Etnolog 18 (2008)
DEDIŠČINA SLOVENSKIH ROČNIH DEL V AVSTRALIJI
Prvi arhiv ročnih del slovenskih izseljencev na spletu
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Na zamisel o razstavi ro~nih del Slovenk sem pri{la ob ogledu tovrstne razstave na Slovenskem festivalu v Slovenskem dru{tvu Melbourne leta 2004.1 Razstavljena je bila vrsta ~udovito izdelanih klekljanih ~ipk, vezenin, pletenin in izbor drugih izdelkov ro~nih del, ki so jih ustvarile Slovenke iz Melbourna in Viktorije. Zdelo se mi je, da si ta ustvarjalnost, ta kontinuiteta dedi{~ine ro~nih del zaslu`i ve~ji poudarek, ve~jo pozornost od zgolj, sicer redne, prisotnosti na slovenskih festivalih, a le kot del skupnih predstavitev.
O mo`nosti razstave slovenskih ro~nih del sem se potem pogovarjala s predsednico Slovenskega dru{tva Melbourne, ki se je takoj navdu{ila za zamisel. Spomnili sva se vrste ustvarjalk in navdu{enk v skupnosti, med drugim Anice Kodila, Vide Vojvoda, Lucije Srnec in Lidije ^u{in, za katere sva menili, da bodo pobudo gotovo podprle. Okvirni akcijski na~rt sem nato morala za nekaj ~asa odlo`iti, ker sem dva tedna pozneje odpotovala v Slovenijo, vendar sem bila odlo~ena, da ga bom po povratku znova aktivirala.
Bili so {e drugi na~rti, ki bi jih rada videla uresni~ene. Leta 2003 smo praznovali 25 let pou~evanja slovenskega jezika v Melbournu. Med dogodki ob tej prilo`nosti je bila razstava slovenskega arhiva Viktorijskega in{tituta za slovenistiko. Zdelo se mi je primerno, da bi tako razstavo predstavili tudi v Sloveniji, in upala sem, da bom zanjo lahko pritegnila Slovenski {olski muzej. Na~rt se je sicer izjalovil, vendar sem ob tem spoznala Da{o Koprivec, muzejsko svetovalko v Slovenskem etnografskem muzeju. Prvi~ sva se sre~ali na Konferenci o slovenskih izseljenkah na SAZU novembra 2004 in strinjali sva se, da imajo `enske klju~no vlogo pri ohranjanju slovenske dedi{~ine v tujini, zlasti na podro~ju tradicionalnih ro~nih del. Februarja 2005 sva se ponovno sre~ali
1 Mag. Aleksandra (Sa{a) Ceferin se je z dru`ino preselila v Avstralijo leta 1950. Na univerzi je diplomirala iz nem{ke literature in ve~ let je predavala na Oddelku za nem{ki jezik in Oddelku za splo{no in primerjalno knji`evnost. Kot profesorica nem{~ine in angle{~ine je bila koordinatorka fakultete, jezikovna svetovalka, vodja {olskih centrov in pomo~nica ravnatelja Viktorijske {ole za jezike. V dr`avni {olski sistem Avstralije je uvedla pouk slovenskega jezika, vklju~no z maturo, in razvila u~ni na~rt za srednjo stopnjo. Objavila je Slovenian Literary Reader (1984) in Slovenian Language in Australia (2003). Funkcije: ustanoviteljica in predsednica STAV (Zdru`enje slovenskih u~iteljev Viktorije) in ISSV Inc. (Viktorijski in{titut za slovenistiko), direktorica spleti{~a Thezaurus.com, ki je bilo prvi~ objavljeno 1998.
Aleksandra Ceferin
Srečanje avtoric razstave z izdelovalkami in izdelovalci v Geelongu maja 2006.
Leseno mizico in stolček, na katerem sedi mladi obiskovalec, je z pravljičnimi motivi poslikala Matilda Martinčič. Foto: Aleksandra Ceferin, Geelong, maj 2006.
