Firma by Sanja
in
New York
NY Times
on Slovenian
Wines
page 6 >
page 2 & 3 >
Call for
Applications:
EUNIC Interns
page 7 & 8 >
NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, VOLUME 9, NUMBER 4
Slovenian
Cultural
Day in
New York
Since
1946,
on
February 8, Slovenians have
observed its Cultural Day, a
national holiday honoring
Slovenia’s foremost poet,
France
Prešeren
(18001849), also the author of
Slovenian national anthem’s
lyrics.
Every
year,
various
cultural events are organized
on the occasion throughout
Slovenia, and Slovenian societies
all over the world commemorate
Slovenian Cultural Day with
exhibitions, concerts, poetry
readings and other cultural
events.
Embassy of Slovenia
2410 California Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008,
USA
T: +1 202 386 66 01
E: [email protected]
washington.embassy.si
4Saxess Quartet: Lev Pupis - soprano saxophone, Primož Fleischman - tenor
saxophone, Dejan Prešiček - baritone saxophone, Oskar Laznik - alto saxophone, performing at the premises of St. Cyril’s Church in Manhattan.
In cooperation with the
Slovenian Embassy in Washington,
the Slovenian community in New
York marked the Cultural Day
by organizing a concert by the
4Saxess saxophone quartet, which
took place on Sunday, January 27
at the premises of St. Cyril’s church
in East Village.
twitter.com/SLOembassyUSA
facebook.com/SLOembassyUSA
The church established
by Slovenes already in 1916, is
nowadays managed by Father
Krizolog Cimerman, as it remains
a place for cultural gathering of
the Slovenian community in New
York, thus once a month cultural
events are organized under
leadership by Dr. Silvester Lango.
Address by Ambassador Roman Kirn on the occasion of Slov- Opening remarks were given by Dr. Silvester Lango, who
enian Cultural Day.
often organizes cultural events for Slovenians in New York.
Around 60 guests were
first addressed by Ambassador
Roman Kirn, who emphasized
that Slovenians as a nation had
been formed by means of culture
as he pointed out Prešeren’s
contribution to Slovenia’s national
identity. The ambassador also
stressed that culture has secured
for Slovenians a space in Europe,
adding that Maribor last year
bore the title of the European
capital of culture.
The quartet 4Saxess
performed
music
and
arrangements
of
Slovenian
traditional songs by Slovenian
composers Igor Lunder, Vid
Pupis, Janez Gregorc and Lojze
Kranjčan as well as American
classic tunes from Porgy and
Bess by George Gershwin.
From right: Ambassador and Mrs. Kirn, p. Krizolog
Cimerman and Mr. and Mrs. Kamin. Mr. Kamin is also a
representative for the U.S. at the Goverment’s Council
for Slovenians Abroad.
After the concert, the
guests gathered for a small
reception, as the quartet headed
to Connecticut to perform at
the University of Hartford. On
Wednesday they also held a
concert in Salisbury, MD, an
event organized by the Embassy
of Slovenia in cooperation with
World Artists’ Experiences.
Friendly gathering of the Slovenian community after the event.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 2
CULTURE
Firma by Sanja in New York
Following
a
very
successful
presentation
in
RSPOP-up New York in 2011,
Slovenian designer Sanja Grcić
came back to NYC with her
collection Inside Straight. In
the meantime, Sanja opened
in Ljubljana her store Koda
386 (international dial code for
Slovenia), which was proclaimed
by The New York Times Travel as
one of the best designers’ corners
in town: http://www.nytimes.
com/slideshow/2012/11/18/
travel/18Ljubljana-6.html.
This time, the New York
presentation of designer work
of her brand Firma, moreover,
coincided with the New York
Fashion Week and included:
a sale exhibition (prodajna
razstava) and a showroom
presentation for agents and
clients as well as lectures and
workshops at several universities
and art centers. Sanja presented
her line in a showroom as part
of the POPUP of the RSPOP
designer store with an opening
reception on January 15,
featuring Slovenian wines by Edi
Simčič.
The
Firma-by-Sanja
style is described as Street
Couture: instinctive, innovative
and alternative, with clever
detailing and a slight sporty
touch, as the collection Inside
Straight offers a combination
of retro classical tailoring style
and urban metropolitan chic.
Traditional tailoring elements
are transformed into modern
silhouette, extended with a
Kekec hat (a bow to a Slovene
film character), which gives it a
touch of eternity. The collection
was on display at the Roger
Smith Hotel on Lexington
Avenue through January 31.
The presentation was
attended by many recognized
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 3
stylists,
fashion
designers,
photographers and fashion
journalists such as Sarah
Scaturro of the Costume
Institute Metropolitan Museum
of Art, Ariele Elia of the Museum
at FIT, Abigail Doan of EccoEco,
Maria Isabel Gouverneur of
Parsons, Whitney Mercurio of
Nine West, Titania Inglis of TI
fashion designer, Tom Sohung of
Sohungdesign, and many more.
The event was covered by The
Wild magazine, and Ecouterre
Magazin published an interview
with the designer.
On February 7 and 8,
Sanja Grcić will participate in
the Fashion Colloquium on
Parsons The New School of
Design, and during February 11
and 18 her trademark, Firma by
Sanja, will be represented at the
Independent Designer Pop Shop
fair at Chelsea Market.
More information: http://
w w w. fa c e b o o k . c o m/ p a g e s/
F i r m a - L j u b l j a n a - b y- S a n j a Grcic/179198485497176
TOURISM
Cerkno
Panoramic view of Cerkno.
Cerkno lies in the
Cerkljansko region at the border
of the Prealps and the Dinaric
world, along the Cerknica creek,
and only an hour–and-a-half
drive from Ljubljana. The area
was populated already by the
Celts and Illyrians, and then later
by the Romans in the Roman
Empire, when a transportation
route was established between
the Škofja Loka Hills, the Cerkno
Hills, the Tolmin region and the
Friuli–Venezia Giulia region. The
proof of the early settlements is
the paleontological cave Divje
Babe, located on the steep
slopes above the Idrijca valley,
where priceless remains of the
ice age man (stone tools) and
numerous bones of the cave
bear, especially the 55,000 years
old Neanderthal bone flute, the
oldest instrument in the world,
were found.
The Cerkno region has
it all: the intact nature with
remote green valleys, romantic
ravines, broad forests and sunny
plateaus. The Idrijca River is a
paradise for sports fishermen,
and is characterized by the pure
marble trout, which is bred in
the gully Zakojška grapa. In the
summer, the Idrijca is visited by
many bathers, mostly near the
bar called Kurnk na Reki. The
Čerenščica torrent has carved
many pools, waterfalls, and
fossil pots – the typical Karst
phenomenon that appears on
the limestone basics.
A steep path with small
wooden bridges leads to Partisan
Hospital Franja, which is located
deep in the gorge. The complex
of the hospital consists of 14
wooden barracks and several
auxiliary facilities, constructed
between December 1943 and
May 1945. It was among the
best equipped secret partisan
hospitals with an operating
room, X-ray, disability ward and
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 4
even an electric plant. It could
admit up to 100 wounded,
and provided treatment for a
total of 578 persons, especially
those seriously wounded.
Partisan hospital Franja,
which is a cultural monument of
national importance, is also on
the UNESCO’s Tentative List of
World Heritage, and bears the
European Heritage Label.
In the vicinity of Hospital
Franja, there is the Kamlonarše
homestead, which is a typical
example of an architecturally
interesting legacy of the Cerkno
region – roughly 200-year
old rural, rustic house with a
stable, pigsty, a hayrack with
round stone pillars, a blacksmith
workshop and a bee-house.
The Zakojca village was
home of an important Slovenian
writer, journalist and politician,
France Bevk, whose homestead
Partisan hospital Franja, which is a
cultural monument of national importance, is also on the UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage.
In Paleontological cave Divje Babe the 55,000 years old Neanderthal bone
flute, the oldest instrument in the world, was found.
is open to visitors throughout
the year. Its ethnological part
presents the typical cottage living
environment at the beginning
of the 20th century, while the
other part, through books,
photographs and other items,
throws light on the writer’s life.
An important element
that shapes local identity are
the »laufarji«, one of the most
recognizable traditional carnival
groups in Slovenia. They are
known for face masks, carved
from linden wood, and clothes
made from natural material,
such as ivy, spruce, straw and
moss. The central figure is
“Pust”, accompanied by other
figures, called “ta bršljanasti”,
“ta tirjesta”, “ta star”, “ta stara”,
“lamant”, etc. There are 25 of
them in all and their scenario
provides the most dramatically
complete plot of all Slovene
festival masks, where “Pust” is
blamed for all the bad that has
happened in the past year and is
in the end sentenced to death,
to be killed by a woodman’s
mallet.
A permanent exhibition,
entitled “Pust is to blame!
