz’s creations are characterised by his profound knowledge of the base material. A good raw material as well as an unusual press forming precision result in an original amber jewellery: Kurpie strings of beads (particularly those of milky colour, the most beautiful ones) with specific flattened spheres, but also a smaller haberdashery, i.e. hearts, crosses, beads and earrings.
He does not allow for a single particle of the raw material to go to waste. The amber filings, leftover after the amber grinding, are used to manufacture the bees wax candles, which, together with his wife, they are kneading by hand, using the traditional methods. This is how the blessed candles or twisted candles are made. These particular candles are called błażejki and the faithful bring them to the church on St Blaise’s day. According to folk beliefs, błażejki are supposed to protect from throat diseases.
In addition to the standard amber processing, Taddeusz Knopka also weaves the seats with the oat straw. These seats are used for the traditional Kurpie chairs and stools. He also makes the cut-outs.
He mostly wins the first place in all handicraft competitions in the region for his amber art. His products can be found in the National Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw [Państwowe Muzeum Etnograficzne w Warszawie]. He was honoured with the ‘Merit for Cepelia’ [Zasłużony dla Cepelii] Medal in recognition of his services to the Polish culture.
