As part of the Kaštela Cultural and Entertainment Summer, a magical evening was held in the atrium of the stone houses on the hill in Kaštel Novi, combining poetry, visual arts, and stage play. This historic hill, once the center of life, once again shone in its full glory – just as generations of Kaštela residents remember it.
- This brce has symbolism for many. People played, talked, and socialized here - said the chronicler of her time, writer and painter Ivanka Biluš-Gagić, who gathered people together again at the Novi brce after two years.
The evening was opened by the St. Peter's parish choir, which is celebrating 160 years of existence and activity this year. Under the direction of Mario Žuvela, they introduced the large audience to the evening by singing the symbolic song "Nije u šoldima sve", sending a clear message that home is the most beautiful place.
- Everyone came to the brce - Ivanka pointed out: - this was the center of the community - everything was there: the shop, the shoemaker, the pharmacy, the loggia where the workers came.
Ivanka spent most of her life in Paris, where she created and exhibited, but she never forgot Kaštela and her hometown:
- I invited two people from Kaštela who write poetry, which makes me very happy. I would also like to connect them with others who are involved in poetry. They will be my guests tonight and will present their poems, and I will present mine. Also, just as I write poems, I also write dramas, I also wrote 'Sick Tooth'. It is a story from years gone by, customs and lifestyles, how people lived and respected each other, all with a touch of humor, so it will be fun. My new paintings will be part of the scenery. I used to work with dry pastels, now I use watercolors. I love Kaštela, I love socializing, I love people. I would like even more people who write poetry to get together and get to know each other.
The central part of the evening was hosted by journalist Ivona Jakić, in the form of a conversation between poets – Ivanka Biluš-Gagić, Mladen Kuzmanić-Fradela and Katarina Beretin.
Katarina Beretin, for whom this is her first performance in front of such a large audience, emphasized:
- This is my first time performing as a self-confident poet because I haven't published my poems, I've been writing them just for my soul. When Ivanka invited me to read a few of my poems, I agreed and I'm glad to be part of this atmosphere. I find inspiration through life. For example, I sit on the waterfront and see the moon, which inspires me to write a poem about it. The moon, the sun... When something happens, I write a poem. I come from a peasant family, so I often write about peasants. I write down whatever comes to me at that moment. During the corona, I wrote the most, about 4-5 poems. But now I write a little less. When inspiration comes, I write it down because it's not always easy to find time to write - said Beretin, who recalled the creation of the poem "Hands" during the conversation, describing the peasant life at that time.
During the evening, other of their songs were also heard, and the writers also recalled their shared childhoods on the same street.
The drama "Sick Tooth" evoked memories of days gone by, all imbued with humor and warmth. The play depicts the relationship of an elderly couple from the former Kaštela, and was performed by the amateur theater "Moreta" through the acting of Rok Szarvaš, Mihaela Biluš Gagić and Lucija Veljača.
Ivan Milan, president of the Moreta association, emphasized:
- We realized the drama based on Ivanka's text. I am glad that this is the third performance that Moreta has staged this summer. Each one was attended, with many more seats than we expected. We can consider this the highlight of the Kaštela cultural summer and our participation in it. The evening will be filled with poems, paintings and a drama, where we will unite the literary work of Ivanka Biluš-Gagić. I am glad that her friends, collaborators, people we work with every day, whom you may know, and who you may not know have their own talents, like Fradel and Katarina, are here, who will show their poetic side - Milan emphasized.
The paintings by Ivanka Biluš Gagić, which adorned the open-air stage area, carry strong Kaštela motifs, which further contributed to the atmosphere of this summer evening, which brought together both young and old, and domestic and foreign visitors.
The director of the Kaštela Tourist Board, Nada Maršić, joined the evening and greeted the gathering with the words:
- We are all emotionally connected to Kaštel Novi and this place in one way or another, and so am I. I spent my most beautiful childhood memories right here. Štrada, Porat, Đardin and Brce, of course. So, I also share these excellent, positive and beautiful emotions related to this evening and to Brce. On this occasion, I would like to thank the organizers for another wonderful evening, which includes music, performing arts, poetry, visual arts and all of that in one. In a way, the spiritus movens of the entire evening, of all these events, is our Mrs. Ivanka, who is not only the initiator, but can be an inspiration to all of us for our work and achievements. The Tourist Board and the City of Kaštela support such and similar events. I wish the organizers much success, Mrs. Ivanka as well, and everyone a pleasant evening of company and fun - Maršić was nostalgic.
The evening of songs, paintings and plays "The Blueness of the Sky, the Reflection of the Sea" was organized by the Amateur Theatre "Moreta" in collaboration with the writer and artist Ivanka Biluš-Gagić, making Brce once again a place of gathering, art and joy - just like it used to be.
Photo: Andrej Valentić
This text was co-financed by the Fund for Promoting Diversity and Pluralism of Electronic Media.
