THE LASTOVKE LACEMAKERS EXHIBIT THEIR LACE
At Petrovc House in Cerklje na Gorenjskem, from last Friday, 6 September, to Sunday, 8 September, visitors could see the ninth solo exhibition of 210 bobbin lace pieces made by the skilful hands of twenty-three girls and women from the Lastovke Cerklje lacemaking group, which they titled Lace from Patterns by Irma Pervanja.
Led by Alojzija Mrgole, the Lastovke bring together lacemakers from the municipality of Cerklje and many surrounding places. Bobbin lace is truly a work of art: a rainbow of colours and pure white in threads that intertwine in countless techniques. Handmade lace is something that lovers of handicrafts, art and beautiful things have treasured for centuries. Bobbin lacemaking is said to be an age-old traditional craft in Slovenia, too. Their work is interwoven with a love of lacemaking and of each other's company, and the lacemakers create wonderful one-of-a-kind pieces. The pieces were on display in the Gallery and the upper rooms of Petrovc House in Cerklje.
Making lace since 2009
This year, the members of the Lastovke Cerklje lacemaking group are starting their fifteenth year of learning. They meet every Monday from 18.00 to 20.00 on the premises of Davorin Jenko Primary School in Cerklje na Gorenjskem.
Their mentors, Majda Mazi and Zdenka Zajc, carefully oversee the making of their lace masterpieces. Every one of them looks forward to the meetings, which give them the chance to learn how to make new lace masterpieces while also enjoying pleasant company and relaxed conversation. Their flock now numbers 30 members. The Lastovke have been making lace together since 2009, when there were ten of them.
Exhibiting lace across Slovenia
This year they have exhibited their lace at the Easter Exhibition in Cerklje, at a lace exhibition in Idrija on the theme of Roses of Hope, at another in Žiri on the theme of Medicinal Plants, and at the presentation of the Municipality of Cerklje at the BTC Market in Ljubljana.
On show for the first time
Alojzija Mrgole added: “We have been busily making lace all year, and all the pieces on display are being shown for the first time and were made this year.” Visitors to the exhibition came from various parts of Slovenia. The pieces attracted a great deal of attention and praise, much of it also recorded in the visitors' book. Among the visitors were Sonja Starič and Milena Škrjanc from Stražišče pri Kranju, themselves lacemakers and members of the Ivanjščice Stražišče-Bitnje Pensioners' Association, who were thrilled by the 210 pieces on display in the Gallery and on the first floor of Petrovc House. They said: “Incredible! It will take me a few days to take in all this beauty. Heartfelt congratulations to every one of you, and keep going boldly. Our enthusiasm knows no bounds!” Among other entries, we could also read one by Mrs Mirjana: “May your threads long continue to flow through your exceptional ideas into beautiful creations!” The exhibition at Petrovc House closed on Sunday evening, 8 September.
Text and photo: Janez Kuhar, Cerklje, 8 September 2024
