Their Lives for Their Art

Just 20 kilometers outside hectic Moscow sits the tiny village of Zhostovo, unfazed by its proximity to the busy capital. Houses that line the main street have picture-perfect wooden lattices, carefully tended gardens, 

and it is clear that most who live here are not victims of the daily commute to the megapolis. In fact, even on a weekday one hears saws ringing in garages and can watch wood carvings taking shape in front yards. 

The saws and sculptures hint at the magic at work in this rural oasis: most of Zhostovo’s residents are artists and craftspeople, connected to the nearly two centuries of folk craft tradition that goes into the making of Zhostovo metal trays.