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2026.
kolovoz, 2026.
STJEPAN GIZDAVČIĆ
Vis, island Vis, November 27, 1889. - Dugi Rat, December 5, 1973.
Stjepan Gizdavčić was born into a large family in Vis on November 27, 1889. He worked as a barber in Vis for a time, but after meeting and falling in love with Karmela Kalebota - a girl from Trogir - he moved with her to Dugi Rat, near Omiš, in 1924. There, he got a job at the ferro-alloy factory and settled down. In 1927, Stjepan and Karmela had a son, Časlav, and shortly thereafter a daughter, Nadežda.
Vis, island Vis, November 27, 1889. - Dugi Rat, December 5, 1973.
Stjepan Gizdavčić was born into a large family in Vis on November 27, 1889. He worked as a barber in Vis for a time, but after meeting and falling in love with Karmela Kalebota - a girl from Trogir - he moved with her to Dugi Rat, near Omiš, in 1924. There, he got a job at the ferro-alloy factory and settled down. In 1927, Stjepan and Karmela had a son, Časlav, and shortly thereafter a daughter, Nadežda.
According to his son, Stjepan received an award at the factory for an innovation in the production process; interestingly, he also managed to build a motorcycle at home by mounting an engine onto a bicycle. He was a man of diverse talents, but he is best remembered in Dugi Rat and Omiš for his gift for photography.
In the basement of the house he lived in, he set up both a black-and-white photography darkroom and an art studio. After developing his films and making prints, he used to relax by painting oils. In photography, he was drawn to a wide range of motifs. In addition to taking family photos, he used to, whenever possible, visit friends and acquaintances to photograph their important family events and create portraits.
He loved to travel, taking photos in cities all over Croatia, Slovenia and Italy, and he even captured images of certain historical events. Among other things, he documented the ‘’Sinjska Alka’’ chivalric tournament in 1934, the arrival of warships in Split and Dugi Rat during the 1930s, and the installation of Meštrović’s sculpture of the Archbishop Gregory of Nin on the Peristyle in Split.
He also organized and photographed carnival festivities in Dugi Rat. In the 1960s, he photographed actors on the set of the famous film about the Native American chief Winnetou in the Cetina River canyon near Omiš. Using a tripod, he captured the total solar eclipse in 1961 and documented numerous sports events and matches played by the local football club Orkan, for which his son played as a goalkeeper.
Many of his photographs possess aesthetic and artistic qualities, and, given the passage of a full century since they were taken, they undoubtedly hold historical value as well.
Stjepan Gizdavčić passed away on December 5, 1973, as a result of a stroke.
His grandson, Goran Gizdavčić, inherited his love for photography and has been exhibiting his own photographic work for many years. Presently, he is a professional fine-art photographer living in Omiš.
2025.
august, 2025.
With this exhibition dedicated to waterfalls and a small retrospective of his exhibition
posters, Goran rounds off 25 years of exhibiting at the Church of the Holy Spirit and
40 years of photography. He continues his calendar series with a new calendar for
2026 with the theme of the Rivers of Croatia.
He recently published one more text in a series of texts accompanied by photographs on Croatia's natural and cultural heritage. The story of the town of Nin illustrated by his photographs was published in this year's summer issue of the magazine Hrvatska Vodoprivreda.
You can find out more about his work on his website www.therewaslight.net
He recently published one more text in a series of texts accompanied by photographs on Croatia's natural and cultural heritage. The story of the town of Nin illustrated by his photographs was published in this year's summer issue of the magazine Hrvatska Vodoprivreda.
You can find out more about his work on his website www.therewaslight.net
As a message to himself and to the followers of his work, he quotes the words of Mother Teresa: " We can not do great things - but we can do small things with great love."
2024.
August, 2024.
With his exhibition entitled „From Door to Door“, the author continues thematically
his exhibition of photographs from 2014 with the similar name „From Window to
Window“.