Dedi{~ina slovenskih ro~nih del v Avstraliji
in nadaljevali razgovore. Najprej sva se spomnili na arhiv Viktorijskega in{tituta za slovenistiko. Ta je bil o~itno nekaj, kar spada v okvir Slovenskega {olskega muzeja, in nisem povsem opustila upanja, da bi muzej pritegnila k sodelovanju. Ob tem pa sta Da{a Koprivec in Slovenski etnografski muzej pokazala zanimanje za ro~na dela izseljenk.
To je bilo izhodi{~e na nadaljnje aktivnosti. Obe sva `eleli delati na projektu, ki bi bil realno uresni~ljiv. V funkciji predsednice Viktorijskega in{tituta za slovenistiko sem mag. Da{i Koprivec poslala vabilo za obisk Melbourna in raziskavo ro~nih del v slovenski skupnosti v de`eli Viktoriji.
Vse je potem potekalo hitro in
Koti~ek v domu Metke Lenar~i~; mizica je
pogrnjena s ti. po{tirkanim prtom, kakr{ne plete      gladko. Urad za Slovence v zamejstvu in zma a sj v 2o 0j 0d6o.m. Foto: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne,       po svetu je bil pripravljen sofnancirati
pobudo, uredili smo nastanitev za Da{o in njen obisk je bil na~rtovan za maj 2006.
Prepri~ana, da je pobuda pomembna za vso slovensko skupnost, sem le-to pozivala k sodelovanju tako, da sem obvestila vse slovenske organizacije v Viktoriji ter prosila za imena in telefonske {tevilke ustvarjalk ro~nih del. S pomo~jo Metke Lenar~i~, aktivne ~lanice skupnosti in koordinatorice slovenskega radijskega programa 3ZZZ, smo sre~anje z Da{o Koprivec organizirali v Centru slovenske skupnosti v mestu Kew.
Sre~anje, ki je bilo 2. maja, je bilo zelo dobro obiskano. Poleg `ensk so bili prisotni tudi mo{ki ustvarjalci. Andrej Poto~nik, v Avstraliji rojeni sin slovenskih star{ev, se je mednarodno uveljavil s stru`enimi lesenimi izdelki, Jo`e Ramuta je za~el delati z lesom, ko je preizku{al lesnoobdelovalni stroj, in Lojze Jeri~ je postal znan zaradi svojih mozai~nih kompozicij.
Sre~anje je lepo uspelo. Vsi prisotni so bili navdu{eni nad tem, da bi bilo njihovo delo formalno priznano in cenjeno. Odlo~ili smo se, da bosta Da{a in Aleksandra raziskavo za~eli v Slovenskem dru{tvu Ivana Cankarja v Geelongu, dobrih 70 km oddaljenem od Melbourna, in da se bodo ustvarjalci naslednji dan zbrali v klubu ter tam pokazali svoje izdelke in se o njih pogovarjali. Dogovorili smo se tudi, da bo Aleksandra Ceferin fotografrala eksponate in razstavljavce in tako dokumentirala raziskavo. Druge ustvarjalce, raztresene po {ir{em obmo~ju Melbourna, naj bi obiskali na njihovih domovih v naslednjih treh tednih.
Sre~anje v Geelongu je bilo izredno zanimivo. Razstavljen je bil pester izbor ro~nih del: ~udovite idrijske klekljane ~ipke, vezeni prti, pleteni {ali in copate, poslikan porcelan, poslikani leseni kro`niki in otro{ka miza, {ahovnica s fgurami, aran`maji
Aleksandra Ceferin
suhih ro`, lesene stenske ure itd. Na sestanku, ki je trajal ve~ ur, smo se dogovorili, da bo vsak ustvarjalec za razstavo v Ljubljani bodisi posodil bodisi podaril tri manj{e predmete in predlo`il kratek `ivljenjepis. Predmete naj bi zbrala Aleksandra Ceferin, ki bi tudi poskrbela za prevoz.
