On Friday, January 31, 2014, Miami’s very own Bakehouse Art Complex was the venue for UMD’s first, of what we hope many more, “Making Connections from Miami to Macedonia” Networking Reception. Hosted by the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Macedonia for Southern Florida and UMD Advisory Council Member Dana Klein, NGO Art Studio Irena Gapkovska, UMD Advisory Council Member Nicholas Thaw, and UMD’s Florida Regional Representative Mishko Josifov, the reception drew over sixty guests. The evening featured Macedonian hors d’oeuvres and Macedonian wines from Bovin. Macedonian wine expert Nino Milenkovski was on hand to provide details as to the wine flavors and origins.
Photography provided by Humberto Ochoa and can be seen by clicking HERE.
The special guest of the evening was His Excellency Dr. Zoran Jolevski, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, and Consul Generals from more than twenty different nations, such as Germany, Thailand, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, Moldova, and Estonia attended. Invest in Macedonia’s South Florida representative Sasha Gruevski was also in attendance.
Decorated with Macedonian Flags and cultural items to feel the spirit of Macedonia, guests were able to tour the Bakehouse Art Complex, with its exclusive art collection from seventy different artists, of which one is the Macedonian Irena Gapkovska and NGO Art Studio. NGO Art Studio is based in Skopje and in Miami.
During the formal part of the reception, Josifov welcomed the guests on behalf of UMD, and thanked Klein, Thaw, Gapkovska, and Bakehouse Art Complex’s Marte Siebenhar and Amanda DeMello for making the evening’s event a big success. Klein’s efforts in representing Macedonia in South Florida were highlighted, as well as the great work by Thaw and Gapkovska in bringing Macedonian art culture to the area. Josifov expressed a big gratitude for the efforts of Ambassador Jolevski and his team for bridging stronger ties between Macedonia and the U.S. and increasing trade relations. A raffle of Bovin’s special Vranec wine concluded the formal program, and the lucky winner was the Consul General of Bahamas Mr. Ricardo Trico and his lovely wife Mrs. Trico.
The evening’s entertainment was provided by one of Miami’s finest DJ Pozitiv (Filip Dimovski), who played from Macedonian evergreen songs to modern popular artists, concluding the night with Macedonian circle dances, called the “oro.” All the guests enjoyed dancing the night away, which made for a spectacular atmosphere and amusement.
UMD thanks Thaw and Gapkovska for their generosity in sponsoring the reception, and having delicious Macedonian wines from Bovin Winery to be enjoyed by all, which was arranged by Lena Gogovska from West Palm Beach’s St. Dimitrija Macedonian Orthodox Church. UMD also thanks members Biljana Pendovska, Nikola Stojanovska, Nino Milenkovski, and Filip Dimovski for volunteering to make the event a success.
Proceeds from the event will benefit UMD’s charitable and educational programs.