By entering through the door, as well as looking through the window, in a symbolic sense he wants to get closer to the world beyond this material one. With this exhibition, he has come quite close to the quarter of a century of exhibiting in the Church of the Holly Spirit in Omiš.
By entering through the door, as well as looking through the window, in a symbolic sense he wants to get closer to the world beyond this material one. With this exhibition, he has come quite close to the quarter of a century of exhibiting in the Church of the Holly Spirit in Omiš.
From Door to Door
On the eve of one more of his exhibitions in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Omiš, Goran Gizdavčić is returning to his old interests related to traditional construction. Love for heritage and awareness of profound changes in the way of life that are most reflected in rural areas are the focus of Goran's photographic interest. The rapid changes and development of society, which turned towards more economically prosperous urban areas,
have left behind entire communities abandoned to oblivion and decay, and all these phenomena have been recognized by Goran and sublimated in a significant symbol - the symbol of locked doors.
The door that represented the entrance to the most personal and intimate space, the space of one's own home, remains locked today. You can no longer enter or exit through it, since the homes of some past lives have been abandoned. All the symbolism of the flow of time, all the changes and resulting absences are woven into the door, as Goran’s lens brings it into focus . Time dissolves, the paint peels off, the door is not unlocked. And then the process moves on, the door gates are lost, the borders between the inside and the outside are erased, because the ravages of time lead to decay. Goran records closed doors, his photos reflect the sadness of abandoned homes, from which life left long ago and moved to some more prosperous areas. Only the timeless beauty of nature framed through the opening of the door remains untouched, and the sea and sky in their shades of blue stand as a counterpoint of the eternal to the transient.
And then Goran turns to other, restored door, the one that symbolize life. This door is locked as well, but bathed in sunlight, and life vibrates behind the locked door gates. And some other door is left ajar towards the spiritual and symbolizes support on the path of life. The deeply contemplative photos are in front of us, offering different aspects of time ; we feel transience and duration, but support and hope as well. Goran's photos exude calmness and melancholy, awareness of the endless beauty and timelessness of the sea and sky, respect and love for past times, but awareness of the limited duration of everything created by human hands as well. Goran apostrophizes all the resulting changes, sadness and hopes with the symbolism of the door.
Anita Gamulin, Conservator
2023.
August, 2023.
On August 28, 2023, at 9 p.m., the longtime series of exhibitions by
Goran Gizdavčić continues in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
The photo exhibition entitled "A Common Tree, or..." is dedicated to
his recently deceased mother, who loved trees very much.
14 photos out of the 16 framed photos in standard and large formats are in color and two are black and white, one of which was recorded on black and white infrared film. The motifs of the trees are different, taken in different seasons, including trees in bloom, which is the author's favorite subject. The motifs originate from the region of Omiš, Dalmatia - Dalmatian Hinterland, and the photos are accompanied by quotes from books and thoughts of the author's favorite writers and poets.
14 photos out of the 16 framed photos in standard and large formats are in color and two are black and white, one of which was recorded on black and white infrared film. The motifs of the trees are different, taken in different seasons, including trees in bloom, which is the author's favorite subject. The motifs originate from the region of Omiš, Dalmatia - Dalmatian Hinterland, and the photos are accompanied by quotes from books and thoughts of the author's favorite writers and poets.
2022.
August, 2022.
On August 19, 2022, Goran Gizdavčić opens another one of his numerous exhibitions
in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
With this exhibition, he returns to one of his first photography subjects - shells. As the name of the exhibition suggests, they have always been "toys of the sea" for him, a gift from the Creator to the one who searches.
According to the author, shells as a motif, with all their countless shapes and colors, are aesthetically almost incomparable to anything else in nature.
With this exhibition, he returns to one of his first photography subjects - shells. As the name of the exhibition suggests, they have always been "toys of the sea" for him, a gift from the Creator to the one who searches.
According to the author, shells as a motif, with all their countless shapes and colors, are aesthetically almost incomparable to anything else in nature.
June, 2022.