Naslednje tri tedne sva z Da{o pre`iveli na poti do vseh koncev ogromnega obmo~ja Melbourna, ki je s skupno povr{ino 8.806 km2 eno najbolj razpotegnjenih in zelenih glavnih mest na svetu. Prevozili sva velike razdalje, ker so Slovenci od vseh etni~nih skupin v Avstraliji najbr` najbolj raztreseni. Za~eli sva v poslovnem sredi{~u (CBD) Melbourna, kjer je Da{a stanovala, in ve~ino dni sva prevozili po ve~ kot 100 km na poti k domovom, posejanim po vsem Velikem Melbournu.
V teku raziskave sva izvedeli ve~ o vrstah ro~nih del, ki jih ustvarjajo posamezniki,
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in, kar je bilo enako pomembno, o ustvarjalcih samih.
Mo{ki in `enske so za~eli tako, da so preizku{ali in razvijali spretnosti, ki so jih prinesli iz domovine. Prvi izdelki so bili bolj za lastno uporabo, pozneje so jih tudi podarjali prijateljem. Pogosto so delali pono~i po napornem delovnem dnevu ali na vlaku na poti domov. S~asoma so svoje izdelke za~eli razstavljati na formalnih dru`abnih sre~anjih slovenskih dru{tev in na multikulturnih festivalih. Zanimanje zanje se je vse bolj ve~alo in ustvarjalke so organizirale delavnice o tradicionalnih ro~nih delih, predvsem o klekljanju idrijskih ~ipk.
Domovi izdelovalk odra`ajo njihov ustvarjalni duh in `eljo ustvarjati estetsko okusne ali simboli~no pomenljive izdelke – dedi{~ino ro~nih del, ki se ohranja `iva v tuji dr`avi.
Tradicionalno oblikovani {opki tulipanov Anice Kodila ustvarjajo elegantno okolje doma, ki je bogato okra{eno s cvetli~nimi aran`maji, stenskimi tapiserijami in blazinami. V sodobno opremljeni hi{i Metke Lenar~i~ izstopajo elegantni prti iz idrijskih ~ipk, pristna slovenska skrinja in tapiserije s slovenskimi motivi. Hi{a Mimice Bole je kot `ivobarvna izlo`ba, polna velikih {opkov nageljnov, polna kva~kanih predmetov, narejenih v stilu, ki ga je sama izumila, predmetov, ki jih rada podarja prijateljem. [ahovska miza in stenske ure Jo`eta Ramute krasijo prostore Slovenskega dru{tva Ivana Cankarja v Geelongu in prispevajo k pristnemu slovenskemu ambientu in svojstvenemu videzu. Marija Ur{i~ je svoje spretnosti redno prikazovala na multikulturnih dogodkih in vodila te~aje tradicionalnega klekljanja idrijskih ~ipk. Ustvarjalnost Anice Kodila presega tradicionalne spretnosti, ker jo navdihujeta nadarjenost in pripravljenost eksperimentirati. Vesti se je nau~ila na rojstnem Notranjskem, kjer je za~ela z vezenjem poro~nih rjuh in prevlek za vzglavnike. V Avstraliji je razvila vrsto drugih spretnosti in se lotila izdelovanja {tevilnih okrasnih predmetov, med drugim predmetov za poroko in krst, umetnih ro`, miniaturnega pohi{tva, velikono~nih in bo`i~nih okraskov ter ~udovito okra{enega Bo`i~kovega {kornja, ki ji ga je uspelo tr`iti vse do ZDA.
Projekt ro~nih del smo na {iroko promovirali v slovenski skupnosti, s ~lanki v sloven{~ini v mese~niku Misli in v angle{~ini na internetu – na Thezaurus.com ter Omre`ju avstralskih Slovencev. Objavili smo tudi obvestila in pogovore na etni~nem radijskem programu 3ZZZ v Melbournu in na Radiu Slovenija in tako zbujali zanimanje v Avstraliji in v Sloveniji.
