TUC-student Marco Vargas only used file and saw when he designed the two door leaves. It gave him a 2. place in the competition Tomorrow's Cultural Heritage.

All art works entered for the competition will be exhibited at Hadeland Glassverk, Norway’s reknown glass factory and design institution, in December this year.

Marco Vargas - a 2nd year bachelor student of folk art and working with wood as his material - won 2nd place for his design of two new wooden door leaves with carvings inspired by carvings from the old Juvestoga log cabin, now featured at the West Telemark museum.

The jury said about his work that it was a great idea, representing a fine and interesting way of carrying on traditional art in a moderen environment. Marco had completely forgot about the competition when he was informed that he had placed second.

- I was very surprised. I made the door leaves on a workshop during the Rauland Winter Festival in February, and haven’t even given it a thought since then, Marco says.

Marco Vargas won 2nd prize (NOK 15.000) for his design of two door leaves.

The prize of NOK 15.000 is coming in handy, as Marco has already decided to spend part of the prize money to buy new tools.

Praised for good craftmanship
Birgit Bergljot Folk Vollen, who graduated from TUC with a bacehlor’s degree in Folk Art specialized in work with meta in the spring of 2010, placed 3rd. She had made rings using the filigree technique, and the jury found this to be exclusive craftmanship. She was also praised for her courage to use this technique to shape new designs. 1st prize went to a student from Akershus University College.

The exhibition at Hadeland Glassverk will open on Friday, December 3, at 1:00 pm.

Stipend from Telemark County
And it doesn’t stop here. Last week Ingrid Skåland Eriksen, another TUC graduate with a bacehelor’s degree in Folk Art and specializing in textiles, received Telemark County’s stipend for trades and crafts.

This elegant ring, made by Birgit Bergljot Wollen, Telemark University College, placed 3rd in the competition.

The stipend, which amounts to NOK 60.000, is awarded to someone who combines tradition and innovation in his or her trade or craft. Ingrid will use her stipend to go to India to study ikat and print techniques to use in her future work.