Newsletter Summer 2017 CroatiaFest 2017 LIGHTHOUSES OF CROATIA Seattle The 14th Year PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT Saturday, Sept. 30 Plovput Split - Croatian Lighthouse Authority Croatian Vigil Mass By Mia Brozovich Nacke exhibit of remarkable photographs of 5 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Croatian lighthouses will be on display at Church, 732 18th Ave. E When Croats left their homeland and the Seattle Center during CroatiaFest. Music by Sinovi first set sail toward America, they carried Tamburitza Orchestra with them centuries of maritime tradition. The traveling exhibit, a series of 29 pho- From Alaska to Anacortes, down the coast tographs, is culled from the permanent Dance and Sing-Along through San Francisco and San Pedro, 6 p.m.-midnight, Russian Croatian fishermen, boatbuilders and sail- See LIGHTHOUSES, page 3 Community Center, ors set down roots on the West Coast, weaving an 704 19th Ave. E. Adriatic fabric of fishing Music by Rakija Bend & Sinovi nets, marine rituals and Admission $10 at the door seaside culture into their American life. Sunday, Oct. 1 It is impossible to think CroatiaFest of Croatia without think- 12-6 p.m. ing of its jagged coastline, Seattle Center Armory its array of islands and its 305 Harrison St., Seattle sublime Adriatic Sea. In Music & Dance fact, Croatia’s territorial Performances, Croatia Travel waters encompass over Today, Historical Exhibits, 7,300 square miles and Film, Lectures, Art Gallery, are home to over 1,200 Souvenirs of Croatia, islands, with 47 inhabited. The country’s 1,100 miles Market Place, Cooking of mainland coast – 3,625 Demos, Crafts for Kids, coastal miles in total, in- Croatian Food Booths, Wine cluding islands and islets Tasting, Traditional Lamb – define its littoral charac- Barbeque ter, lending a slow rhythm and nautical melody to Is- Look for updates at trian days and Dalmatian www.CroatiaFest.org, nights. and like us on Facebook. CroatiaFest activities are FREE and open to the public. Illuminating one of this year’s themes – “Sea,” an 1 BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: RAKIJA BEND CroatiaFest is pleased to welcome back the very popular and talented Rakija Bend of Chicago. This outstanding tambura band and talented singers will per- form for the CroatiaFest weekend kick-off dance and sing a- long 6-11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Russian Community Center. Admission is only $10. Ala carte menu will be prepared by the Seattle Jr. Tamburtizan parents with a no host bar fea- turing Karlovacko Pivo, Croatian imported beer, wine and your favorite soft drinks. Rakija Bend will share the stage with our own Sinovi Tambu- ritiza Orchestra. Mark your calendars. You don’t want to miss this fun evening of music and dance, sing a-long to your fa- vorite old time and new Croatian melodies, feast on delicious authentic Croatian food and homemade Croatian pastries and enjoy the company of family and friends. main stage at CroatiaFest. See the schedule of performances on the insert page in this newsletter. Come to both events! The next day, Sunday, Oct. 1, Rakija Bend will perform on the Bring your family and friends. Make it a CroatiaFest weekend! CroatiaFest Coordinators: Cathryn Morovich and Kristen LeMieux Board of Directors: Dr. Frank Brozovich, Chairman; Cathryn Morovich, President; Kristen LeMieux, Vice-President; Mark Ruljancich, Treasurer; Mara Oblak, Secretary. 2017 CroatiaFest Planning Committee: Joanne Abdo, Nate Basich, Dr. Frank Brozovich, Betty Devich, Bob & Peggy Gunovick, Lori Repanich Hill, Tom Kuker, Kristen LeMieux, Priscilla Lisicich, Richard Major, Margaret Martinis-Wallace, Karen Mikacenić, Cathryn P.O. Box 546 Medina, WA 98039 Morovich, John Morovich, Mara Oblak, Alma Franulović Plancich, Marijana Pavlich, Allison Reid, Mark & Dunja Ruljancich, Kathie Simicich, Antionette Slavich, Kristin Tarabochia, John 206-619-4193 Woods, Petra Zanki. [email protected] Community Representatives: Greta Kos, John Lovrić, Colleen Mavar, Mary Kay & George www.CroatiaFest.org Jovanovich, Christine & Tim Jovanovich, Joe Lisicich, Veronica Mratinich, Maria Franulović Petrish, John & Shellie Posavatz, Damir & Elaine Tomšić. CroatiaFest is produced by the local Volunteer Photographers: Linda Banning, Steven Joyce, Miro Jugum, Paul Lukinich, Ron Croatian-American community and Karabaich, Mara Oblak. is part of Seattle Center’s Festál, a Newsletter Editor: Jenny Zuvela Marin | CroatiaFest Logo Designer: John Lovrić Souvenir Program Editor: Allison Reid year-long series of cultural events Poster and Postcard Designer 2017: Marko Oblak that honors the richness and diversity of our region. 