Clara Fritzsche Library Presents

SYMBOLIC BEAUTY: CROATIAN TEXTILE DESIGNS

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - January 7, 2005 - Notre Dame College’s Clara Fritzsche Library will host “Symbolic Beauty: Croatian Textile Design,” an exhibition of costumes, headdresses, scarves and other traditional needlework pieces from the private collection of Stjepan Vlahovich of Columbus, Ohio. The exhibit will focus on the symbolism and reflections of social customs as represented in the needlework on display and will serve as an introduction to the rich folk life and folk art traditions of Croatia through an examination of folk dress and household textiles The major characteristics of Croatian folk dress are the quantity and diversity of the weaving designs of its loomed fabrics, the seemingly endless variety in embroidery techniques, drawn and cutwork, and lacework and the use of color and the creation of designs that, at times, reach back to the ancient pre-Christian era. Regional and social identity are determined by style, design and color, with the topography and economy of a region dictating the fabric. The political history of an area can also be traced through certain characteristics of the folk dress of a region. Regional identity applies to both men and women. However, just as most of the artifacts on display are the work of women’s hands, social identity is more closely associated with women. Each of the headdresses, aprons and other textiles in the exhibit can be “read” like texts to understand the social status, time of life, religious emphasis and other characteristics of the wearer. Fabric stitchery methods, colors and patterns are all used to tell the story of the wearer’s life, a type of autobiography and cultural history on fabric. Accompanying information panels will highlight the incredibly complex symbolism found within the fabric and thread and aid the viewer in understanding and decoding the rich social and cultural history of the Croatian nation. The presence of universal motifs and themes in the pieces, such as the prevalence of goddess imagery, illustrates the commonality among peoples despite differences in language and geography.

A second generation Croatian-American, Vlahovich’s interest in things Croatian was sparked by his first visit to Croatia while a student at Ohio State University . Upon returning, he immersed himself in Croatian history and literature. Vlahovich’s interest in Croatian folk dress and textiles began during the eleven years he was a dancer and singer with Zivili, a Columbus-based ensemble that featured Croatian folk dances and songs in its repertoire. After retiring from Zivili, he began collecting folk dress and textiles during annual trips to Croatia . Initially he was attracted by their great beauty, intricate designs, use of color and endless variety. As his interest evolved he became more systemized and focused in his collecting, seeking pieces from all over Croatia that represent the rich variety of materials, designs and techniques used by Croatian women in their textile art. The extensive collection has also been exhibited at the Croatian Heritage Museum in Eastlake , Ohio and at the Riffe Gallery of the Ohio Arts Council in Columbus .

The exhibit will be curated by Fran Babic, former Director of Lifelong Learning at Notre Dame College and cofounder of NDC’s Eleanor Malburg Eastern Churches Seminar, now in its 21 st year. Babic holds an M.A. in Soviet and East European History from John Carroll University and a B.A. in Russian History and Cultures from Ursuline College and has studied at Jagiellonian University in Krakow , Poland and Duquesne University , where she was a member of the Tamburitzans performing group. She has taught history, literature and world civilizations and the history of costume at Ursuline College , Lakeland Community College , Notre Dame College and John Carroll University . Her knowledge of the history, evolution and symbolism of European design motifs is extensive and she has published, lectured and coordinated numerous exhibits and workshops on Croatian history for the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Croatian Heritage Museum and other cultural heritage organizations. Babic served as curator of the aforementioned Croatian costume exhibits, and exhibits of icons, Hungarian textiles, Eastern European Easter eggs and Polish and Chinese papercuttings for our library. We are pleased to have her lend her expertise to this exhibit.

The exhibit will run from February 3 rd through March 30 th, 2005 . An opening reception and gallery talk will be held on Thursday, February 3 rd from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is free and refreshments will be served. The exhibit may be viewed during library hours: Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-10 p.m. ; Fri-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ; Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m. For more information, contact Karen Zoller at 216-373-5267.

This exhibit is sponsored by a grant from the Ohio Humanities Council, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.