June 18, 2010 saw the dedication of a replacement bust of Ivan Cankar (1876-1918), Slovenian essayist, political activist, playwright, poet and writer.  On hand for the dedication were members of the Slovene community, Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation delegates and president, Paul Burik, as well as prominent Slovene federal parlimentarians: Miro Petek, Gvido Kres, and  Vasja Klavora together with their secretaries Katja Jerman, Ph.D. and Breda Mulec, Ph.D.

Cankar Unveiled by Messrs Petek, Kres & Jaksic

Cankar Dedication Crowd courtesy of Dan Hanson

IVAN CANKAR BUST

RE-DEDICATED IN THE SLOVENIAN CULTURAL GARDEN JUNE 18th 2010.

Please join the Slovenian Cultural Garden Association, on Friday June 18th, 2010 for the dedication of a newly carved bust of Ivan Cankar, famous poet and writer.

This event has become an exciting community celebration and an important milestone in the efforts of restoration and future development of the Cleveland Slovenian Cultural Garden.

Ivan Cankar (May 10, 1876 –December 11, 1918) was a Slovenian writer, playwright, essayist and poet. He was also a political activist. He is regarded as the greatest writer in the Slovene language and has sometimes been compared to Franz Kafka and James Joyce.

Local elected officials and dignitaries will be in attendance at the re-dedication. The unveiling event will also include representatives visiting Cleveland, from the Government of Slovenia. The dignitaries, hosted by Jurek Zmauc, Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland, include:

1) Miro Petek, member of The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and President of parliamentarian Commission for Relations with Slovenes in Neighboring and Other Countries

2) Gvido Kres, member of The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and member of parliamentarian  Commission for Relations with Slovenes in Neighboring and Other Countries

3) mag. Vasja Klavora, vice president of The National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia and member of parliamentarian , Commission for Relations with Slovenes in Neighboring and Other Countries

4) Katja Jerman, Ph.D., secretary of Commission for Relations with Slovenes in Neighboring and Other Countries

4) Breda Mulec, Ph.D., secretary of Office for Slovenes abroad

The Cankar commemorative bust was originally installed in the Jugoslav Cultural Garden in 1944,created by Rudolph Mafko. The original bronze bust was mounted on a classical sandstone niche wall. The treasured sculpture had fallen victim to vandalism in 1990’s. The replacement bust, created in similar style, but in granite, was carefully sculpted by Teodor (Ted) Stroie, a regional artist, known for his magnificent and detailed art and architectural work. Both the restored sandstone wall and the newly created Cankar Bust will be unveiled at this long awaited event.

Since the establishment of an independent Slovenian Government, the Cleveland Jugoslav Garden has become the Slovenian Cultural Garden. The Slovenian Cultural Garden Association works to restore, preserve and maintain the Slovenian Garden property. Croatia and Serbia have since created their own gardens in new locations in the Rockefeller Park.

Festivities will begin at 2:00 PM , Friday June 18th, 2010. The Slovenian Cultural Garden is located at 840 East Boulevard Cleveland, Ohio 44108 Website www.cleslo.com/scga For additional information contact: Ron Jaksic (216) 534-4024 RONJ999@hotmail.com

Ivan Cankar Bust

City Year-Cleveland, along with Cleveland State University’s Center for Leadership and Service brought over 40 volunteers to the Cultural Gardens on Saturday, October 24, 2009 for their 19th national “Make a Difference Day” volunteer efforts.  The difference they made in the Gardens after four hours must be seen to be believed.  The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation salutes City Year-Cleveland and CSU’s Center for Leadership and Service for making a world of a difference in the Cultural Gardens.  Thanks to Philip Hrvatin of the Slovenian Cultural Garden we have pictures of just some of those volunteers.

Make a Difference Day Volunteers--Slovenian Garden

Volunteers in Slovenian Garden, Make A Difference Day, October 24, 2009

Make A Difference Day Information

Clean-up results in the Slovenian Garden