The author published two more reports for the magazine Hrvatska vodoprivreda,
published by Hrvatske Vode ("Croatian Waters"), in March and June this year.
The reports were about the Baćina Lakes near Ploče and the Museum of Betina Wooden Shipbuilding in Betina on the island of Murter.
It is a continuation of the long-standing successful cooperation between the author and the publisher.
The reports were about the Baćina Lakes near Ploče and the Museum of Betina Wooden Shipbuilding in Betina on the island of Murter.
It is a continuation of the long-standing successful cooperation between the author and the publisher.
2021.
august, 2021.
This year as well, the author continues his longtime series of exhibiting in the Holy
Spirit Church in Omiš.
In this exhibition, he thematizes his almost ritual dedication to the time of the year when cherry trees blossom in the area he lives in.
There will be 17 photographs in different formats. The exhibition opens on August 19, at 9 p.m.
In this exhibition, he thematizes his almost ritual dedication to the time of the year when cherry trees blossom in the area he lives in.
There will be 17 photographs in different formats. The exhibition opens on August 19, at 9 p.m.
2020.
august, 2020.
Goran Gizdavčić will open a retrospective exhibition entitled "Twenty Years" on August 25, 2020
at 9 pm in the Church of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
That is the number of years he has been exhibiting in that old baroque church. Since the first exhibition in 2000, entitled "And Then There Was Light", there have been a series of exhibitions and themes depicting his person and his interests. Ranging from the sea, rivers, old sand draggers, windows, seasons, to portraits of people and their pets.
The exhibition is organized by the Cultural Center Omis and sponsored by the City of Omis.
That is the number of years he has been exhibiting in that old baroque church. Since the first exhibition in 2000, entitled "And Then There Was Light", there have been a series of exhibitions and themes depicting his person and his interests. Ranging from the sea, rivers, old sand draggers, windows, seasons, to portraits of people and their pets.
The exhibition is organized by the Cultural Center Omis and sponsored by the City of Omis.
2019.
august, 2019.
This summer again, Goran Gizdavčić exhibits in the baroque Church
of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
The opening of the exhibition is on Saturday, August 31, at 9 pm.
The opening of the exhibition is on Saturday, August 31, at 9 pm.
2018.
august, 2018.
This summer again, Goran Gizdavčić exhibits in the baroque Church
of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
The opening of the exhibition is on Thursday, August 24, at 9 pm and it is planned to last until September 21,2018. It can be visited every day from 11.30 am to 1 pm and from 8 pm to 10.30 pm.
The opening of the exhibition is on Thursday, August 24, at 9 pm and it is planned to last until September 21,2018. It can be visited every day from 11.30 am to 1 pm and from 8 pm to 10.30 pm.
2017.
august, 2017.
This summer again, Goran Gizdavčić exhibits in the baroque Church
of the Holy Spirit in Omiš. This year's exhibition under the
title '' Softly, Oh, Softly Speaks the Autumn to Me '' presents
his reflections on the everchanging seasons, transience, aging,
beauty and the meaning of love, value of the present moment
and emphasizes his dedication to record the inexhaustible and
unmistakable beauty of the nature. The opening of the exhibition
is on Thursday, August 24, at 9 pm and it is planned to last
until September 21,2017. It can be visited every day from 11.30
am to 1 pm and from 8 pm to 10.30 pm.
In these photos, the autumn overflows dionysiously in its
post ecstatic peace and quiet : in the fruits of harmony,
balance and gentleness, in the scene of fragile branches
reflecting gently blue in the water – sky; in the silent,
varied playfulness of the leaves on the water; in the blue-green-yellow
reflections of vegetation and trees in the water-river that
as if stopping for a moment in the unity – encounter of
heaven and earth to make us join this eternal stage-theatre
in the play of transcedence. Even the deafening noise of
the waterfall fully extincts and draws us into the silence
of the heart….a leaf on a road whispers to us … and a path
leads us further … to the primeval world in the gentle,
vivid green embrace of the moss and red forest mushrooms.
