As part of the accompanying program of the 32nd Bar Yearbook, the 14nd Summer School of Graphics, which was led by the founder-academic artist Natasa Drešić from Bar, has just ended.
In the Church of St. Veneranda in the Old Town, an exhibition of works was opened by 23 participants aged from seven to 62, who presented 44 works. The installation was opened in front of the organizers by Vesna Vujošević Labović and Nataša Drešić, who in the interview for "Vijesti" did not hide her satisfaction with what was achieved. This free school has been working for three hours every day since the eighth of July in the church of St. Mark in the Old Town.
"The group was friendly, and it was really interesting, in a wonderful environment for work. The old town should definitely be valorized in this way and I hope that this school will continue. I tried my best to dedicate myself equally to everyone, we managed to bring everything to the final work. We did letterpress linocut, one work was monochrome, we worked with a spoon, a hand print, and a two-color work with a chest. In a short time, they learned the basics, the point was to explain what original graphics are, to make a difference between graphics and drawings, I explained by showing them graphic sheets. We went step by step, in the end they got a clear picture", Drešić told "Vijesti".
Commenting on the talent of the participants, she pointed out that future colleagues can be immediately recognized among the youngest, "some intend to continue their education at the High School of Fine Arts, and one participant, I hope, will enroll in the Academy".
"Young age definitely has its own qualities, it's complete freedom, you can see it in the works. They are not expected to be skilled at drawing, that comes later with age, maybe even that education spoils the spirit because they strive for certain ideals and norms that have been set, and that young age possesses that expression of the spirit on paper", adds Drešić.
The day after the exhibition, she immediately returned to Ljubljana, where she is studying for her master's degree. Comparing the experiences of graphic artists in Montenegro and Slovenia, she points out that there are much better working conditions there, but that there is greater freedom of expression here.
"Graphics are much more appreciated in Slovenia, they are supported by the state, and the famous Ljubljana Biennale of Graphics is currently underway. This is not the case with us, and that is exactly why I would like this bar school of ours to continue to become a tradition, both for the sake of the participants and for the valorization of the concept of graphics because it is very little represented in Montenegro, there are few exhibitions of graphics, I hope that this is a small way and contribution to fix it", concluded Drešić.
Nataša Drešić completed her basic and specialist studies at the graphic department of the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cetinje in the class of Professor Anka Burić in 2016. In 2015, she attended the "Ecole Superieure d'Art de Lorraine" in Metz, France. She won the CANU scholarship for encouraging the artistic youth of Montenegro in 2017, when she also became a member of the ULUCG. During 2017, she worked as an intern at the painting department of the FLU in Cetinje, and now she works as an art teacher at the "Stefan Mitrov Ljubiša" elementary school in Budva. Behind her are solo exhibitions "Autumn Graphics" 2017, "Self-Reflection" at CKB Podgorica 2017 and at the Bar Yearbook 2017, "Self-Reflection" at the Center of Contemporary Art of Montenegro in the "Centar" gallery, Podgorica, 2017, "Diploma Exhibition" in Gallery 42 in Cetinje in 2016, and "Ecole Superieure d'Art de Lorraine", as well as a series of collective exhibitions and workshops.
Bonus video:
