"A bar story", "a product of a creative team", "old school" - this is how visitors described the third "Strip Art Bar" (SAB) festival, which was the brainchild of Baranin and a comic artist Andrije Vujošević, this weekend in the city under Rumija brought together creators and lovers of the ninth art.
SAB, which is now taking on the character of a traditional event, offered the local and wider audience a comic book drawing workshop for the youngest, an exhibition of local and regional comic artists and illustrators, sculptures, the promotion of a new comic book, a musical program, etc. over the course of two days.
Vujošević, the festival's creator, who heads the Bar comic book publishing house „Vintart Comics“, he told "Vijesti" that his impressions were more than positive and that more children came than they expected.
"Artists came from all over Montenegro, we had something to present in the field of sculptures, works, workshops. The days were full, everyone was delighted and my heart is full," he said.
SAB was held for the first time in new locations – in Pionirski Park and in the "House of Olives", and Vujošević claims that this decision was a great success. According to him, that park was the ideal location for the first SAB, three years ago, because he and his friends love that space and spend a lot of time there. They couldn't make it happen then, so their wish came true at this year's event.
On Saturday, the winners of the competition were announced at the Bar "House of Olives", and an exhibition and promotion of the comic strip "Virgin", written by Tamara Popovic, illustrated Luka Cakic and published by the house "Vintart".
It is important to promote comic book culture, Vujošević believes, because comics are part of Montenegrin culture and tradition. Older generations were fans of Italian comics, he said, just as young people are fans of manga now. That is why the audience at SAB was diverse.
"The older generation, the so-called old guard, for them comics remained something that was part of their everyday life in their younger days. It is also important to show Montenegrin comic book authors that they have a place where they can show their art and give them space to promote themselves in their country, so that the ninth art can continue to live," said Vujošević.
At the festival, as before, comic artists and illustrators such as Luka Cakić, Đorđe Kamenarović, Sara and Silva Dervanović, Tamara Popović, Miodrag Spasojević, Darijan Hadžisalihović exhibited their works... In this way, the youngest visitors to SAB had the opportunity to learn from the most prominent in the industry.
Among the sculptures on display was "Sabljarka" by Baranin. Joka Lekic, a professor of Italian language and artist. As Lekić told "Vijesti", it is about the heroine from the story in the paintings of Andrija Vujošević.
Lekić created the sculpture in plaster, coated with bronze and sprayed with green tempera for the needs of SAB, and he says that the main motivation behind this sculptural work is the long-standing friendship he shares with Sabljarka's creator.
Lekić found the tempera, which he sprinkled in traces on the sculpture, in the classroom of the school where he teaches and saw it as a sign - forgotten by a child, it will be a detail for bringing Vujošević's work closer to a younger audience.
When asked how satisfied he was with the implementation and the audience response, Lekić replied that there were more visitors than expected, and that the most important thing for him was that there were a lot of children.
"The most important thing is children. They are the bearers of this art, because at those ages a love for this or another type of art emerges, which needs to be nurtured. That is why it is important for them to be at these events, because these events are for them. They must have a space to express themselves and nurture their extraordinary talents," said Lekić.
Visitors who spoke to "Vijesti" had only positive impressions. They assessed that there needs to be more content like this, and that the creators of such ideas should be supported in every possible way.
"This is a beautiful story. We came to support all the efforts that the organizers have been making over the past few years to organize an event for us, who, let's say, love unusual things and comic books. To get together, exchange impressions. In general, only positive energy, and such are the impressions," said one of the visitors.
The three best works drawn by the children during the workshops were awarded, with the first place winner receiving a cash prize of 100 euros and the comic book "Virgin". Second and third place were awarded with material from SAB and a gift from the "House of Olives".
This is the first independent SAB that Vintart organizes without the support of the Cultural Center Bar, which was the case for the previous two years. Sponsors of this year's festival are the Municipality of Bar - Secretariat for Culture, "Kuća Maslina", "Luka Bar", Sports Center "Topolica", Tourist Organization Bar and the oil mill "Bartulanka".
Bonus video:
