The Kravata association of Croatian artists in Switzerland includes Iris Grandić-Smokvina, Sibila Bartod-Knežević, Zlata Marija König, Dušanka Jablanović, Nada Schönenberger-Petrak, Đurđa Milković, Željka Bratoljić-Melkay and association president Sandi Paučić.
An exhibition opened at the Dorfmuseum Lengnau in the Swiss town of Lengnau AG, on 1 December featuring the paintings and sculptures of seven artists of the Kravata Group, an association of Croatian artists in Switzerland. The event marks the group’s twentieth anniversary.
The Kravata association of Croatian artists in Switzerland includes Iris Grandić-Smokvina, Sibila Bartod-Knežević, Zlata Marija König, Dušanka Jablanović, Nada Schönenberger-Petrak, Đurđa Milković, Željka Bratoljić-Melkay and association president Sandi Paučić.
The official opening was preceded by a delightful performance of selections from Mozart’s Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by flautist Eva Teller of Ennetbaden. She also performed Marin Marais’ Les Folies d’Espagne (Follies of Spain). The president of the Kravata association, art historian Sandi Paučić, then welcomed all of the gathered and thanked them for their turnout, in particular noting the presence of Croatian General Consul Hrvoje Cvitanović.
The association president spoke of the Kravata Group from its establishment in 1992 to the present day. The group was founded at the initiative of artist Božo Marijančić, who has in the meantime returned to the homeland, and at one point pooled over fifteen members. Their exhibitions in Swiss galleries and those of neighbouring countries including Croatia made a specific contribution to Croatian cultural life in Switzerland, but also to Swiss culture, and was well received both in the Swiss and Croatian media. The members of the Kravata Group—some professionals, some amateurs—expressed their artistic inspiration in various styles, always making for beautiful and fascinating events.
From their founding in 1992 Croatian culture in Switzerland has been successfully showcased in the frame of the Kravata Group by artists Božo Marijančić (founder), Sandi Paučić (president), Senka Wassmer-Bajlo, Niko Vidović, Đurđa Milković, Neven Srdarev, Mihajlo Nježić, Đurđica Haramina (passed away in 2012), Marlen Valčić-Thanner, Iris Grandić-Smokvina (secretary), Željko Miličić-Chily, Mirjana Zajes-Vulič, Pavle Marcetić, Zvonko Kamenicki, Zlata Marija König, Nevena König-Urlić, Marija Rumenberg, Željka Bratoljić-Melkay, Sonja Mustapić-Šaravanja, Dušanka Jablanović, Nada Schönenberger-Petrak, Anto Lukenda and Sibila Knežević-Bartod. Today the group includes seven remaining active artists and the group president, who no longer participates as an active artist, but opens their exhibitions and, as an art historian, provides expert reviews of the artwork presented.
The exhibition runs through to 16 December 2012. See the photo gallery at www.croatia.ch.