ModroGorje - Vesna the Writer

About the Writer

Vesna Tenodi

Vesna Tenodi is an archaeologist, translator and community worker.

She lives in Sydney and spends weekends in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, where she and her husband run their ModroGorje Wellness and Art Centre.

Writer's Statement

Back in 1987, my husband Damir and I made a commitment to our Teacher Master Ananda, and accepted the task of working for the Masters-of-the-Fifth-Level. That work included establishing our Anan-Do integral arts centre in Sydney, and now the ModroGorje centre in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains to complement it.

My current task is to supervise the creation of the Wanjina Watchers set in the Whispering Stone sculpture and to coordinate the DreamRaisers project with all its components.

The Whispering Stone is an interface between the Dreamkeepers and those who approach it with the right intention and touch it with the right attitude of mind. The transforming power of this stone is a gift to the world.

[from Croatian Herald Weekly]

Launch of the book by Vesna Tenodi and art exhibition by Gina Sinozich

ModroGorje, Blue Mountains – on Thursday 10th December, at ModroGorje centre in Katoomba, a group of fifty guests gathered for the launch of Dreamtime Set in Stone – The Truth about Australian Aborigines, as requested by the Those-Who-Know by Vesna Tenodi and exhibition of Wanjina paintings by renowned artist Gina Sinozich, which illustrate the book.

Among the guests were Croatian members of CroWell and Martial hArts groups, accompanied by the organiser Ignjac Josipovic, Ignjac and Vesna’s colleagues from community work sector who cooperated in Healthy Life projects, as well as local guests from literary and art circles.

For ModroGorje owners Vesna and Damir Tenodi, this event was also the launch of CroWell supplement, and the end of Healthy Life projects, funded by DoHA.

The event started with unexpected commotion, as there was a group of protesters in front of ModroGorje, unhappy about both the book and the exhibition.

Dreamtime Set in Stone includes a series of interviews, in which an Aboriginal artist Goomblar Wylo talks about his life and the life of his community, and DVD with his didgeridoo music. In those interviews, Goomblar was very honest and open, criticising his people, which made some members of Aboriginal community quite angry, as they thought he said too much, and also objected for the paintings including Aboriginal motifs, which according to them should not be painted by white people.

Protesters insulted the guests, obstructing the entry to the gallery, and while some guests were intimidated and walked away, most were determined to get inside, saying they wish to see the exhibition and read the book, so they can make up their own mind.

When a group of protesters barged uninvited into the gallery and started screaming and threatening, the police arrived and removed them, telling them the book has been published and there is nothing they can do about it, and it would be better to stop breaking the law with such conduct. Vesna refused to press charges, saying she’s been working on this project with Goomblar for a year now, within their 3-year contract, but under pressure from his community he got concerned he has given too much information and will be under attack from his own people. This is quite common, when someone summons courage to tell the truth, when facing its consequences they cower and try to back out of it.

A group of fifty-something guests who refused to be intimidated quickly recovered from unwanted excitement, so the incident was promptly forgotten and the event was resumed as planned.

Vesna greeted the guests, apologising for the confusion, explaining that people often criticise or object out of ignorance. Most of the protesters are unaware what they are protesting about, as they haven’t read the book, but choose to repeat what they hear from someone else. To criticise the exhibition is equally absurd, but can be expected, as most people don’t know much about art, and are misled into believing that non-Indigenous artists should not be inspired by Aboriginal motifs. Such a debate has been around for almost a hundred years now, about the great Australian artists such as Margaret Preston, Elizabeth Durack, and Imants Tillers, and others who were inspired by Aboriginal symbolism. This places Gina Sinozich, and her brave imagery, for which even some Aboriginal representatives said are impressive and brilliant body of work, to that very top of the art elite, those who defy any restriction on artistic freedom.

Vesna then acknowledge the Teacher Master Ananda, and introduced the speaker Jan de Zwaan, who talked about the book and the exhibition. Jan De Zwaan, a linguist who also wrote the introduction to the book, said: “I saw this book in a manuscript form, and I found the ideas and the manner captivating. But when I saw the completed project, illustrated with Gina’s fantastic paintings and accompanied with Goomblar’s mystical didgeridoo sounds, I realised I didn’t do it justice, as the book offers much more than a literary pleasure, it has another dimension, and should be called a project rather than a book, as such a project can resonate with people of different sensibilities.”

Jan de Zwaan is himself deeply involved with Aboriginal culture, as in his capacity as a linguist in the 70’s he spent three years in Aboriginal community in Queensland, conducting a research into the local Aboriginal language. Jan drew a parallel between his own experience with Aboriginal people in that time, and Vesna’s recent research, adding:

“In recent years, I came across a few good, high-quality books about Aboriginal history and spirituality, but ‘Set in Stone’ is innovative, fresh approach to that topic, conveying messages essential for our spiritual survival in contemporary world. The book is like a wake-up call, urging both the Aboriginal and the white community to reconsider their lives, their values, and to realise something has to give. The old attitudes are inappropriate for today’s living and inapplicable to modern circumstances. Even the Australian Government has seen the light and found courage to say sorry – after decades of ignoring the truth, denying the genocide and violence towards Aboriginal people, and long years of denying responsibility, even our politicians found courage to acknowledge the reality which has been obvious to most of us for quite some time.