2 MEET CROATIAN HISTORICAL FICTION AUTHOR Author Rosemary Gard will be back to on a straw mattress, cooking on CroatiaFest, introducing her new book a clay stove, and working in the of the Destiny series: “Destiny’s Design.” fields. Her works are filled with In the tradition of writers such as Ernest passion for her characters, written Hemingway and Boris Pasternak, Rose- with an intimate knowledge of a mary writes powerful and compelling different time and a sharp eye for works of fiction based on reality. Her historical accuracy. works feature richly drawn fictional Stop by and chat with Rosemary characters, drawn upon a canvas of at her booth on the main floor historical fact. Unlike most other writ- of the Armory. Christmas will be ers, Rosemary lived among the people just around the corner. The books upon which her characters are built. would make wonderful gifts to She lived the life of a peasant in Croatia special family members or friends. in the late 1950s. When you purchase one or more of Rosemary’s books give readers a first- the Destiny book series: “Destiny’s Author Rosemary Gard with her daughter person account of the lives of their Dowry,” “Destiny Denied,” “Des- Kristina. ancestors - drawing water from a well, tiny Delivered,” “Destiny’s Dance,” delighted to sign and personalize your washing clothes in a stream, sleeping or “Destiny’s Design,” Rosemary will be copy. LIGHTHOUSES Continued from page 1 archives of Plovput Split, the Croatian These artistic interpretations tell a story and operated through remote control Lighthouse Authority. The exhibit was of Croatia’s maritime heritage, cultural systems. Yet 17 Croatian lighthouses first organized in 2004 under the patron- patrimony, ecological landscape and still have lightkeepers who man the tall age of Croatia’s Ministry of the Sea, Tour- native resilience. towers in shifts, keeping a mysterious ism, Transport and Development. Since and poetic maritime tradition alive. 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and As a still important aid to navigation, European Integration’s Cultural Depart- Croatia’s 46 stone lighthouses with their This enduring symbolism, along with ment and Embassies have mounted the prominent light towers are built at the the historical protection of Croatia’s exhibit in cooperation with partners and most distant points of the Croatian ter- lighthouses and their present day vital- sponsors at prominent spaces and gal- ritorial sea. Each main light has a range ity, remind us that Croatia welcomes us leries around the world. of 30 nautical miles to help guide mari- home, whenever we chose to return, time pilots and their vessels. and embraces all new visitors to its Adri- The exhibit has been viewed at nearly atic shore. 50 locations including the European Some lighthouses are also equipped Commission Headquarters - Berlay- with radar beacons, fog mont Building (Brussels, Belgium), the detectors and fog sirens. Kursaal Palace (San Sebastian, Spain), Along with coast lights, LEARN MORE the National Polytechnic Institute (Tou- buoys, signal stations and Read about the exhibit: louse, France), the New Library of Al- radio stations, as well as www.plovput-exhibition.com/english/home.htm exandria (Alexandria, Egypt), the Einav optical, audible and elec- www.plovput.hr/en/monography Cultural Centre Gallery (Tel Aviv, Israel), trical devices, Croatia’s the United Nations Building - East Riv- lighthouses ensure safe Research Croatian maritime safety informa- er (New York, NY), the Pierce Reading navigation through its tion and commercial maritime services: Room, Lauinger Library - Georgetown Adriatic waterways. www.plovput.hr/en University (Washington, D.C.) and the Fine Arts Pavilion - Pontifical Catholic Experience a lighthouse holiday in Croatia: University of Argentina (Buenos Aires, Today, all of Croatia’s light- www.lighthouses-croatia.com Argentina). houses are automated 3 CROATIAFEST WELCOMES TWO NEW GROUPS TO SEATTLE We are pleased and honored to wel- come two new groups to Seattle and to CroatiaFest 2017: Vokalna Skupina Kori- jeni (Croatian Roots) from Chicago and Milwaukee, Wisc., and Kardinal Stepinac from New York City. Vokalna Skupina Korijeni Six talented singers and musicians make up this traditional Croatian folk singing group. The group focuses on singing traditional a capella songs in three- to four-part harmony. Their mission is to increase public awareness of Croatian cultural and folk traditions by sponsoring, performing and promoting UNESCO recognized forms of traditional acapella singing and other forms of traditional Croatian singing via high quality vocal and mu- sic performances, education, commu- nication, arts, research, outreach, and social activities. Members are Anna Marie Hostička, Ann Lebar, Leah Lenardić, Jason Ottmann, Vesna Špehar and Heidi Ulm. Kardinal Stepinac When Croatians began immigrating to the United States, New York was the city that many chose to build a new and bet- ter life for