Emeline Dziabas Cook P.O. Box 85 Akeley MN 56433 (218) 652-2608 Work Samples Images (select to enlarge):

Emeline Dziabas Cook Polish paper-cutting (wycinanki) Dating back to the 1800s, the art form of wycinanki (vee-chee-NAN-kee), the Polish art of cutting paper patterns with sheep shears, was created by peasant families to beautify their cottages on a meager budget. These motifs were pasted on the whitewashed walls. I am a first generation descendent of Polish immigrant parents and am recognized as a master folk artist. As this folk art is not familiar to many people, my aim is to put my energies into the preservation of this beautiful art, through school residencies, workshops, lectures, and slide presentations. I feel the folk arts of ethnic peoples are most valuable to an individual's completeness. Available: Anytime, when my schedule is open; would appreciate advance notice for preparation; no travel restrictions Space: In a school setting, a typical classroom is sufficient. For workshops, tables are needed. I like space to display my artworks and a locked case to display Polish artifacts. Fee: Negotiable, depending on travel time

Additional Information:
Although she grew up in a Polish American home, it wasn't until much later that Emeline learned about the Polish art form she now practices, wycinanki, or Polish paper cutting. She was introduced to the form in the early 1970's when she and her husband were living in the Minneapolis suburb of Saint Louis Park. Emeline was introduced to Magdalena Swiderska, the best-known Minnesota exponent of wycinanki, and was intrigued with the art form. After study with Magdalena, Emeline earned a fellowship from the Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC to study in Poland.

Her training in Poland included hands-on leaning from masters of forms including wycinanki, weaving, wood carving and ceramics, as well as visits to museums. She also traveled to villages in the regions where the folk arts were most predominant, and also studied regional costumes, dancing, music and foodways. Of all, however, wycinanki has always had the greatest appeal for Emeline.

Because of the relative isolation of the era in which wycinanki first appeared, 1800-1825, several regional styles evolved. Emeline's favorite is the Lowitz region style where the very colorful layered cuttings are made. Other regional styles include the Krakow style, where cuttings are used as stencils on furniture and walls. In the Rzeszow region, there are geometric designs and folded accordion style cuttings. The Lublin region features very elaborate, lacy, circle-type designs. The Opoczno region is home to elaborate, square cuttings. The tradition in the Podlasie region is for designs featuring folded snowflakes and other geometric patterns. In the Kurpie and Lasek regions, there are mostly one color, tree of life designs, but they can be very elaborate. Only in the Sannicki region does Polish wycinanki contain anything but paper cuts: Folk artists from this region cut figures, and then draw in eyes, nose and mouth. In general, this artform was important in Spring. At this time of rebirth, new cuttings created over the winter would be pasted on the walls of homes after the walls were freshly whitewashed. Emeline finds the form appealing because it represents the soul of the Polish people. Wycinanki pieces themselves reflect what the peasants saw everyday on their farms. Emeline believes that old wycinanki pieces also reflect the people's love for the chickens, flowers and other things that they saw on their farms everyday. In addition, to Emeline, the form is also appealing because the designs represent abstract visions of what the artists see. Emeline works within the dimensions of traditional wycinanki and also adapts the form to modern subjects. As an example of the latter, for the Bemidji Community Art Center, she created a paper cutting based on a traditional tree of life design. However, the tree in the piece contains northern Minnesota images such as a lady slipper (the Minnesota state flower), a loon (the Minnesota state bird), a white tailed deer, a pine tree, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, a teepee, and Minnesota's state tree, the red pine. Emeline feels very fortunate to have represented wycinanki for so many years and is grateful for the great reactions of others at workshops and school visits. One of her pieces was selected to tour Minnesota for two and a half years in the "Circles of Tradition" exhibit (1989-91). Emeline is an adjunct professor at Bemidji State University, and she has served as a master in the folk arts apprenticeship program of the Minnesota State Arts Board.