“This book formulates a new approach to those issues, more modern, more responsible, and much more humane attitude towards that mysterious race, an attitude which is a result of conscience, to which even those most callous minds can no longer ignore.”

Jan De Zwaan ended by saying: “Dreamtime Set in Stone is a distilled knowledge, wisdom and philosophy condensed in a number of fundamental ideas, important for the survival of the soul. Therefore, I understand what Vesna says in the opening text, thanking Master Ananda and revealing the book was written at request and with approval of the Those-Who-Know, although she is sworn not to say more about it. Only such collaboration can result in a work of such magnitude, that must intrigue everyone on some level, either by its well-formulated messages, symbolic imagery, or music – and some of us respond on all three levels – so I believe that every reader will ponder on this, while reading, and reflecting on images, and listening to sounds of the past…”

He also introduced Gina’s Wanjina series, created for this book, by saying: “Gina is unique for many reasons. One of them is her limitless inspiration – in that abundance of ideas, Gina never repeats herself. This brave move into the area of Aboriginal spirituality left me breathless. These paintings are impressive for their deep and rich symbolism, while the Narrow Neck Jumper triptych, introducing the opening chapter, is a true masterpiece.”

With signing the book, every guest received a card with Wanjina of Courage, as a reminder that the courage is a basis from all other virtues can spring from. The truth is often painful and unpalatable, but only if we dare to see the truth we can start changing the people’s consciousness and the world around us. The guests were looked after by the staff of the neighbouring RSL club, enjoyed the range of Asian delicacies, and at the end of the day were left with new ideas, to adopt as food for thought and soul.

[from Gazette]

Dreamtime Set in Stone – the moment of truth

On 10th of December there was a new book launch and exhibition opening in Katoomba, Blue Mountains.

Dreamtime Set in Stone – The Truth about Australian Aborigines, as requested by the Those-Who-Know, accompanied with DVD with the local didgeridoo artist Goomblar Wylo, was written by Vesna Tenodi, an archaeologist, translator and community worker from Sydney, and is illustrated by Wanjinas by Gina series painted by a renowned Australian artist Gina Sinozich.

Vesna and her husband Damir are owners of a landmark house opposite the RSL club in Lurline street, which they bought a year and a half ago and have been renovated since. The house, renamed to ModroGorje, which is Croatian for Blue Mountains, incorporates a private gallery, open to public every Saturday.

Damir is a karate and tai chi master and teaches tai chi and chi kung at Sydney colleges and University of New South Wales. At ModroGorje, there are Saturday masterclasses for small groups of students. This busy, dynamic couple is now concentrating their efforts on promoting all those aspects of their work with aim to engage the local community in the Blue Mountains.

We asked Vesna if they are setting up a new home in Katoomba, and she told us: "Home is wherever I am at any given moment. Even when I’m visiting some city for a few days, I feel at home, I’m quite adaptable. I love Sydney, and I love the Mountains too. I feel somewhat jealous of the locals here, waking up to all this beauty every day. On the other hand, I am a city creature, sometimes I feel as if there is nothing natural about nature, to me…

“But yes, we are getting familiar with the area, people are nice, the lifestyle is very attractive, it’s easy to fall in love with the Mountains.

“And that is exactly what inspired me to tackle a theme that I see as being of both the local and global interest. This book is our introduction to the area, it defines our personal values, and values we search for in others. We all have our personal code of ethics, and this book sets it pretty high, but my motto is – if you dare to dream, dream big!

“The book is for people of different sensibilities, as it includes amazing illustrations of Wanjinas by Gina, and DVD with Goomblar’s music. Those literary minded can enjoy reading it, those who respond to visual beauty will find the illustrations intriguing, while those who are sensitive to the power of music will respond to Goomblar’s sounds. This collaboration resulted in a book in which everyone can find something meaningful.

“But it is also a wake-up call, for both the Aboriginal community and the white, mainstream society. It deals with the core ideas, important for the survival of the soul. It includes conversations with Goomblar; his face has become the face of Aboriginality. It’s brutally honest, and points out the true reasons for our failures and unhappiness. Every individual, community, and civilisation faces the same ethical dilemmas, which – if mishandled – lead to disaster. For affirmation of beauty, we need to pay more attention to ugliness, eradicate it; for affirmation of truth, we must expose the lies; to find love, we have to deal with hate first – ignoring difficult or unpleasant facts can lead us nowhere. It’s cute when people talk about love and compassion and kindness, but can be irritating if their lives do not match those lofty theories… amidst chaos you can pretend all is well, but that’s living in a fool’s paradise. Sooner of later everyone has to face the truth. And that’s exactly what the Set in Stone is about.

