INTERNATIONAL STONE COLONY – SRPSKA REPUBLIC (BiH)

The Public Institution "Homeland Museum of Gradiška“, Republic of Srpska (BiH) in cooperation with association "Kamena kolonija“ from Belgrade, Serbia organize the First international "Stone Colony Boro Nježić" Gradiška, taking place 07.09 – 14.09. 2020

Participants: two sculptors and two mosaicists (selected on the basis of received applications or at the organizers’ invitation)

Themes of the colony:

Sculpture “Forgotten Thessalonians“ and free theme

On the eve of World War I, the Bosanska Gradiška district (the territory of today's Gradiška) was part of Austro-Hungary. During that period, the progressive youth of Gradiška gathered in many associations (“Srpski Soko”, “Pobratimstvo”, Serb Educational and Cultural Association “Prosvjeta” ...) in which national feelings were nurtured and a revolt and resistance to the Austro-Hungarian government was initiated.

After the assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the outbreak of the Great War, more and more frequent need among young people and recruited soldiers to flee to Serbia and join the Serbian soldiers apeared. In the World War I, 6,100 citizens of Gradiška were engaged, out of which over 820 lost their lives being the part of the Austro-Hungarian army. During this period, 365 volunteers fled to the Serbian and allied detachments, who knew that they would cause a lot of problems for their families, who remained in Gradiška, and even losing the citizenship, but the national feeling towards the fair struggle of their motherland was stronger than that.
Not to forget the 365 citizens of Gradiška who fled from the Austro-Hungarian army and joined the Serbian and allied detachments - the theme of "Stone Colony Boro Nježić" for making the sculpture placed in the exterior will be FORGOTTEN THESSALONIAN

- Mosaic “Children of Kozara“ and free theme

On the eve of World War II, there were about 70,000 inhabitants on the territory of Gradiška. By establishing the Independent State of Croatia (NDH), the great suffering of Serbs, Roma and Jews began, and the greatest suffering happened during the Kozara Offensive in June 1942, when about 70,000 inhabitants from the area of Kozara were forced to concentration camps. Among them, there were over 26,000 children under the age of 14. According to the research of historians, 74,762 children were killed in the Independent State of Croatia during the war, and the number of killed children from the territory of Gradiška is 5,415.
For such crimes not to be forgotten and repeated ever again - the theme of "Stone Colony Boro Nježić" for making a wall mosaic this year will be CHILDREN OF KOZARA

Free theme In addition to these two themes, a free theme chosen by the artist for sculpture and mosaic is planned at the "Stone Colony Boro Nježić".

Material:
Stone Dimensions: for sculptures about 1.5 – 2.0 m3 , mosaic 1.5 – 2.0 m2

Location: Gradiška, City park

Exhibition venue: Public spaces (park, pavements, facades) in Gradiška (place chosen by the organizer on the basis of professional consultation with the author)

Obligations of the participants of “Stone Colony Boro Nježić“ Organizer:

Provides professional organization and management of the "Stone Colony Boro Nježić",
Provides stone and all other raw materials for making sculptures and mosaics;
Provides tools and machines for transporting materials and provides assistance for difficult physical tasks, ensures electricity and electrical connection, the base for sculptures and arranging the space for placing mosaics, provides assistance in setting up the sculpture, provides protective impregnation for the sculpture and mosaics;
Covers travel, accommodation and meals costs during the symposium in the city and provides soft drinks at the workplace;
Ensures media promotion of the colony (articles and publications, print media, TV, social networks and the Museum's website), public presentation in the end of the colony; ▪ International "Stone Colony Boro Nježić", provides a budget in the amount of BAM 5,000.00;
The money will be awarded within categories from 1st to 4th place, according to the judges’ criteria.

HOW TO APPLY:
Candidates for participation are supposed to:

Have experience in making sculptures and mosaics in stone;
Work independently in the open space, use protective equipment, and their own machines and tools used in stone processing;
Have health and accident insurance;
Get acquainted with the regulations of the colony and adhere to them;
Inform the organizer of any special needs, requirements and wishes, which may affect the organization of the colony or the expectations of the organizer.

Applications for participation (to require to the email address below or to info@aiesm.com ), together with the biography, description of the conceptual design for sculptures and mosaics, sketches or photographs of the model must be submitted till 20.08.2020, on the address:
PI "Homeland Museum of Gradiška“, Dr Mladena Stojanovića 8, 78400 Gradiška, Republic of Srpska,
with the indication "Stone Colony Boro Nježić", or by email: kamenakolonija@gmail.com .
The works will be judged by an international jury composed of sculptors, art historians, mosaicists and organizers of the stone colony.
The selected candidates will be notified of their participation no later than 25.08.2020.