– A Story about the Cerkno
laufarija,” was opened in the
Cerkno Museum in 2006, where
one can also see the “Cerkno
Region Through the Centuries”
exhibition with an integral
presentation of the historical
development
and
several
temporary displays. This year,
the “Pust“carnival events will
take place on February 9 to 12.
The area offers many
ways to spend the holidays very
actively. One can go hiking on
the surrounding mountains of
Porezen, Blegoš, Kopa, Kojca,
Črni vrh and others, but the
Cerkno hills are also perfect
for cycling or hunting in an
unspoiled nature. Additionally,
the tourist farm Pri Flandru offers
horseback riding in enclosed
space or in spacious forests and
grasslands, with an option of a
few days touring and camping
beneath the open sky.
For the skiing enthusiasts,
the Cerkno Ski Center offers
more than 170 acres of beautiful
and well prepared areas. The
center is a family resort with
approximately 11 miles of ski
runs suitable for beginners,
intermediate and experienced
skiers. At the top of the main lift
station, there is a beautiful, alpine
style self-service restaurant with
a large terrace and panoramic
view on the surrounding
mountains. Above the indoor
restaurant, there is a children’s
play area with caves, slides, a
television, and rest areas. There
are also six luxurious ski-todoor apartments adjacent to
the restaurant with a sauna and
balconies. Additionally, a Snow
Fun Park is open to all adrenalin
seekers, including half pipe for
snow boarders and acrobatic
skiers.
Face masks of “laufarji” are carved from linden wood.
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 5
PRESS
New York Times on Slovenian Wines
On January 24, the The
New York Times published
on its web site an article on
Slovenian vibrant wine culture
by The Times’s wine critic Eric
Asimov. The writing, titled From
Slovenia’s Ancient Hills, was
paired on January 28 with an
article by Florence Fabricant on
What to Eat with Slovene White
Wines.
Asimov writes how in
Slovenia, at least in its western
region of Primorska, wine and
regional
identity
transcend
politics. In the green hills where
the country abuts the northeast
Italian region of Friuli-Venezia
Giulia, little physical evidence
of a border exists besides a
few empty guard posts. The
vineyards of the Italian Collio
continue into the Slovene Brda,
where producers like Movia and
Edi Simcic seem very much a part
of this particular culture, though
distinctively Slovene as well.
Beyond Primorska, the
wine industry is growing in
the regions of Podravje in the
northeastern end of the country
and in Posavje to the southeast.
The wines are different from
those in the west, generally made
from other grapes and in other
styles. While Slovenia produces
plenty of red wines, whites are
far easier to find.
The writer was fascinated
by the textures and subtle
flavors as he, Florence Fabricant,
Joe Campanale, the beverage
director and a proprietor of four
New York restaurants, including
L’Apicio in the East Village,
and Chris Cannon, a veteran
restaurateur who is working
on projects in Manhattan and
Morristown, NJ, participated
in the wine panel sampling 20
bottles of white wine from recent
vintages, tasting diversity of
styles and types of wine.
The whole article is
http://www.
available
at:
nytimes.com/2013/01/30/
dining/reviews/sloveniasvineyards-and-a-vibrant-wineculture-rebound.html?ref=dining
COMPETENCE CENTERS
The CC for Biomedical Engineering (CC BME)
Competence
Center
for
Biomedical
Engineering
(CC BME) is an E.U. regional
competency center, coordinated
by Laser and Health Academy, a
nonprofit organization, dedicated
to the promotion of research,
education and publishing in the
field of laser medicine.
CC BME consists of 12
partners, focused on global
market leadership. Partners in
CC BME are key institutions of
higher education (University of
Ljubljana, University of Maribor),
industrial
representatives
(Gorenje, Fotona, Iskra Medical,
Instrumental technologies and
Optotek) and experts in the
field of biomedical engineering
and medicine (Laser and Health
Academy, the University Medical
Center of Ljubljana, the Institute
of Oncology, the University
Rehabilitation Institute and the
Jožef Stefan Institute) that wish
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 6
to expand upon their existing
avenues of cooperation to
achieve new levels of synergy
and thus achieve better market
results.
The program of the CC
BME is primarily focused on the
research and development of
products and applications helping
to reduce the invasiveness of
medical treatments and increase
the reliability and accuracy of
diagnostic process. Within five
projects, over 120 researchers
cooperate to accelerate the
development of new therapeutic
sources, new or significantly
improved
monitoring
and
diagnostic sensors, and control
systems for direct or remote
control and supervision of
medical devices, patients or
therapeutic treatments.
