Oravský Biely Potok is a rural commune in the Tvrdošín County. The village dates back to 1567 and it was an esteemed centre of stone craft and folk sculpting, especially religious one for more than two centuries, from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The local sculptors created many shrines, wayside crosses, statues of saints as well as gravestones which you can come across the whole Slovakian region of Orava and neighbouring Polish regions of Żywiec and Podhale.

The stone craft traditions date back to the beginnings of the 17th century. Sandstone which was excavated in three local quarries was used for making millstones and was also used as a building material. Later it was also used for making artistic objects. The most famous sculpting family was the family of Belopotocký.

Today the rural commune authorities together with Orava Culture Centre in Dolný Kubín are the institutions that are trying to revive these old traditions. The plein-air sculpting has been organised here since 2006 and artists from Slovakia and Poland participate in it. Their works can be seen outside the rural commune building (in the lapidarium of stone sculptures and bas-reliefs) and around the church building. The sculptures and the reliefs placed on the stubs and daises look like the remains of the ancient civilisation. Some are finished and some abandoned during the work due to deficiencies of the material. They portray animals, mythical creatures, scenes from the life of Jesus, figures of saints, everyday scenes or torsoes of different sizes. In the future, the authorities are planning to build the roof over this plein air exposition in order to facilitate artists’ work regardless the weather and to protect their works against unfavourable weather conditions.

Lapidárium kamenných plastík a reliéfov
027 42 Oravský Biely Potok, Oravský Biely Potok 132
Obecný úrad
tel. (+421) 43 539 54 11
e-mail: starosta@oravskybielypotok.sk
www.oravskybielypotok.sk