An exhibition – Macedonian Handicraft

Bitola’s hidden treasure

At the home of culture and tradition in Bitola, on 10 August 2006, starting at 8 pm, an exhibition called “Bitola’s Hidden Treasure” took place. This cultural event was organized by the Association of Craftsmen “Makedonski Rakotvorbi” from Bitola in cooperation with the municipality of Bitola as part of the Bitfest manifestation.

“The exhibition “Bitola’s Hidden Treasure” is the first exhibition of that kind organized by a civic initiative in our town, and its goal is to present hundreds of years old relicts, owned by our co-citizens”, said the president of the association, Mrs. Julijana Petrovska. The exhibition attracted a lot of Bitola citizens from, scientists and cultural workers. The craftsmen enjoyed themselves looking at the exhibited old items, searching for inspiration for their next creation. The exhibition was a rare tourist attraction for the foreigners who visited it, especially for the visitors from Greece. They could not hide their admiration when watching the old items. “These items are wonderful, I would like to buy something and take it to my country. I feel very nice in this house in Bitola, in Macedonia. I might want to stay here forever”, says young Efi, an actress from Greece. Her friend Dina, who also lives and works in Athens says: We are so similar. You, as well as we, always drink coffee and speak loudly. People in Macedonia are so kind and nice. It feels like home. I think the politics is our enemy”.

The old items displayed at the exhibition witnessed the past times. Among them were: authentic handicraft, a number of inherited items and antiques that were carefully maintained throughout the years. There were also a lot of wedding costumes, embroidery, knitted things, a photo-lab, silver jewellery, manual record players, a sewing machine, hand-made glasses, a jug, a mortar, a small cauldron, a pipkin, a copper jug, casela, an iron, a distaff, coffee grinder and many other items that witnessed the past and will forever remain present in our souls.

With the exhibition “Bitola’s Hidden Treasure”, the Craftsmen Association “Makedonski Rakotvorbi” made another step forward in realizing their mission: preservation, promotion and presentation of the Macedonia cultural heritage. I truly hope that the message has reached you: many things you have in your homes that you got from your grandparents are a real treasure – sometimes financial, but more often spiritual. Love them and cherish them, they are …for continuing the Macedonian culture and tradition, witnesses of what we once were, who we are and what we will be.

 

N.N.