Art Colony
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On 3 August, 2001, we were at the opening of the traditional Rovinian art colony, whose works will be on display in the Town Museum of the city of Rovinj until 1 September
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On 3 August, 2001, we were at the opening of the traditional Rovinian art colony, whose works will be on display in the Town Museum of the city of Rovinj until 1 September. As with every year, the colony will be comprised of the various works of both young artists, many of whom are taking advantage of the colony to showcase their works for the first time, and established contemporary Croatian artists, such as Željko Hegedušića.
Looking back at the very beginning of the colony and its renowned history, its host, museum curator Argeo Curto, placed special emphasis on the year 1953 when, inspired by the creative atmosphere of the film festival in Pula, he decided to bring together a group of artists - Marcello Brajnovia, Zora Matie, Bruno Mascarelli, to name just a few - to present a joint exhibition as a means of striking the foundation for what is popularly known today as an "art colony". Remembering the justifiably romantic and artistic enthusiasm of the period, Curto uncovered for us that, due to the many celebrated and distinguished names from the world of art and entertainment who, through him, came to the city, Rovinj became famous as the Istrian Saint-Tropez.
Today, the atmosphere surrounding the colony is not as glamourous, but the enthusiasm and suspense surrounding it remain as electric as ever. We use the term suspense because each year a panel of judges comprised of erudite art critics, award valuable prizes to the colony's participants. And so it was that nummerable lovers of visual art gathered this year in the labrynth-like spaces of the city museum to applaud the works of artists such as Silva Šaria, who was awarded the first prize by the panel of judges for her work "Glass, spider-webs, dust" (Staklo, paueina, prah), 2001; Tomislav Brajnovia, who received the second-place prize for his installation under the title of "Sea" (More), 2001; Anselmo Tumpić, who took first place in the young artists category the second time for his "Beauty and the Beast" (Ljepotica i Zvijer), oil on nylon; and finally Ljubo Škrnjuga, who was awarded an honourary award by the city of Rovinj for his acrylic on canvas, titled "Church in Zagoria" (Crkva u Zagorju).
On top of the fact that 42 participants entered in this year's competition, it is important to emphasize that the Rovinian Art Colony, coupled with the popular Grisia, have for years been the two central art manifestations in Rovinj, if not elsewhere in Istria and beyond. The mayor of Rovinj welcomed the public and participants to the colony on behalf of the city of Rovinj, making mention of the fact that this "family-like" event could not have found a better home than loyal Rovinj. Argeo Curto went on to congratulate those who made the event possible, with special thanks set aside for the Tourist Association of Rovinj, which is chaired by Dario Einia, who have unsparingly supported this event for many years in a row, as well as other events which are of special importance to the city of Rovinj.
