Grisia 2001
###
On 12th of August 2001 in the open air in Rovinj, 36th traditional »Grisia” was held in the street of the same name.
###
On 12th of August 2001 in the open air in Rovinj, 36th traditional »Grisia” was held in the street of the same name.
This biggest street exhibition in this area was extremely well visited this year too. Artists, both children and academy vedettas of Istrian and Croatian art of painting have been presenting their works with same privilege since 1965. Placed in a cramped manner, those works make a colourful and recognizable string of art whish adapts to the long, steep and serpentine road resembling a narrow river that flows into the well-known belvedere in the centre of which the impressive St. Euphemia's Church is situated. Numerous visitors who are invited to pass through that old, cobbled street of Rovinj from 10 a. M. Till 7 p. M. Besides practicing the original Rovinj step dance on slippery, stone steps, they are becoming skilful traders by taking part at the traditional art sale, haggling with artists in order to get their favourite piece of art as cheap as possible.
Trade, crowd of curious people and total freedom of art are three main ingridiance, which make the Grisia street main cultural and artistic attraction on that biggest Croatian peninsula. Grisia has always been known by bizarre and provocative appearance of some individual artists. This year is happened with a respected performer from Rovinj. Last year he stood like crucified Jesus under the blazing sun in front of the church and caused strong reactions from church and municipal authorities. This year, to everyone's surprise he stimulated the event with a mixture of animal excrements and his own blood what made visitors turn their eyes over.
So that Grisia would not be only a sheer presenting of artistic ideas under the open sky, the organizer, the Town Museum, together with other institutions and well-known caterers are awarding prizes of traditional value. The greatest attention is of course given to most valued prizes. These are traditional cheese (second award), which is this year given to Ljiljana Vlačić, a talented painter from Rovinj, and traditional smoked ham (first award), which has for the second time been awarded to well known Tomislav Brajnović from Rovinj.
A precious redemptory ward from Rovinj Tourist association should be mentioned, which has this year been awarded to Robert Pauletti, An academy painter from Pula.
At the end we pick out some words from a commentary written by Boris Biletić, a well-known poet, for this year Grisia event.
»Although of short duration, Grisia is, in its best and most truthful moments, an individual effort and tendency towards beautiful, good and truthful. Finally, Grisia being an atelier under the open sky is the heart of Rovinj.«
