VURNIK DAYS 2017

Opening of the exhibition 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VURNIK’S CHAPEL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI IN BREZJE was the central event of Vurnik Days 2017. The exhibition featured the works, plans, and sketches that architect Ivan Vurnik and his wife, painter Helena Kottler Vurnik, prepared for the basilica Mary Help of Christians at Brezje. Along with their works, the exhibition featured works of the students of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana (Katarina Tadina, Katarina Marov, Eva Pestotnik, Zala Zagoršek, Špela Šmid, all 2nd year in Applied Arts, and Mihaela Romanešen, final year student in Applied Arts), under the supervision of painter and graphic designer Zora Stančič, to the topic of reinterpreting Vurniks’ works in Brezje. The exhibition’s design was created by Barbara Viki Šubic and Špela Kuhar from Center arhitekture Slovenije, while the text in the catalogue was written by Barbara Boltar, curator at the Šivec House Art Gallery of the Radovljica Municipality Museums. The archival material was provided by the National Shrine Mary Help of Christians at Brezje (Robert Bahčič) and the Museum of Architecture and Design.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort of Radovljica’s Local Community, Center arhitekture Slovenije, the Šivec House Gallery, the National Shrine Mary Help of Christians, the Museum of Architecture and Design, and the Academy of Fine Arts and Design.

On Saturday, 10 June 2017, we set off on the fourth Vurnik Trail, which each year leads us to the places where architect Ivan Vurnik and painter Helena Kottler Vurnik left their mark. This year, we visited the Vurnik’s Workers’ Colony in Maribor and other interesting architectural works from various periods to contemporaneity. Our first stop was Vurnik’s Workers’ Colony, under guidance by Dr. Marjeta Ciglenečki, including the interiors of two housing units. We continued our trip to the city centre where, under guidance by architects Assist. Prof. Robert Potokar and Nives Čorak, we went to see the railway station (architect Milan Černigoj, 1949‒55), the 14th century synagogue, mansion Naskov dvorec/Vetrinjski dvor (ARREA, architects Maruša Zorec and Matjaž Bolčina, 2009), a monument to NOB (sculptor Slavko Tihec, 1975), Hutter’s block of flats (architects Aleksander Dev and Jaroslav Černigoj, 1941), and the Lutkovno gledališče Maribor puppet theatre (ATELIERarhitekti, Jurij Kobe, 2010), guided by managing and artistic director Katarina Klančnik Kocutar. Vurnik Trail ended in the Church of Saint John Bosco (DANS arhitekti, 2015) where we were treated to a music performance (Renata Gračnar, soprano; Mitja Krajnc, tenor; Neja Skrbiš, piano; Živa Skrbiš, flute).

On 30 May, the elderly at nursing home Dom dr. Janka Benedika baked Vurnik’s cookies, which were then offered to guests attending the opening of the exhibition at the Šivec House Gallery.

Throughout the month, at Vila Podvin restaurant in Mošnje it was possible to try Vurnik’s tasting menu, created by renowned chef Uroš Štefelin (a culinary surprise Okusi Radol’ce, www.vilapodvin.si).

Between 5 and 16 June at the Šivec House Gallery, Center arhitekture Slovenije held PLAYFUL ARCHITECTURE workshops: ARCHITECT IVAN VURNIK AND PAINTER HELENA KOTTLER VURNIK for all 7th class students in the Municipality of Radovljica.

As part of the Radovljica’s Local Community holiday several events organised by Radovljica cultural organisations took place:

Thursday, 1 June 2016, Kunstelj inn garden: IZ ZEMLJE GRE V TRSEK (Vine Comes from the Soil) – wine songs at the oldest vine in the world (KUD Radovljica, Linhartov oder).

Tuesday, 6. June 2017 at 17:00 p.m., Radovljica mansion hall: FINAL CONCERT of chamber groups and presentation of awards to the best students of the Radovljica Music School.

Wednesday, 7 June 2017, Radovljica Mansion atrium: Neža Maurer poetry evening, TAKRAT, KADAR LJUBIMO (When in Love) (KUD Radovljica, Linhartov oder).