Dedi{~ina slovenskih ro~nih del v Avstraliji
Raziskava o slovenskih ro~nih delih v Viktoriji se je v naslednjih letih razvila v spletno koprodukcijo Slovenskega etnografskega muzeja in Viktorijskega in{tituta za slovenistiko. Vzporedno z raziskavo ro~nih del v Viktoriji je nastala znatna fotografska zbirka z okrog 400 posnetki, ki jih je nekaj posnela Da{a Koprivec, ve~ino pa Aleksandra Ceferin. Razgovori v Ljubljani med ~lanom ISSV in spletnim razvijalcem Bojanom A`manom (http://www.thezaurus.com) ter direktorico SEM Bojano Rogelj [kafar so se zaklju~ili z ugotovitvijo, da je spletna razstava ro~nih del – za SEM bi bila to prva tovrstna razstava – odli~na zamisel. Delovna skupina za spletno razstavo “rocnadela”, ki so jo sestavili Bojan A`man, Da{a Koprivec in Aleksandra Ceferin, je projekt zaklju~ila oktobra 2007 in ga uradno predstavila direktorici in kustosom Slovenskega etnografskega muzeja v Ljubljani, ki so ga toplo sprejeli.
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Spletno razstavo in spleti{~e http://www.rocnadela.org smo kot Spletni arhiv ro~nih del slovenskih izseljencev prvi~ v `ivo predstavili javnosti na 11. bienalnem Slovenskem festivalu v klubu Jadran v Melbournu 1. marca 2008. Na{a spletna razstava je bila zelo odmevna; obiskalo jo je dosti ve~ ljudi, kot bi jih lahko obiskalo razstavo v `ivo. Zato lahko re~emo, da spletna razstava izpolnjuje svoj namen.
Razstava slovenskih ro~nih del je postavila temelj za nadaljnje raziskave, zbiranje in arhiviranje slovenskih ro~nih del v Avstraliji in drugje. Spleti{~e rocnadela.org, za katero je koncept razvil in ga oblikoval Bojan A`man, je prva spletna razstava slovenskih ro~nih del v Slovenskem etnografskem muzeju in pionirska v svetovnem merilu. Na ogled je zbirka sodobnih ro~nih del. Izbor zajema {iroko paleto izdelkov: umetne ro`e, idrijske klekljane ~ipke, kva~kane predmete, okrasne predmete, vezene prte in prti~ke, vo{~ilnice, mozaike, krpanke, lon~evino, tapiserije in stru`ene lesene predmete.
Vsi predmeti nam odkrivajo individualne pristope in zanimanja. Nekateri izhajajo iz tradicionalnih slovenskih motivov, druge odlikujejo novi izrazi ro~nih del.
Na{o pozornost pritegne osebnost ustvarjalca/ustvarjalke in njegov/njen odnos do okolja, v katerem `ivi. Nekateri izdelki navdu{ujejo zaradi ~udovitih in z velikim ob~utkom narejenih podrobnosti, ki pritegujejo pogled. Ro~na dela nastajajo na podlagi ustvarjalnosti posameznikov in pod navdihom druga~nega avstralskega okolja. Tako smo pri~a kontinuiteti in spremembam znotraj `ivega kulturnega izro~ila preteklih rodov in izra`anju bogate slovenske kulturne dedi{~ine.
Razstava je tako povezana tudi z vpra{anjem zgodovinske razse`nosti ro~nih del in oblikovanja; vezi s preteklostjo se ohranjajo v tradicionalnih stilih in tehnikah. Raznolikost ro~nih spretnosti je do`ivetje, ki nas obogati in nam pove~a ob~utek za ~as in prostor. Kot celota nas razstava napeljuje k refeksiji o naravi in posebnosti ro~nih del v ~asu novih tehnologij in serijske proizvodnje. Razstava te vrste prispeva k vizualnemu zapisu kulturne dedi{~ine in implicitno odkriva vrednost razli~nih kultur in izra`anja razli~nih kulturnih dejavnosti. Pomembno je, da to izro~ilo, ki so ga nadaljevale predvsem Slovenke, predstavimo {ir{i javnosti. Ro~na dela so v `ivljenju slovenskih skupnosti povsod imela posebno mesto. Predstavljajo intimen odnos med ustvarjalci in ustvarjalkami in njihovo slovensko kulturno dedi{~ino, preneseno iz roda v rod. V slovenskih skupnostih v tujini so ro~na dela pomemben del njihovega ob~utka identitete, njihove “slovenskosti”.
