Ileana Părasca Toma

Petru Codrea is a folk woodcarver from Valea Stejarului, Maramureș County, who specializes in making Maramureș gates, crosses and summer altars for churches. Former apprentice of the famous Moș Pupăză, Petru Codrea has quite a difficult mission. He continues the work of his predecessor, keeping the tradition of woodworking, doing both monumental works, as well as household and decorative objects. The folk craftsman, Petru Codrea, participated in national and international fairs together with the Maramureș County Council. Among his most representative works we mention the Maramureș Gate in front of the Administrative Palace in Baia Mare, the crucifix in the Village Museum in Baia Mare. He also restored the Maramureș Gate in Vienna. Contact details: Sighetu Marmației, 117 Valea Stejarului street, mobile phone: 0752-451811. Workshop access: from 272 Mocirii street, Vadu Izei village, Vadu Izei township, one can stop at the Folk Master Workshop of Petru Codrea.

IN MEMORIAM Toader Bârsan was a folk woodcarver from Bârsana who made Maramureș famous and this fame even reached the Smithsonian Museum in Washington. He later carved a Maramureș gate there, through which Bill Clinton, the then President of the United States, passed. For the sculptor from Bârsana, a true Maramureș gate cannot but have the tree of life. The rope, the coil and the sun are tied to it. The honeycomb and the fish must also be found here. Toader Bârsan is the kind of craftsman for whom wood carving is an art. In the workshop in his house, he works with his son to whom he passed on his love for woodcarving. As a sign of gratitude for the promotion of the culture and crafts of Maramureș, the Maramureș County Council awarded the folk craftsman Toader Bârsan the honorary title of "Ambassador of Maramureș Tourism". Toader Bârsan passed away in January 2022. Workshop access: from Săpânța township, Săpânța village, travel 38.2 km to Bârsana township, Bârsana village, 520 Principală street, until you reach the Folk Master Workshop of Toader Bârsan.

Dan Avram is a folk craftsman from Băiuț, Maramureș County, who carves in wood the most diverse objects, from fruit bowls and vases, to glass miniatures. Also, our craftsman makes wood inlays and sculpts the most original faces of Moroșeni (people from Maramureș). Dan Avram is a very active folk craftsman, who gladly participated in all the editions of the Fair “Goodies of Maramureș” (Bun de Maramureș), as well as in other local or national events for the promotion of the traditional culture of Maramureș. Contact details: Băiuț township, Băiuț village, Principală street, building A, ap.2, mobile phone: 0751 162 740. Workshop access: in the center of the village, the area with the blocks of flats, first on the left, on the ground floor.

Alexandru Arvai is a folk craftsman from Sighetu Marmației who sculpts statues and busts representing Moroșeni (people from Maramureș). Lately, the focus has been more on trophy cases and glass miniatures.  Alexandru Arvai is a very active folk craftsman, who gladly participated in all the editions of the Fair “Goodies of Maramureș” (Bun de Maramureș), as well as in other local or national events for the promotion of the traditional culture of Maramureș. Contact details: Sighetu Marmației, Dobăieș street, mobile phone: 0748-665668. Workshop access: From Vadul Izei township, travel 6 km to Dobăieș street, near the Village Museum in Sighetu Marmației.

Daniel Leș, the potter from the heart of Maramureș, nicknamed "the last Dacian", lives simply, with love for people, nature and God, where else if not in the Potter's House; a welcoming place, with an ever-open gate, where people are welcome to rest their minds and souls, but also to learn about the mystery of clay sculpting.    In Daniel Leș's workshop the age of technology just slips away while the craftsman sits at the wheel, always dressed in a traditional shirt, after having offered you delicious dishes and the harshest local brandy (horincă). And as the clay comes to life in his hands, the potter tells the story of his apprenticeship. For him the clay is living matter, the clay is holy, the clay is God’s raw material. For this reason he sculpts the clay with intense passion and with immense gratitude. Known throughout the world for his unique artistic vision, the potter has won many awards and has exhibited his artworks in major museums around the world, participated in fairs and exhibitions to promote traditional culture both at national and international level, and TV stations need appointment to film in his magic workshop. Proud to keep alive an ancestral tradition and eager to share his talent and craft with anyone willing to learn, Daniel Leș organizes pottery camps. In order to convey his love for Maramureș to his disciples, they are housed in refurbished traditional houses, which are almost 300 years old. As a sign of gratitude for the promotion of the culture and crafts of Maramureș, the Maramureș County Council awarded the popular craftsman Daniel Leș the honorary title of "Ambassador of Maramureș Tourism". Contact details: Baia Sprie, 1 Luncii st., mobile phone: 0723 856 109. Workshop access: from the center of Baia Mare, respectively the intersection of Unirii Blvd. with București Blvd., go straight ahead on 22 Decembrie/DN 18B street, and at the first roundabout, take the 3rd exit, on Horea street towards Vasile Lucaciu street/DN 18; at the intersection take the first exit on road 1B towards Baia Sprie; drive for another 8.5 km. Turn right onto the first street after passing the city center and the City Hall.

