Slovenian Art and Cultural Exchange at St. Thomas University

MIAMI, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To further its ongoing mission of developing leaders for life in an ever-evolving global community, St. Thomas University is presenting "Move Moment," an exhibition of contemporary Slovenian art at the Sardinas Gallery on the school's Miami Gardens campus. His Excellency Roman Kirn, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia, attended the kick-off and pre-exhibit cocktail party.

The exhibition's South Florida visit was arranged in large part by Dr. Gregory Chan, St. Thomas University Provost and Honorary Consul of Slovenia in Florida, and Aleksandra Zupan, a St. Thomas student who is a native of Slovenia, a Central European country whose nearest neighbors are Italy, Croatia, Hungary, and Austria. The tiny republic (population approximately 2 million) gained its independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, and has been part of the European Union since 2004. "Move Moment" originally was shown at the Slovenian embassy in Washington, D.C., and in New York City.

"Art is always a natural bridge," says Ambassador Kirn. "We have an excellent relationship with the United States, but we know our relationship does not stop in Washington, D.C." The ambassador says he is looking forward to introducing Slovenian works to the Miami art community and to visiting Dr. Chan, whom he called "a diligent and motivated honorary consul." "Slovenia needs to increase its identity," he explains. "We hope to encourage more cooperation in the areas of education, science, trade, and tourism, to benefit the interests of everyone."

The exhibit itself - which includes sculpture, paintings, photos, and graphics - reflects the independent expressions of the artists, says Gail Casale, New York City art dealer and sister of Msgr. Casale. "There's not a commonality at all; it's not thematic. There is a lot of diversity, which suggests the freedom for each artist to express his or her individuality. While the artists are clearly schooled, there don't appear to be any restraints." The works were created by members of the Fine Arts Society of Ljubljana, the capital city. The director of the Ljubljana City Museum, Aleksander Bassin, gave an informal lecture prior to the exhibit.