Aleksandra Ceferin
Krasen šopek iz tekstila, kakršne izdeluje Anica Kodila. Foto: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, maj 2006.
Kva~kan prti~ek je izdelala Marija Horvat. Foto: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, junij 2006.
Dedi{~ina slovenskih ro~nih del v Avstraliji
Marija Brne ima na mizi v svojem domu prekrasen prt iz idrijske ~ipke, ki ga je sama klekljala. Foto: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, maj 2006.
Aleksandra Ceferin
Projekt se bo nadaljeval z nadaljnjim raziskovanjem slovenskih ro~nih del v Avstraliji za dopolnjevanje arhiva, ki smo ga za~eli maja 2006. Upamo, da bomo uspeli pritegniti nove ustvarjalke in ustvarjalce in z njihovimi izdelki {iriti obseg prvotne arhivske zbirke.
Pobudniki smo ponosni, da smo lahko sodelovali v projektu prve spletne razstave in arhiva v Slovenskem etnografskem muzeju in prvega tovrstnega sodelovanja med Slovenijo in Avstralijo.
Pripeljati projekt do te to~ke je bilo za vse sodelujo~e hvale`na in navdihujo~a naloga. Upamo, da ga bomo {e nadaljevali z arhiviranjem in ohranjanjem `ive dedi{~ine po svetu, ki {e ni odkrita. Tehnologija ni namenjena temu, da bi zamenjala razstavo v `ivo v konkretnem okolju. Njen namen je pribli`ati zavest o dedi{~ini ljudem, ki `ivijo v
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zelo oddaljenih krajih in morda nikoli ne bodo imeli prilo`nosti obiskati razstave v `ivo. V virtualnem prostoru imajo celo mo`nost, da sodelujejo in lastno videnje slovenske dedi{~ine dodajajo splo{nemu pomenu “slovenskosti” po svetu.
Zahvaljujemo se naslednjim sodelujo~im in ustvarjalcem za njihovo velikodu{no sodelovanje:
Lidiji Bole, Emi Bole - Kosmina, Mimici Bole, Sonii Ben~i~, Ani Mariji Thomas (Brne), Mariji Brne, Slavi Burlovic, Mariji Horvat, Lojzetu Jeri~u, Anici Kodila, Anici Kodri~, Jo`etu Kodri~u, Ivanki Kontelj, Lojzki Kuhar, Julki Kure, Meti Lenar~i~, Matildi Martin~i~, Andreju Poto~niku, Jo`etu Ramuti, Luciji Srnec, Mariji Ur{i}, Vidi Vojvoda.
Etnolog 18 (2008)
SLOVENIAN HANDICRAFTS HERITAGE IN AUSTRALIA
The frst Slovenian emigrant handicrafts archives on the web
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The thought of a Slovenian women’s handicrafts exhibition frst fashed into my mind, when I was viewing the handicrafts display at the Slovenian Festival at the Slovensko dru{tvo Melbourne in 2004. 1 There was a range of beautifully executed bobbin-lace articles, embroidery, knitting and selections of other kinds of handicraft items, the work of Slovenian women in Melbourne and Victoria. It seemed to me, that this creativity and continuity of handicrafts heritage deserved a greater emphasis and celebration, not just as one part of the life of Slovenian Australian community, given its due at Slovenian festivals.
I spoke about the possibility of a Slovenian handicrafts exhibition to the then President of SDM Mrs. Milena Brgo~, and she was immediately enthusiastic. We spoke of several practitioners and enthusiasts within the community, such as Anica Kodila, Vida Vojvoda, Lucija Srnec and Lidija ^u{in, who were sure to support such an initiative, and I put the tentative plan for action on the backburner. I was leaving for Slovenia within the next fortnight, but I was determined to raise the issue on my return.
