"CROATIAN NAIVE ART DAY" OPENED

( Editorial: --> 0101 ) GORNJA RIJEKA, Sept 13 (Hina) - The "Day of Croatian Naive Art" was opened at the Gornja Rijeka castle, in the Koprivnica-Krizevci County, on Sunday. This first such manifestation in Croatia was opened by Croatian National Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic. September 13 was chosen for the day of the opening because on that day in 1931, a 17-year-old Ivan Generalic had his first exhibition of paintings. He was later to become one of the originators of Croatian naive art. Opening the manifestation, Pavletic said the works of Croatian naive artists could be found in numerous museums and galleries all over the world. Croatian naive art is authentically Croatian, glorified by four great artists - Ivan Generalic, Ivan Rabuzin, Ivan Lackovic-Croata and Ivan Vecenaj. The castle in Gornja Rijeka, the former residence of the Erdedi counts, is to become a hotel-museum and is currently being reconstructed. The castle will contain 20 ateliers where artists will show their work to visitors. As of the year 2000, an international naive art manifestation will take place every other year. (hina) lml 131406 MET sep 98