From the expert for monastery work to the master crib builder: Two men and four women were awarded the Hans Samhaber plaque yesterday at a ceremony in the Mayr inn in Geiersberg (Ried district) by the Forum Volkskultur. Personalities who are involved in folk culture are honored.
President Herbert Scheiböck, cultural director Margot Nazzal and ex-governor Josef Pühringer presented the plaques. At the same time, the latter was made an honorary member of the forum, which represents 130,000 members in 25 associations – from brass bands and choirs to the Stelzhamerbund. At the festival, the connecting power of folk culture was particularly emphasized in front of around 300 guests from all areas of folk culture. “Folk culture is what makes everyday life. Without it we would be much poorer,” said presenter and Volksliedwerk chairwoman Sandra Ohms. Josef Pühringer – he came despite a double broken rib that he sustained while cycling on vacation – said: “Folk culture is never outdated. It has to adapt. If you do it right, it is always up to date. “
The plaque has existed since 2015. 14 personalities have been honored so far. It is named after Hans Samhaber, the doyen of Upper Austrian folk culture, who died a year ago on Saturday.
Rustic furniture fan
From the beautification club to the music club: Josef Plöchl was or is active in many clubs in Hirschbach. The 71-year-old, who came to the Mühlviertler community through marriage in 1973, made a special contribution to the Hirschbach farmhouse furniture. Thanks to his joint initiative, his wife’s parental home, the Edlmühle, became a museum. He was chairman of the association for many years. The colorful painting on boxes, chests and beds had its heyday from 1770 and made the community well known. The former postmaster became a farmhouse furniture fan when he discovered a painted bedside table at home. Since then, the arts and crafts have not let him go.
crib builder
Even as a child, Karl Hennerbichler loved to build cribs, but it only really became a passion when he retired. The 81-year-old has now built or renovated more than 50 cribs himself. After retiring as a police officer, he co-founded the crèche friends in Steyr, and since 2011 he has also been the state chairman. The father of three adult children is particularly committed to preserving the Nagelschmied cribs that were made in Garsten and Steyr from the beginning of the 19th century. Karl Hennerbichler is convinced that no household should be without a nativity scene: “In my opinion, there is no Christmas without a nativity scene.”
lace expert
From traditional costumes to christening gowns, from beadwork to weaving: Anna Kohler has dedicated herself to handicrafts. Lace-making is particularly close to her heart. In 2018, the Gunskirchner brought the Austrian Lace Congress to her home town. “It’s important to me not to let old handicraft techniques fall into oblivion so that they remain alive in the future,” says the mother of three daughters, who also works as a sacristan in two churches. The 65-year-old runs a small specialist shop called “Kunstfäden”. Anna Kohler regularly designs exhibitions and looks after the handicraft museum in Traunkirchen.
New honorary member
“I had a ‘life sentence’ from Volkskultur,” said Josef Pühringer, Upper Austria’s off-duty governor, yesterday when he was made an honorary member of the Forum Volkskultur. His first memory of folk culture dates back to his childhood, when he recited an “infinitely long” Mother’s Day poem at a Mother’s Day celebration – the 72-year-old is still President of the Austrian Folk Song Association today. As a culture officer in the state government (1991 to 2017), he paid great attention to folk culture. His term of office included the founding of the Forum for Folk Culture and the opening of the House of Folk Culture.
embroidery specialist
Karin Eder from Desselbrunn has specialized in several handicraft techniques. “Even as a child, I liked to do handicrafts,” says the 58-year-old. Since then she has designed more than 3000 embroidery and handicraft patterns, which first appeared in Burda Verlag and later in magazines throughout Europe. Eder wrote several books, some with cross-stitch motifs. “I design in almost all techniques,” says Eder. Lectures have taken her to Italy. It is important to her to explain the instructions in such a way that even beginners can understand them. But it is also important to Eder to preserve the traditional: she collects old handicraft notebooks and books to preserve knowledge.
Gold Hood Boss
It all began in 1979 when Monika Schietz embroidered a gold bonnet. “I liked this job so much,” the 76-year-old recalls. She joined the Goldhauben group in her home town of St. Gotthard, which she would later lead. In 1986 she became chairwoman for 30 local groups with 1,300 members in the Urfahr area – a job that she gave up last year after 35 years. “The gold hood is a cultural asset,” the Mühlviertler is convinced. As a district chairwoman, she also organized many charitable activities. “During my tenure, we raised more than one million euros,” says Schietz, who also passed on her passion to her granddaughter Hannah.
monastery work pro
Monastery work is Birgit Aigner’s passion. These are filigree decorative elements made of gold or silver wire, wax or paper, which were made in monasteries from the 15th century to embellish relics or devotional objects. The 49-year-old has been in charge of the monastery work group in Upper Austria for nine years and passes on her knowledge in courses. It is very important to her to also convey the historical background. “It’s a very contemplative, contemplative activity,” says Aigner, who lives with her family in Krenglbach and works full-time in the office of the Volksbildungswerk, describing the fascination of this manual work.
Source: Nachrichten
