Vladimir Novak is a native of the town of Varaždin who spent some forty years in America working as a photographer, reporter and editor in Hollywood and as a chronicler and activist in the local Croatian community.
Vladimir Novak is a native of the town of Varaždin who has lived in America and worked as a photographer, reporter and editor in Hollywood and as a chronicler and activist in the local Croatian community.
Museum Wednesdays is a programme targeted to a broad audience and features exhibition, concerts, lectures, round table discussions, promotions and discussions on art with leading Varaždinians.
In the discussion before a packed auditorium at the Sermage Palace, Novak spoke of his relationship with Krešimir Filić, custodian and founder of the Museum of Varaždin. Novak said that he always had a special relationship with Filić, who was also his uncle.
Professor Filić really liked me and we were always in contact during my time in America. He always sent me his books, which was another way in which we kept in touch, recalled Novak. He noted the significance of the Novak-Filić family whose numerous donations in both art and culture have indebted Varaždin.
The tradition of making donations to the city museum (http://www.gmv.hr/zbirke.aspx?mid=1) continues with the Novak donation of Portrait of a Girl, an oil on canvas by an unknown master. According to museum employees the work is estimated to be worth twenty thousand euros.
Novak also recalled his collaboration with former American president Ronald Reagan, when they worked together on Reagan’s campaign for the Californian governorship. After Reagan was elected to the White House, says Novak, he was offered a position but declined choosing to “work rather on the job of head of the radio programme for Croatians in California and his work as a publicist” (Jutarnji List daily).