Grzegorz Ciećka is a master of woodcut printing and hand-printed textiles. His work centers on the meticulous reconstruction of historic regional patterns, alongside original motifs inspired by traditional designs. Using a simple knife, he carves his matrices from linden wood. For paper prints, he employs traditional oil-based inks, while for textiles, he uses pigments of lampblack and ultramarine mixed with a linseed oil base.

Grzegorz’s affinity for wood is a family legacy spanning several generations of carpenters and joiners; both his father and maternal uncle held the title of Master Joiner. Another pivotal figure was his grandfather’s cousin, Mieczysław Zaborniak—known as the last of the Brusno stonemasons—who first sparked Grzegorz’s fascination with folk art. This deep-rooted family connection eventually evolved into a dedicated practice, specifically focused on the art of woodcutting.

“Most of my family is tied to the Płazów parish and its surroundings,” Grzegorz explains. “My involvement with the Płazów woodcut began in 2016 through a collaboration with the Ethnographic Museum in Kraków. During the Folkowisko Festival, we began promoting this intangible cultural heritage within the Lubaczów district and organizing the local community around the idea of a woodcut revival.”

This collaborative effort led to a significant milestone: the inclusion of these efforts in the National Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The restoration of these woodcutting traditions naturally led Grzegorz to revive the art of hand-printed linen as well. He continues to refine these crafts through prestigious scholarships from the National Institute of Rural Culture and Heritage and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Grzegorz serves as the Vice-President of the “Folkowisko” Borderland Cultural Animation Association and is a member of the Tegit et Protegit Association. At his stall, visitors can find traditional woodcut prints on paper as well as patterned, hand-printed textiles.

The revival and development of the Płazów woodcut tradition were officially recognized in 2022 with an entry into the National Register of Good Practices for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Contact
www: drzeworyt.ziemialubaczowska.pl
e-mail: drzeworytnia@gmail.com