A lamp made of leaves glows there and the peace in the old
oak tree crown embraces us, mild drops of rain wash us and
the prayer transforms us …..
(Etel Gizdavčić Jurić)
(Etel Gizdavčić Jurić)
august, 2016.
This year again, Goran Gizdavčić exhibits in the baroque Church
of the Holy Spirit in Omiš. The exhibition under the title "The
Sea,the Sea, the Tireless Sea" will present the motives of the
sea, seascape and ships created during the last twenty years.
The opening of the exhibition is on Sunday, August 21, at 9pm and it is planned to last until September 19, 2016. It can be visited every day from 11.30am to 1pm and from 8pm to 10.30pm.
The opening of the exhibition is on Sunday, August 21, at 9pm and it is planned to last until September 19, 2016. It can be visited every day from 11.30am to 1pm and from 8pm to 10.30pm.
2014.
august, 2014.
Author's photo exhibition called "From Window to Window" opens
on August 17, 2014. in the baroque Church of the Holy Spirit
in Omiš. The photographs which include motifs of windows were
taken in the past 15 years in different locations: from author's
hometown Omiš and its hinterland, over the Peninsula of Pelješac
and the Islands of Mljet and Čiovo,to Nin, Zagreb and London.
The exhibition will be open till September 7, 2014.
The exhibition will be open till September 7, 2014.
june, 2014.
Author's photo exhibition, that includes portraits, scenes from
the everyday life of people from the hinterland of Omiš and
some special natural scenes recorded in the last 25 years, opens
on June 11, 2014. at the PLAŽA Hotel in Omiš.
The exhibition is the continuance of his project and exhibitions held in Split and Dubrovnik in 2009 called "Once Upon a Time in Dalmatia".
It can be visited on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The exhibition is the continuance of his project and exhibitions held in Split and Dubrovnik in 2009 called "Once Upon a Time in Dalmatia".
It can be visited on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
2013.
august, 2013.
Goran Gizdavčić's photo exhibition entitled "Poplars of the
River Cetina" opens on August 22, 2013 at 9 p.m.in the baroque
church of the Holy Spirit in Omiš.
The exhibition will be held within the traditional days of the poet Jure Kaštelan organized by the National Library of Omiš and it will last till September 12,2013. Twenty-two photos thematically dedicated to Jure Kaštelan will be exhibited.
This is the 3rd time the author exhibits in this special space in the last 13 years.
The exhibition will be held within the traditional days of the poet Jure Kaštelan organized by the National Library of Omiš and it will last till September 12,2013. Twenty-two photos thematically dedicated to Jure Kaštelan will be exhibited.
This is the 3rd time the author exhibits in this special space in the last 13 years.
2012.
december, 2012.
The author has created three (3) new greeting cards for 2013.
recent
2011 - 2009
2008 - 2007
2006 - 2005
2004 - 2003
2002 - 2001
2011.
november, 2011.
The author has created four (4) new greeting cards and a calendar
for 2012.
2010.
november, 2010.
The author designed a calendar and a new series of Christmas
and gift cards.
2009.
november 2009.
The author printed a series of author's greeting cards in cooperation
with an illustrator Marsela Hajdinjak Kreč.
july 2009.
The author opens his 7th one-man exhibition on July 22,2009
at 9:00 p.m. in Dubrovnik, at the Home of Marin Držić, Široka
ulica 7.
The exhibition will remain open until August 21,2009 and it can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday ,except for Monday when the museum is closed, from 10:00 a.m.to 9:00 p.m.
Enclosed kindly find the exhibition catalogue text written by Professor Marko Jurić... [more ]
The exhibition will remain open until August 21,2009 and it can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday ,except for Monday when the museum is closed, from 10:00 a.m.to 9:00 p.m.
Enclosed kindly find the exhibition catalogue text written by Professor Marko Jurić... [more ]
june 2009.