Biomedical engineering
as such is known as one of the
world’s most promising and
fastest growing industries. Rapid
technological developments are
being fuelled by breakthroughs in
basic sciences and engineering,
as well as by increasing global
demand for more affordable,
effective, and minimally invasive
medical treatments. The vision
of CC BME is to put Slovenia on
the global map as an incubator
of highly innovative companies
that build the most commercially
interesting biomedical devices in
the world.
For more information,
http://www.
please
visit
bmecenter.com/en/.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Culture and Communications Interns for Baltimore
EUNIC
Washington,
a coalition of E.U. member
states’ national institutes of
culture:
Alliance
Française,
Austrian Cultural Forum, British
Council, Goethe-Institut, Hellenic
Foundation for Culture, Instituto
Camoes, Italian Cultural Institute,
Romanian Cultural Institute, and
the Embassies of Slovenia, Cyprus,
Denmark,
Finland,
Ireland,
Romania, Spain and Sweden,
aims to present edgy, creative,
diverse and thought-provoking
cultural and educational programs
to showcase Europe.
In 2013 and 2014, EUNIC
Washington will partner with
Baltimore Office of Promotion
& The Arts for an ambitious
18-month project highlighting the
positive role of culture in urban
development. The Baltimore
Office of Promotion & the Arts
is the Arts Council for the City of
Baltimore, addressing the needs
of the arts community through
arts and cultural activities and the
development of grant programs.
The office also produces festivals,
special events and promotions
for the city. The project is titled
“Transit: Creative Placemaking
in Baltimore”. It will nurture
interaction between the City of
Baltimore and several European
cities to reflect the impact of
culture on city revitalization.
Promotion and the Arts. He/she
will assist in the coordination
of the initiative, logistics and
communications.
Duties include, but are
not limited to:
Responsibilities
Job Description
The position of the Culture
and
Communications
Intern
entails a three- to five-month
internship and will be based
in Baltimore at the Baltimore
Office of Promotion & The Arts.
The primary responsibilities of
this position are to assist in the
administration of the culture
program and communication
activities, coordination of film
programs and panel discussions,
to provide related support to the
Cultural Affairs Assistant Director
(BOPA) and work as liaison with
the EUNIC in Washington, DC.
The intern will provide
liaison between EUNIC members
and the Baltimore Office of
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 7
•
Assists in the daily
administration
of
“Transit”
initiative, where it:
•
Assists in the coordination
of meetings
•
Composes
and
edits
correspondence
•
Assists in the maintenance
of files
•
Researches
information
and data on Europe and cooperates
with the European embassies in
Washington to receive information
about Europe, and places it on the
website of this project
•
Assists in the coordination
of meetings, including:
•
Records and transcribes
meeting minutes
•
Assists in communication
of meeting updates, agendas, and
minutes.
•
Assists
in
the
communications
•
Creates communications
materials
•
Updates “Transit” website
•
Posts
information
on
social media to relay program
information as needed
•
Assists
in
event
management
•
Keeps
contact
with
stakeholders in programs (such
as the residency, film, panels)
such as representatives of Arts
& Entertainment Districts of
Baltimore, MICA and others
•
Coordinates the logistics of
event planning including working
with, host locations, artists…
•
Prepares
data
and
information for the residency
program offered to artists and
experts in urban development,
Required knowledge, skills,
and abilities
The ideal candidate is
an inquisitive, independent, and
communicative individual
•
Fluent in English
•
Student
of
cultural
management or communications
•
Able to coordinate multiple
partnership projects
Conditions
•
The intern must be citizen
of an E.U. Member State
•
The intern will be under
an education visa and will be
responsible for his/her visa fees,
health insurance, and transport to
the United States
•
The internship periods will
start on March 1, 2013, and end
on June 13, 2014
•
This is an unpaid position
with a monthly stipend of €220
(approximately $295)
•
Monthly transit pass for Baltimore
provided
•
Housing provided at the
Maryland Institute College of Art
Internship
Baltimore
period(s)
in
•
March 1 through July 31,
2013 -- deadline for applications
is February 15, 2013
•
August
19
through
December 14, 2013 -- deadline for
applications is May 15, 2013
•
January 13, 2014 through
June 13, 2014 - deadline for
applications is October 15, 2013
All eligible candidates should
e-mail their CVs and cover letters
KGreen@promotionandarts.
to
com
TO DO LIST
Resistance of the Earth/Upor Zemlje in NYC
Earth Resistance is a multimedia project that combines several artistic genres from video, 16
mm film, dance to live musical performances. It premiered on December 17, 2012, at the Janez
Trdina Cultural Center in Novo mesto in Slovenia as the final ceremony of a partner town of the
European Capital of Culture 2012. The theme of the project covers the world of natural disasters
like earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes and tornados. The project Earth Resistance
comments worldwide through the language of images, instruments, voice and solo performances
on natural catastrophes that occur on our planet. Original music by the Slovenian author Igor
Lumpert. Organized in collaboration by the Czech Center New York the Consulate General of
Croatia and the Embassy of Slovenia.