There were other plans that I would have like to see realized. In 2003 we had celebrated 25 years of Slovenian language teaching in Victoria. One of the events was the Slovenian Archives Exhibition of the Institute for Slovenian Studies of Victoria. I thought that it would be timely to present such an exhibition in Slovenia, and hoped to interest Slovenian School Museum. This plan was not realized, but it led me directly to mag. Da{a Koprivec, museum adviser at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum. We met frst at the Conference on Slovenian Emigrant Women at SAZU in November 2004, and agreed that women play a vital role in maintaining Slovenian heritage abroad,
1 Aleksandra (Sa{a) Ceferin (B.A., M.A., Dip Ed.) came to Australia with her family in 1950. She gained the degree of Master of Arts in German literature and was for several years Teaching Fellow in the German Department and the Department of General and Comparative Literature. As teacher of German and English she was faculty coordinator, language consultant, manager of school centres and Assistant Principal of Victorian School of Languages. She introduced Slovenian language into the state school system of Australia, including the “matura”, and developed curriculum for the secondary levels. She published the Slovenian Literary Reader (1984) and is the author of the book Slovenian Language in Australia (2003). She is the founding President of STAV (Združenje slovenskih u~iteljev Viktorije) in ISSV Inc. (Viktorijski In{titut za slovenistiko).She is the director of the website Thezaurus.com, frst published in 1998.
Aleksandra Ceferin
Andrej Poto~nik makes various artistic and practical wooden products that have brought him fame in and outside Australia. Photo: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, May 2006.
particularly in the area of traditional handicrafts. In February 2005 we met again, continuing our discussion. We spoke frst about ISSV Archives. This was obviously something that belonged in the framework of Slovenian School Museum, and I had not entirely given up the hope of interesting them in the matter. However, Da{a Koprivec and SEM expressed their interest in emigrant handicrafts.
We took it from there. We both wished to pursue a project which showed a defnite promise. In my capacity as President of the Institute for Slovenian Studies of Victoria I issued an invitation to mag. Da{a Koprivec to visit Melbourne and investigate the handicrafts within the Slovenian community in the state of Victoria.
Slovenian handicrafts heritage in Australia
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The home of Mimica Bole is full of various beautiful handicraft products she makes herself. Her carnations made of fabric are particularly well-known. Photo: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, June 2006.
This marvellously decorated Father Christmas boot and other Christmas presents were made by Anica Kodila. Photo: Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, May 2006.
Aleksandra Ceferin
The events followed quickly and smoothly after that. The Offce for Slovenes Abroad was prepared to fund the initiative, we organized accommodation, and Da{a’s visit was set to take place in May 2006.
In my view the initiative concerned the whole Slovenian community and I invited its involvement in the undertaking by informing all the Slovenian organizations in Victoria, and requesting names and contact numbers of all handicrafts practitioners. A meeting with Da{a Koprivec was set to take place in the Slovenian Community Centre in Kew, with the assistance of Metka Lenar~i~, an active community member and coordinator of 3ZZZ Slovenian radio program.
The meeting on 2 May was fully attended. Beside the women practitioners, men were also represented. Andrew Poto~nik, born in Australia of Slovenian parents, has
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estab~ished himself internationally as wood turner craftsman. Jo`e Ramuta began to work with wood while testing his woodworking machine, Lojze Jeri~ has become known for his mosaic compositions.
The meeting was a success. All present were delighted that their work would be formally recognized and appreciated. It was decided that Da{a and Aleksandra begin the research with the Slovenian Association Ivan Cankar in Geelong, a town some 70 km distant from Melbourne, and that the handicrafts practitioners gather at the club to show and discuss their products on the following day. It was also agreed that Aleksandra Ceferin photograph the exhibits and exhibitors to provide a record of the research. The rest of the practitioners, scattered over a large Melbourne area would be visited at their homes over the following three weeks.