The author's story on the collection of works of art from the
village of Mimice, near Omiš was published in the Livingstone
magazine.
may 2009.
Author's 6th one-man exibition will be opened on May 12, 2009.
at 6:30 p.m. at the "Association Alliance Francoise" ,Marmontova
Street 3 in Split.
The exibition "Once upon a Time in Dalmatia" will be opened till June 1, from 8 to 12:30 a.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m.on working days, and from 8 to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The exibition "Once upon a Time in Dalmatia" will be opened till June 1, from 8 to 12:30 a.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m.on working days, and from 8 to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday.
april 2009.
"Sand Barges from Omiš" - article and photos in "Hrvatska revija"
Magazine.
february 2009.
Magazine cover
"Hrvatska vodoprivreda".
"Hrvatska vodoprivreda".
january 2009.
Author's article and photos on Flamenco published in "Epoha"
Magazine.
recent
2011 - 2009
2008 - 2007
2006 - 2005
2004 - 2003
2002 - 2001
2008.
september, 2008.
A text titled "Tugare" published in the "Hrvatska revija" Magazine
(No.3/2008) with the author's photo on the cover page.
july, 2008.
A story of Licinianus's spring in Živogošće published in the
"Hrvatska vodoprivreda" Magazine (Croatian Water Management).
may, 2008.
A reportage on the ancient town of Salona published in the "Hrvatska
vodoprivreda" Magazine (Croatian Water Management).
april, 2008.
A story of sea shells published in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda"
Magazine.
2007.
july / august 2007.
A sequence of the story on the swans in the Canyon of the River
Cetina was published in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda" Magazine
(magazine published by the Croatian Water Resources Management)
and the photo "Poplar Trees and the Moon" as magazine cover.
april / may 2007.
Author's articles on the days when the villages in the Omiš
hinterlland had no flowing water and on the swans in the Canyon
of the river Cetina published in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda"
Magazine.
march 2007.
A story on the Sanctuary Vepric near Makarska published in the
"HEP Vjesnik" Magazine (magazine published by the Croatian Electric
Power Provider)
january / february 2007.
Author's photo on the front page in the January issue of the
magazine "Hrvatska vodoprivreda" (Croatian Water Management).
recent
2011 - 2009
2008 - 2007
2006 - 2005
2004 - 2003
2002 - 2001
2006.
september / october, 2006.
Author's published articles (essays) on the Saint Jacob shell
and on the Zakučac wilage in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda" Magazine
(magazine of the Croatian Water Resources Managment).
may / july, 2006.
Author's published articles (essays) on the Cherry tree and
on the Forgotten Chapels in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda" magazine
(magazine of the Croatian Water Resources Management).
2005.
december, 2005.
Author's photograph was published in the annual "Best of Photography
Annual 2005", a publication of the Americane magazine "Photographer's
Forum Magazine".
june, 2005.
The author took part in the International Art Only Festival
in Karlovac from June 23 till June 26, 2005.
january - april, 2005.
Author's published articles (essays) on the Poplars of the River
Cetina and on the Abandoned villages in the "Hrvatska vodoprivreda"
Magazine (magazine of the Croatian Water Resources Management).
recent
2011 - 2009
2008 - 2007
2006 - 2005
2004 - 2003
2002 - 2001
2004.
december, 2004.
Author's photos have received the American Photographer's Forum
Magazine "Award of Excellence" for the second year in succession.
november, 2004.
This web site was introduced and the author's work was praised
in the newspaper "JUTARNJI LIST", section "Web recommendation",
of November 24.2004.
september, 2004.
Author's photo appeared as frontispiece photo of the book "Gelukkig
Zijn" ("Being happy") by the Dutch author Hein Stufkens.
june, 2004.
On June 21,2004. the author will exibit 7 colour enlargements
covering the sea theme in the Cafe' Babilo in Omiš (Brzet).
april, 2004.
Author's photo on the front page of the spring edition of "Eurocity"
- traveller's review of the Croatian Railways.
january, 2004.
www.therewaslight.net was introduced as "The Site of the Week"
on the Croatian Internet Portal www.iskon.hr
2003.
december, 2003.