When: February 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Czech Center New York at the Bohemian National Hall (321 E 73rd Street (between 1st
and 2nd Avenues), New York, NY 10021
More information: http://new-york.czechcentres.cz/program/event-details/resistance-of-theearth/
Link to St. Joseph’s Church in Bethlehem, PA
St. Joseph’s Church was founded by a group of Slovenian immigrants who settled in Bethlehem,
PA. The first Mass was celebrated in the church, which has a very unique Slovenian character, on
September 28, 1917. Follow the festivities and activities of Slovenian community in Bethlehem
and like: St. Joseph’s Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/StJosephChurchBethlehemPA
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 8
Perpetuum Jazille in Washinton, DC
Perpetuum Jazzile performs with a passion everything from pop to soul, funk, swing, bossa nova,
and gospel. The group, featuring 35 powerful voices, is a massive global sensation, having toured
to sell-out crowds in Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, and Canada. Along with vocal percussions,
performances include an incredible array of drums and choreographed hand movements that
simulate storms. Perpetuum Jazzile has garnered millions of YouTube hits of their dynamic live
performances of pop classics by Lady Gaga (“Telephone”), Cyndi Lauper (“True Colors”), Earth,
Wind & Fire, Gloria Estefan (“Conga”), Bee Gees and Toto (“Rosanna” and “Africa,” which has
scored over 14 million views alone).
When: Thursday, March 7, 2013, at 8 p.m.
Where: Lisner Auditorium, GeorgeWashington University, 730 21st St., N.W.
More information and tickets:
http://www.lisner.org/eventdetails.asp?id=772
Slovenian Kurentovanje in Cleveland
The Slovenian National Home, Slovenian Museum and Archives, St. Clair Superior Development
Corp. and Sterle’s Country House, in partnership with local businesses and institutions, bring a
piece of the most popular carnival in Slovenia, Kurentovanje (koo-rent-oh-VAHN-yeh), to St. Clair
Avenue. This cultural event, connecting ethnology, culture, arts, and people from all over Europe,
has been celebrated in Slovenia for the past 50 years. The central figure of the carnival, the
Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers.
The festival in Cleveland will be free to the public. Visitors are encouraged to dress in costume as
they partake in the many different foods, wines, beers, music and dances of Slovenia and Eastern
Europe. A prize will be awarded for the best homemade Kurent costume.
Procession: Traditional Kurentovanje starts with a parade, which, commencing at 1:00 p.m., will
stretch through the neighborhood from St. Vitus’s Church on Lausche Ave. to the Slovenian National
Home on St. Clair Ave.
Explore: Beginning at 2:00 p.m., visitors can explore the Slovenian National Home as well as many
other storefront businesses in the area, which will feature samplings of food, spirits and music.
When: Saturday, February 23, 2013, from noon to 6 p.m.
More information:
Michael Fleming of the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation at (216)881-0644, ext. 103).
Celebrating Slovenian Cultural Day in CA
Orange Coast SNPJ Lodge 786 cordially invites you to attend an event celebrating Slovenian
Cultural Day. The program will feature the artwork of Dr. Kiar Mesko, a renowned artist in Slovenia
for his historical and biographical paintings. Also featured will be NASA physicist Dr. Dusan Petrac,
who will talk about the history of Slovenian independence and especially about his work in and
the contributions of several American-Slovenes to the space program both as astronauts and as
scientists. In addition to the interesting program, the food and wine of Slovenia will be offered.
Voluntary donations will be accepted for this event.
When: Saturday, February 23, 2013, from noon to 5:00 p.m. Program starts at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Clubhouse 3, Dining Room 2, 23822 Avenida Sevilla, Laguna Woods Village, CA 92637
More information: [email protected]
The weekly Embassy Newsletter, produced by the Embassy of Slovenia in Washington, is available on: www.washington.embassy.si.
Send us your comments or request for a subscription on: [email protected],
Editor: Nuška Zakrajšek
FEBRUARY 1, 2013, PAGE 9