Tagged “Skopje”

Another Mother

Archives of the Mobile Lanscape: Skopje Postcards, 1899-2014 by Prof. Christina Kramer

In her presentation, "Archives of the Mobile Landscape: Skopje Postcards, 1899–2014," Professor Christina Kramer explores how a century of political and environmental upheaval is reflected through the shifting "frame" of the postcard. By tracking four iconic landmarks—the Kale Fortress, the Stone Bridge, Macedonia Square, and the Old Bazaar—Kramer demonstrates how successive regimes used these spaces to project power, evidenced by the constant renaming of sites and the changing symbols on their facades. Beyond the visual architecture, the messages written by soldiers, travelers, and students provide a human record of a city that has survived occupation, war, and the devastating 1963 earthquake, ultimately revealing Skopje’s resilient history of destruction and reimagining.

The Jews of Macedonia

The Canadian Macedonian Historical Society successfully launched its lecture season with a capacity-crowd event at the North York Central Library, featuring presentations on the intersection of Jewish and Macedonian history. Co-President Ginny Evans introduced guest speakers Dr. Christina Kramer, who detailed the history of Macedonian Jews from their 15th-century arrival to the tragic loss of 98 percent of the population during the Holocaust, and filmmaker Marija Makeska, who screened her documentary Get To Know Us and the film Soulmates. The evening highlighted the resilience of the Jewish community, noting the contemporary construction of a Holocaust Memorial in Skopje and the passage of pioneering restitution laws in the Republic of Macedonia. Attended by Consul General Trenevski, the event fostered an engaging dialogue on historical shared struggles and cultural preservation, underscored by a poignant recitation in Ladino, the ancestral language of Sephardic Jews.

Canadian Macedonian Artist Michael Close - on his work and Mother Teresa

On December 26, 2008, Canadian-Macedonian artist Michael Close was recognized for his humanistic and philanthropic approach to contemporary art, particularly through his evocative portraits of Mother Teresa. A graduate of OCAD University with a background in scenic design for film and theater, Close developed a distinct style that blends strong figurative lines with pensive, harmonious themes to explore global humanity. His deep connection to his heritage is most evident in his tributes to the "Macedonian Mother Teresa," with his work featured in the Mother Teresa Museum in Skopje, linking her legacy of compassion to her birthplace. Often collaborating with organizations like the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society, Close utilized his international exhibitions and frequent art donations to bridge cultural history with charitable action, solidifying his role as a key artistic voice in the diaspora.