Potamia of Thassos is a village located 12 km. from the port. It is the home of the great sculptor Polygnotos Vagis. He was born in this village in 1892 but emigrated in 1911 in the US, where he excelled in painting and sculpture. He died in 1965. In August 1981 a museum dedicated to his life and work was founded in Potamia. It is housed in a two-story stone building in the center of the village, which formerly housed the elementary school.
In the museum you will see 98 sculptures and 15 paintings dating back to 1920-1960. The works of the first creative period of Vagis (1919-1930) are inspired by the ancient Greek mythology and history. The materials used by Vagis are gypsum, copper and marble. The works of the second period (after 1932) are characterized by the concept abstraction. For this creative period, the artist used copper, cement, marble, wood and granite.
Most of the art work is in the form of heads, fish, and shaped moons. Twenty-five of his projects are very small (miniature works) and are displayed all together in a display case. But there are larger projects, such as the Bear with her Newborn and the Universe. Some of Vagis’ work is also exhibited in the Municipal Museum of Kavala and in an open air space in Thessaloniki.
Open hours
- Tuesday - Saturday, 09:30-12:30 & 18:00-21:00
- Sunday, 10:00-12:30
Tickets
- Free admission.