The photograph called "The River, Birds and the Haze" was awarded
"Best Pictures of the Month Award" on the Japanese Internet-site
www.photography-unlimited.jp
september, 2003.
These pages were presented in the Newspaper ''Vijenac'' (issue
No.247-248) in the Photography section:
"Carrying on the path of his grandfather,a self-educated painter and photographer,Gizdavčić has succeeded to collect an enviable collection of photographs of an extraordinary quality...
Lyrically set up,bilingual /Croatian-English/ page quotes the poets Kaštelan and Borghes and announces the exibition in the STOLP Gallery in Maribor... Next to the possibility to save some motifs in your own computer the page,as a very solid monography,introduces Gizdavčić as photographer."
"Carrying on the path of his grandfather,a self-educated painter and photographer,Gizdavčić has succeeded to collect an enviable collection of photographs of an extraordinary quality...
Lyrically set up,bilingual /Croatian-English/ page quotes the poets Kaštelan and Borghes and announces the exibition in the STOLP Gallery in Maribor... Next to the possibility to save some motifs in your own computer the page,as a very solid monography,introduces Gizdavčić as photographer."
august, 2003.
Goran's independent exibition will be opened in the Photo Gallery
"STOLP" in Maribor (Slovenia) on August 18, 2003.The gallery
is in a restorated medieval tower near the river Drava promenade.
The author will exibit 45 colour blow-ups covering the theme "The River and the Sea".
Sponsor of the exibition that will be opened till September 6,2003 is the insurance company "Osiguranje Zagreb d.d.".
The author will exibit 45 colour blow-ups covering the theme "The River and the Sea".
Sponsor of the exibition that will be opened till September 6,2003 is the insurance company "Osiguranje Zagreb d.d.".
may, 2003.
Continuing his cycle "All seas and rivers" the author exhibits
13 photos in the LJEVAK Bookstore - Jelačić Square 17 in Zagreb.
The opening will take place on May 24., 2003. at 1 PM.
The opening will take place on May 24., 2003. at 1 PM.
april, 2003.
Author’s photo on the front page of the spring edition of "Eurocity"
- traveller's review of the Croatian Railways.
recent
2011 - 2009
2008 - 2007
2006 - 2005
2004 - 2003
2002 - 2001
2002.
december, 2002.
Goran’s photograph was published in the Annual "Best of photography
annual 2002", a publication of the American magazine "Photographer’s"
Forum".
august, 2002.
On Friday, August 16, at 21.00; in the recently opened bookstore
"Ljevak" the author's one-man photography show dedicated to
the river Cetina, is to be opened.
The opening word will be given by the "Croatian Writers' Society" vice president, Mr. Anđelko Novaković.
The opening word will be given by the "Croatian Writers' Society" vice president, Mr. Anđelko Novaković.
june, 2002.
An art poster named "Poplars and the Moon" has been printed.
The photo on the poster is one of the best author's photos shot
in 1999.
You can order it directly from the author at the price of Eur 6,00 (€) plus delivery costs.
You can order it directly from the author at the price of Eur 6,00 (€) plus delivery costs.
january, 2002.
An article about the author accompanied by his photo was published
in the section Reflections in the January issue of the magazine
"Hrvatska vodoprivreda" ("Croatian Water Management")
2001.
august, 2001.
Author’s photograph was published on the cover of the summer
edition of "Eurocity", the Croatian Railway traveller’s review.
His photographs accompany the article "Sea shells" in the same edition, written by his sister, Etel Gizdavčić Jurić.
His photographs accompany the article "Sea shells" in the same edition, written by his sister, Etel Gizdavčić Jurić.
august, 2001.
Goran’s photo exhibition entitled "All Seas and Rivers" opened
on Jully 20, 2001 in the Church of Holly Spirit in Omiš was
successful and closed on August 21. 2001.