The meeting in Geelong was an exciting event. On display were a great variety of handicrafts: beautiful Idria bobbin lace items, embroidered tablecloths, doilies, knitted shawls and slippers, painted china, painted wood platters and children’s table, chess table with fgures, dried fower arrangements, wooden wall clocks. During a session of several hours, it was agreed that each practitioner would either loan or gift three small items for an exhibition in Ljubljana and provide a short biography. The items were to be collected by Aleksandra Ceferin who would also organize the transport.
The following two weeks were spent in travelling far and wide over the sprawling, and picturesque metropolis Melbourne. Melbourne is one of the largest capital cities of the world, in terms of the total area of 8,806 sq km, and the reputation for lush parklands. We drove great distances, since Slovenes are possibly the most dispersed of all the ethnic gtoups in Australia. We started in the Melbourne city centre - the CBD, where Da{a had accommodation, and on most days covered over 100 km, driving to homes all over the Greater Melbourne .
During the course of the research we found out more about the kind of handicrafts produced and as importantly, about the practitioners themselves.
Men and women began by crafting objects to test and develop their skills, which they brought with them. First for themselves, then as gifts for their circle of friends. They worked often at night after a day’s hard work and on train on the way from work. These products began to be exhibited at formal social gatherings of Slovenian associations
Slovenian handicrafts heritage in Australia
and at multicultural festivals. The interest grew and the practitioners offered workshops on the traditional skills, particularly on the making of Idria lace.
The homes of the practitioners refected the creative spirit of the owners and their wish to fashion aesthetically beautiful or symbolically meaningful products - a handicrafts heritage, kept alive in an aiien land. The designed traditional tulips of Anica Kodila provide an elegant setting to a home richly decorated with fower arrangements, wall hangings and cushions. Metka Lenar~i~’s stylish home displays an elegant Idria lace tablecloth, traditional Slovenian chest and tapestry wall-hangings with Slovenian themes. Mimica Bole’s home is a showcase of great bunches of carnations in vibrant colours, stitched in the style invented by herself, which she loves to gift to her friends. Jo`e Ramuta’s chess table and wall clocks grace the spaces of the Slovenian Association
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Ivan Cankar in Geelong, adding to its traditional Slovenian atmosphere and distinctive character. Marija Ur{i~, has demonstrated her skill at multicultural events and taught classes of the traditional Idria bobbin-lace making. The creativity of Anica Kodila has blossomed beyond the traditional skills, guided by her talent and willingness to experiment. She was taught embroidery in her native Notranjska, and began by embroidering bridal sheets and pillowcases. In Australia she developed a wide range of skills, trying all kinds of decorative products, bridal and christening items, artifcial fowers, toy furniture, Easter and Christmas decorations, and the magnifcently decorated Father Christmas boot, which has been sold as far as USA.
The handicrafts project was widely advertised in the Slovenian community, with articles in Slovenian in the monthly Misli, and in English on the Internet - on Thezaurus. com and the Network of Australian Slovenes. There were also announcements and interviews on 3ZZZ Community Radio in Melbourne and on Radio Slovenia, and stirred up interest in Australia and Slovenia.
The investigation into Slovenian handicrafts in Victoria evolved during the following year into a web co-production between Slovene Ethnographic Museum and The Institute for Slovenian Studies of Victoria (Viktorijski In{titut za slovenistiko). The by-/product of the research into the handicrafts in Victoria resulted in a considerable photographic collection, numbering about 400 images, some by Da{a Koprivec, the majority by Aleksandra Ceferin. The discussions in Ljubljana between the www.thezaurus.com web developer and ISSV member Bojan A`man (aka Chiron Morpheus) and the SEM Director Bojana Rogelj [kafar led to the conclusion that an online handicrafts exhibition, a frst of this kind for SEM, would be a great idea. Subsequently SEM received fnancial support by the Ministry for Culture RS. The “rocnadela” online exhibition team Bojan A`man, Da{a Koprivec and Aleksandra Ceferin completed the project n October 2007. It was offcially presented to the Director and staff of Slovene Ethnographic Museum in Ljubljana, where it was well received.
