The true icon of the Slovenian landscape is the Art & Architecture of hayrack (kozolec). Their picturesque appearance gives it a “special stamp” to Slovenia’s cultural landscape. It was the impressionistic Slovenian painter, Ivan Grohar (1867- 1911) who had painted the hayrack as the defining image of the Slovenian countryside. Simple hayracks are not unknown in other parts of alpine central Europe, but decorated or plain are unique to Slovenia. Another form of folk art is the painting of “Beehive Fronts”. Slovenia alone has developed such a Lake Bled (Blejsko jezero) unique kind of art. In Slovenian history there is The lake is situated in a picturesque a rich tradition of affection environment, surrounded by mountains and and love for the bee. forests. A medieval castle stands above the According to Dr Jozko lake and on the only natural island in Slovenia Savli, beehive fronts sits the Assumption of Mary's Pilgrimage called “celnice” achieved Church built in the 15th century. The church an esthetic effect on the outside of the bee house where has a 52 meter tower and 99 steps leading up to they joined into a single picturesque design. A large the building. number of the 600 motifs are biblical in nature. The golden age of beehive art was from the 18th to early 20th The lake is also famous among rowers since it centuries. has very good conditions for the sport. It hosted the World Rowing Championships in 1966, Bobbin lace-making (Klekljanje) is a unique phenomenon 1979 and in 1989. It will host the World in Slovenia. Although the skill has always been practiced Rowing Championship again in 2011. This colorful land with its well preserved in other parts of the country, it was developed most natural environment is situated in the center of intensively in the Idrija region. The Idrija lace (idrijska Europe. Slovenian geography with its rolling cipka) is regarded as representative of Slovenian heritage hills and mountains has served as a backdrop and creativity in the field of handicrafts and as such a for Slovenia’s art and architecture. Ljubljana, popular gift for state and promotional purposes. The lace- Slovenia’s capital mirrors the great periods of making school in Idrija was art: Classicism, Renaissance, Baroque and Art established in 1876 and has Nouveau. continued operating without interruption to this day. One is struck by the number of churches and Annual exhibitions and castles built at the tops of hills. One third of competitions produce For more information on the Twin Cities the monuments of Slovenia’s cultural heritage numerous technically and Slovenians and upcoming meetings and events, are sacral buildings. Some 500-600 castles or artistically accomplished visit us at: remains of castles exist in Slovenia today. pieces by the many outstanding practitioners of the handicraft. www.twincitiesslovenians.org Slovenian contributions to Impressionism: Slovenian Architects : encouraged any new development to be One art critic, Sonja Vadnjal called Slovenian Joze Plecnik (1872-1957), Architectural sensitive to the wildness Impressionism the “first consciously organized legend of Slovenia holds a special place in the beauty of the expression of the Slovenian character in art”. history of the Slovene nation. He became one neighborhood. In 1905 Slovene impressionism revealed itself around of the leading architects of Central Europe and he was a key member of 1900 with an exhibition in Ljubljana of the a classic architect of world renown. He the Minneapolis City work of four artists: Richard Jakopic, Matija envisioned Ljubljana as the new Athens based Planning Commission. Jama, Ivan Grohar and Matej Sternen. Even on his perceptions of ancient Rome, of the though the four differed as to what constituted Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods and Alexander Papesh, was America’s foremost memorable art, each contributed to the shaping the Mediterranean. builder of stadiums including the University of of the country’s maturing nationalistic With his designs, Texas in Austin, West Virginia Coliseum, aspirations. Richard Jacopic was the accepted plans and Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh and Robert natural leader of the group and it was largely landscaping he Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC. through his efforts that there be an exhibition breathed beauty and pavilion - Slovenian Art Gallery. It was a first style into the city Frank Strgar, Born in Slovenia in 1932, on a in Ljubljana and Slovenia. core, covering the small farm near Bled. areas of the He was educated in Richard Jacopic was the accepted natural leader Ljubljana castle, old Slovenia and Austria, of the group and it was largely through his and new sectors of then immigrated to ifforts that there be an exhibition pavilion - the city, Canada and Slovenian Art Gallery. It was a first in embankments of the river, parks and squares eventually moved to Ljubljana and Slovenia. throughout the city. Specific areas carried the the US. He then Plecnik style: Tivoli Park, Congbress Square earned his Matija Jama, according to Vadnjal, felt that with Park Zvevda, certification in Civil nature and its impression was his standard but Tromostovje (three Engineering in the painting was intended to “make an impact bridges), the Seattle, in 1967. He on the eye, not the intelligence”. In this he National and moved to Minnesota differed diametrically from Jakopic’s view of University Library, in 1970 where he eventually founded SRF impressionism. Chruch of St. (Strgar, Roscoe, Fausch), Consulting Group, Francis in Siska, the Inc. in Wayzata, MN. H. Gregory Prusheck Baraga Seminary, Ljubljana Stadium, and Zale cemetery Art critics call him the complex. Plecnik’s Ljubljana is a “monument “best of the to a man’s love for his country and pride in his modernistic painters Slovenian heritage”. of Chicago”. Other American sources John Jager, a Slovenian called him the architect who designed “vagabond artist who two Catholic churches in enjoyed presenting Minnesota: St. Bernard’s Under the leadership of Franc Strgar, SRF exhibitions for the in St. Paul and St. Consulting Group produced many noteworthy masses”. The above Stephen’s near St. Cloud. structures, among them; the High Bridge over painting is titled, He founded the Hiawatha the Mississippi in St. Paul, the Bloomington Landscape Composition and was painted in Heights Improvement Ferry Bridge over the Minnesota River, I-35 E 1931. Association in through St. Paul. Slovenians are proud of his Minneapolis which creative contribution to Minnesota's infrastructure..