Vasile Chira is a folk craftsman who keeps alive the craft of pottery in his workshop in Cărbunari; a fairytale-space workspace where clay takes shape and color. In the over 20 years in which he trained as a ceramic artist, he managed to create "Transylvanian pottery", recognizable by the specific shapes, motifs and colors of the clay objects. As a sign of gratitude for the promotion of the culture and crafts of Maramureș, the Maramureș County Council awarded the popular craftsman Vasile Chira the honorary title of "Ambassador of Maramureș Tourism". Contact details: Dumbrăvița township, Cărbunari village, 79 B Principală st., mobile phone: 0746 392 168. Workshop access: from Berchezoaia, postal code 437232, go South-West to DC 81, then right on DJ 182B for another 9.6 km. Continue on Mihai Eminescu/DJ184A street to DN 18B for 2.4 km, then in 250 m turn left. The destination is at 79B Principală street in Cărbunari.

Florica Vâț is a folk craftswoman from Băiuț, Maramureș County, who specializes in creating ornaments specific to the Land of Lăpuș. She skillfully carries on the tradition of necklace weaving and other traditional beaded ornaments, with archaic symbols specific to Maramureș, such as: sun, rope, Northern star, honeycomb, shepherd's hook, wheat ear, whirlpool and rake, each piece being unique and elegant. Florica Vâț is a very active folk craftswoman, who gladly participated in all the editions of the Good Fair of Maramureș, as well as in other local or national events for the promotion of the traditional culture of Maramureș. Contact details: Băiuț township, Băiuț village, 468 Principală st., mobile phone: 0756 031 474. Workshop access: from the village of Ungureni, go 13.6 km towards Rogoz/DJ109F, then turn left onto DJ109F. Keep this direction for another 19.4 km, then go straight ahead on DJ109U for another 2.3 km. Four houses in front of the block of flats, on the left, there is a garage and an alley behind it; the workshop is located at no. 468.

Rodica Sabadîș is a folk craftswoman from Remetea Chioarului, Maramureș County, who specializes in creating ornaments specific to the Land of Chioar. Over the years, she has carried on the tradition of necklace weaving and other traditional bead ornaments. Her creations bear archaic symbols specific to Maramureș, such as: the sun, the rope, the Northern star, the honeycomb, the shepherd's hook, the wheat ear, the whirlpool and the rake, thus offering uniqueness and elegance to each piece. Rodica Sabadîș is a very active folk craftswoman, who gladly participated in all the editions of the Good Fair of Maramureș, as well as in other local or national events for the promotion of the traditional culture of Maramureș. Contact details: Baia Mare, 28 Independenței Blvd., apart. 4-5 (MM Artizana Association), mobile phone: 0722 210 569. Workshop access: from the center of Baia Mare, respectively the intersection of Unirii Blvd. with Bucharest Blvd., go to North-West on Unirii Blvd. towards Bucharest Blvd. and at the roundabout, take the second exit, continue 1.3 km on Independenței Blvd.. The destination will be on the right.

Mihaela Tibil is a folk craftswoman from Berchezoaia, Maramureș County, who specializes in creating folk costumes specific to The Land of Chioar. With love and craftsmanship, she carries on the tradition of the fabric corset with lace patterned from cut embroidery, in the shape of flowers or dumplings, and sewn only with white thread, thus offering uniqueness and elegance to each piece. She also sews towels and tablecloths with the most beautiful brightly colored flowers. During the pandemic, Mihaela Tibil embroidered masks with popular motifs. Mihaela Tibil is a very active folk craftswoman, who gladly participated in all the editions of the Good Fair of Maramureș, as well as in other local or national events for the promotion of the traditional culture of Maramureș. Contact details: Remetea Chioarului township, Berchezoaia village, 114 Principală st., mobile phone: 0746 106 466. Workshop access: from Buciumi, road E 58, go west 1.8 km, turn right in 350m, then right again in 2.8 km. Turn right onto DJ 182B and stay on this road for 5.6 km. Turn right onto DC 81; after 2.3 km turn left to enter Berchezoaia. The destination is at no. 114 on Principală street.