About Straw objects
The technology of making straw objects has its origin in Červená Řečice and was born in the head of Jirka Jedlička, a student at the High school of Applied Arts in Zlín, a member of ŠVAGR and Society, native in Červená Řečice. The home of making straw objects is the castle in Červená Řečice, but we presented our straw art also at the Czech Christmas in Prague – Zličín, on the Earth Day in Prague – Černý most, on the Earth Day in Brno, at the Veveří castle, in Prague – Klamovka, in the Records and curiosities Fest in Pelhřimov and in many other places. The most prominent exhibition of straw objects – the Straw Crèche – took place at the Cathedral of St. Vitus in 2005 and 2006, during the Advent time till the Epiphany. We know that people in other parts of the Czech Republic occupy themselves with straw activities the same way we do or a little bit differently, somewhere even with hay instead of straw. Anyway it is good, when idleness is replaced by productivity, giving joy to authors. And that is the point.
The making of straw objects depends on fantasy and skills of creators. We can sometimes find the same themes during ten years, for example glasses, the Eiffel tower etc., but there are still new and original variations being created, so it is always fair enough to speak about originality of creators.
What types of straw objects can you make?
You can make two- or three–dimensional objects, sized from a few centimetres to several meters.
What is the method of making straw objects like?
First you have to make a skeleton of 6 to 10 mm wire and flesh the skeleton out with straw. Straw is fixed to the skeleton by a string, best made of sisal, goes together well with the colour of straw.
What about themes?
The most frequent themes are animals. For example, the following animals were created at the Straw Fest – dogs, cats, elephants, kangaroos, scorpions, frogs, storks, dinosaurs, little ducks, Olgoy Chorchoy, turtles, rabbits from the magic hat, dragonflies, monkeys etc. Abstract themes, symbols, fairies, common things, means of transport, decorations and others themes are to be found as well.
How long does it take to make a straw object?
It depends on the object’s structure. A simple straw object takes about two hours, more complex objects can be made by more people over four or five hours.
What was the smallest object?
In all probability, a dragonfly about 10 centimetre long.
What was the biggest object?
The biggest object was probably a scorpion, a dry grass widow, a megabed or a spider web.
What were the strangest objects?
Exceptional in an idea and creation was the object of a telephonic central in the first year, a Karlín surfer riding the flooding waves from 2002, when the Czech Republic suffered from a large-scale flood, a big lizard with a baby walky-talky in its maw that shouted when approached, a mobile puppet of Pinocchio, a formula, a wind mill, an allegorical carriage of straw, Masaryk metamorphosis, eclipse of the sun and others.
Is the most beautiful object or the winner selected?
No. Everybody giving joy to himself and the others, is a winner.