“As its author, I take the responsibility, but cannot take the full credit or blame, as it was intense, close collaboration and a joint project between me, Gina and Goomblar. I’m a great fan of Gina’s art, and as for Goomblar, what can I say… I admire his courage, being involved in this project was very demanding, hard for him, and hard for me, but it had to be done. I hope the book will be embraced and welcomed, in the same spirit it was created with.”

The book is available at ModroGorje centre, 71 Lurline Street. Wanjinas artwork will be on display at ModroGorje till March 2010 and can be viewed every Saturday.

[from Croatian Herald]

Angry Aborigines try to stop a book launch and Wanjina exhibition

Thursday 10th December 2009 – in Katoomba Blue Mountains a group of angry protesters gathered in front of ModroGorje Wellness and Art Centre, in attempt to stop a book launch of Dreamtime Set in Stone – the Truth about Australian Aborigines, as requested by the Those-Who-Know by Vesna Tenodi, and exhibition opening of Wanjina paintings by famous Australian artist Gina Sinozich, which also illustrate the book.

The book contains interviews and includes DVD with didgeridoo music by Aboriginal artist Goomblar Wylo (aka Paul Shillingsworth, an uncle of the murdered 'baby in the suitcase' case), who gave an extraordinary didgeridoo performance at ModroGorje, playing for the Those-Who-Know. Goomblar was an enthusiastic participant in the DreamRaisers Project, but is now, sadly, yielding under pressure from other Aborigines.

Some protesters infiltrated the venue, committing and offence of tresspassing, and sneaked in the gallery by mixing with a group of invited guests. They started intimidating the guests, while one of them, Lexodious, who claim to be a Darug man, verbally abused the 79-year old artist Gina Sinozich to the extent that she was too distressed to stay for the official opening, was taken away and is still recovering from the shock. The author Vesna Tenodi was also insulted and threatened. The professional cameraman who was there to film the book launch, was threatened with physical violence, ordered to stop filming, and told his equipment will be smashed and he'll be 'the first in line' unless he stops filming.

Then the group barged into the gallery, screaming and swearing, intimidating about 50 remaining guests (30 to 40 others were prevented by protesters from entering the property), with Goomblar grabbing the book and tearing it up in a dramatic gesture.

The police intervened, three officers spoke with protesters, telling them the book has been published and there is nothing they can do about it, and advising them they already broke the law by barging in uninvited and intimidating the guests, which included Sydney and local artists, gallery owners, community workers, and owners' colleagues and students.

The author refused to press charges, saying about Goomblar: "I love the man, he looks scary but he has a heart of gold. It is this crowd around him that is brainwashing him into believing he's done something wrong by being so honest and open in our interviews.

“Everybody is entitled to have their own opinion, that's the beauty of democracy, but no-one has the right to barge in uninvited and try to ruin an important event. Some people don't care if they are trespassing and destroying someone else's property, they have no respect for the law. The sad thing is that among the protesters, only one person actually read the book, while others couldn't be bothered to read it or to view the exhibition and form their own opinion – so they were just parroting what that person told them they should think."

The guests quickly recovered from that unpleasant interruption and the book and exhibition were officially launched.
The book is available at ModroGorje centre, 71 Lurline Street, Katoomba. Wanjinas by Gina exhibition will be on display at ModroGorje till March 2010 and can be viewed every Saturday.

Press Release

Thursday 10th December in Katoomba Blue Mountains a group of angry protesters tried to stop a book launch of Dreamtime Set in Stone, The Truth about Australian Aborigines, as requested by the Those-Who-Know by Vesna Tenodi, and exhibition opening of Wanjina paintings by famous Australian artist Gina Sinozich, which also illustrate the book.

Some protesters infiltrated the ModroGorje gallery by mixing with a group of invited guests and started intimidating the guests, while one of them, Lexodius, who claim to be a Darug man, verbally abused the 79-year old artist, who almost had a heart attack, was taken away and is still recovering from the shock. The author was also insulted and threatened; the professional cameraman who was there to film the book launch, was threatened with physical violence, ordered to stop filming, and told his equipment will be smashed and he'll be 'the first in line' unless he stops filming'.

Then the whole group barged into the gallery, screaming and swearing and verbally abusing about 50 remaining guests (30 to 40 others were prevented by protesters from entering the property), with Goomblar grabbing the book and tearing it up in a theatrical gesture.

The police intervened, and three officers spoke with protesters, told them the book has been published and there is nothing they can do about it, and advising them they already broke the law by barging in uninvited and intimidating the guests, who included other artists, gallery owners, community workers and friends both from Sydney and the mountains.

“All Goomblar wanted was to tell the truth. But under pressure from Chris Tobin, who seems to be the only one among the protesters who actually read the book, but completely misunderstood it, Goomblar is now confused and unsure as to what to do."