The online exhibition and the website www.rocnadela.org, was launched in Melbourne on 1st March 2008 at the biannual 11 Slovenian Festival at the club Jadran, as the Online Archive of Slovenian Emigrant Handicrafts. The response has been very pleasing. A considerably greater number of visitors has visited the website than they
Aleksandra Ceferin
The online exhibition www.rocnadela.org was launched in Melbourne on 1st March 2008 at the biannual 11 Slovenian Festival at the club Jadran, as the Online Archive of Slovenian Emigrant Handicrafts. Photo:
Aleksandra Ceferin, Melbourne, March 2008.
would a physical exhibition so we can say that the aim of the online exhibition has been fulflled.
The exhibition of Slovenian handicrafts lays the foundation for further research, collection activity and archiving of Slovenian handicrafts in Australia and elsewhere. The website of rocnadela.org, conceptualized and designed by Bojan A`man (aka Chiron Morpheus), is the frst online exhibition of Slovenian handicrafts by the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, and ground-breaking by world standards. On display is a collection of contemporary handicrafts. The selection covers a diverse range of endeavour: artifcial fowers, Idria bobbin lace, crocheted objects, decorative objects, embroidered tableware, greeting cards, mosaics, patchwork, pottery, tapestry, and wood-turning.
The objects reveal individualistic approaches, and interests. Some are based on traditional
Slovenian designs, others show new expressions of craft activity.
Our attention is drawn to the identity of the creator and his/her relationship to the present environment. Certain works are arresting in the beautiful detail, are sensitively rendered, and captivate the eye. The handicrafts emanate from the creativity of these individuals and are inspired by the different Australian environment. In this way one can witness the continuity, and changes within a living cultural tradition, from past generations, and the expression of the rich cultural heritage from Slovenia.
Slovenian handicrafts heritage in Australia
Thus, the exhibition relates to the question of historical dimension of handicrafts and design; the connection to the past is maintained in the traditional styles, and techniques. Diversity of crafts is an enriching experience that heightens the sense of time and place. As a body the display gives pause to refection on: the character and distinction of handicrafts in this age of new technologies, and mass-production. An exhibition of this nature contributes to the visual record of cultural heritage and shows implicitly the value of different cultures and the expression of varied cultural activities wherever they may be found. It is important to bring to the broader public this tradition, which has been carried on particularly by Slovenian women. The handicrafts have been prominent in the life of Slovenian communities everywhere. They represent an intimate relationship between the handicraftsmen and - women and their Slovenian cultural heritage, handed down from generation to generation. In Slovenian communities abroad the handicrafts tradition is an important part of their sense of identity, their “sloveneness”.
As a follow-up we intend to continue investigating the Slovenian handicrafts in Australia to add to the archive of handicrafts, which we have started in May 2006. It is hoped that there will be further contributions to this project from other creative men and women, thus broadening the scope of the initial archival collection. The initiators have been proud to participate in this project of the frst online exhibition and archive by the Slovene Ethnographic Museum and the frst collaborative project of this kind between Slovenia and Australia.
Completing the project to this point has been an inspiring enterprise for all participants. We hope to take it further, continuing to archive and preserve the living heritage waiting to be discovered around the world. Technology is not intended to replace the real exhibition in real space. What it is intended to accomplish is to bring the awareness of the heritage closer to the people who live at great distances and may never be able to visit a live exhibition. They may be even be able to participate in virtual space and contribute their own sense of Slovenian heritage for a common sense of “sloveneness” in the world.
We thank the following participants and producers for cooperation and generosity:
Lidija Bole, Ema Bole-Kosmina, Mimica Bole, Sonia Ben~i~, Ana Marija Thomas (Brne), Marija Brne, Slava Burlovic, Marija Horvat, Lojze Jeri~, Anica Kodila, Anica Kodri~, Jo`e Kodri~, Ivanka Kontelj, Lojzka Kuhar, Julka Kure, Meta Lenar~i~ Matilda Martin~i~, Andrej Poto~nik, Jo`e Ramuta, Lucija Srnec, Marija Ur{i}, Vida Vojvoda.
Aleksandra Ceferin