"THE NATIONAL FILM SCHOOL PRESENTS" "CERAMICS FROM ILZA" "WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY" "CINEMATOGRAPHY BY" "ASSISTANT DIRECTOR" "CAMERA OPERATOR" "PRODUCER" "PRODUCTION MANAGER" "The small town of Ilza," "located on the Ilzanka River in the Kielce region, has been famous for ages as a town of potters." "The tradition of pottery making has survived here since the 1 4th century." "At an exhibit at a local high school, we see a collection of ceramics from Ilza." "It developed when cast iron and glass vessels became more popular than clay pots." "This was the beginning of vases and plates adorned with glued-on ornaments and fiigures of various saints, and eventually fiigurines of birds, animals and people, all based on a keen observation of nature." "As early as the 1 4th century, potters at liza founded their own guild." "However, the most dynamic development in local pottery took place in the 1 7th and 1 8th centuries." "At that time, entire caravans of horse-drawn wagons laden with pottery would set out from Ilza for markets in Krakow and other Polish cities, while barges would sail the Vistula River to Gdansk, spreading even further the fame of Ilza's pottery masters." "In the second half of the 19th century, an Englishman by the name of Sunderland opened a pottery factory in Ilza." "However, Sunderland's artistically worthless production was unable to destroy the local pottery-making tradition." "These hard times mark the beginning of Stanislaw Kosiarski's work." "This great artist died in 1939 at the hands of the Nazis." "The surviving talented potters continue the work he began, developing and enriching the tradition of ornamental pottery." "They draw their inspiration from nature and also seek designs in the ancient architecture and art so abundant in the town of Ilza." "But how did pottery making begin in Ilza?" "There are rich deposits of valuable clay in the forests surrounding the town." "But before a lump of clay becomes a piece of art in the hands of a traditional potter, it has a long way to go." "Clay must fiirst be, as they say here, "cut"" "and then kneaded." "These are not simple procedures, requiring experience and an understanding of formulas closely guarded by old guild laws and passed from one generation to the next." "The shaping process begins when a chunk of clay is dropped on the potter's wheel." "Here is master potter Pastuszkiewicz, invaluable source of information on pottery making at liza, living chronicle of ancient tradition, and last living senior master in the local pottery guild." "Together with Kosiarski, he created new artistic forms of Ilza pottery." "While widely respected as an active ceramicist, he's also president of the local pottery cooperative." "Newly made pots are fiirst dried inside the shop, and then in the open air." "The entire family takes part in the process, each member eagerly doing his or her part." "This is the family of well-known potter Stanislaw Luba, preparing pieces for an upcoming exhibit in Kielce." "Here's another master" " Kitowski." "He specializes exclusively in fiigurines." "The favorite motifs in his work are scenes from country life, which he studies in great detail and depicts faithfully in his compositions." "While the men work on the potter's wheel, the women prepare the glaze." "In the high temperature of the kiln, glaze and clay unite to create the beautiful sheen and vivid color of the fiinal product." "Firing is the last step in the process" "It lasts many hours and requires long vigils at the kiln." "When Pastuszkiewicz tells of the history of pottery making, an art almost as ancient as mankind, stories and legends pour forth." "The most beautiful tells of a bell forged from Ilza clay whose ringing could be heard throughout all Poland." "When the ceramics are removed from the kiln, the long process is over." "Little Jasia must be the fiirst to see how her little bird came out." "Kosiarski's daughter faithfully carries on her father's tradition." "As a child, she observed him at work." "Her favorite themes are richly plumed birds and the legendary character of Mr. Twardowski." "Pottery from Ilza is very popular and is sold in stores carrying traditional country and folk art." "Most of Ilza's potters are landless farmers who've been settled here for generations." "They're keenly interested in the everyday administration of their cooperative." "The central offiice for cooperatives offers a helping hand." "For instance, this meeting is focused on two issues of importance to the cooperative:" "building a new shop and founding a pottery school." "The shop is currently under construction." "CHILDREN'S POTTERY CONTEST AT ILZA" "The school is also an important matter." "These children must be given an opportunity to develop their talents." "The older potters closely follow the younger artists'progress, critiquing their work and welcoming new themes, happy that their old tradition is not forgotten." ""Your talent and art, "" "Stanislaw Pastuszkiewicz tells the young contestants," ""combined with assistance from the state, will preserve and further develop the rich tradition of folk ceramics. "" "Yes, art schools of every level eagerly await these young artists." "A new cadre of folk artists is growing up." "Inspired by the creativity of the Polish people, they will continue the tradition of progressive and realistic national art in Poland." "THE END"