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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, December 8, 2000 - El vWell..known Serbian artist creating stunning masterpiece on walls of rural Milton church By CLAUDIA D'SOUZA Special to The Champion T he Iegacy of Dragan Marunich lives on forever in Milton's Serbian Orthodox Church. Phots by GRAHAM PAINE Rt. Rev. Bishop Georgije of the Serbian Orthodax Diocese of Canada stands near 1he stops Ieading Up 10 the HoIy Transfiguration Serbian Orthodox Monastery in rural Milton. Mr. Marunich, a Serbian artist, worked 12 hours a day, six days a week on three separate occasions since 1994 to embellish the interior of the Holy Transfiguration Serbian Orthodox Monastery. His glowing frescos depicting stories from the Bible in the Byzantine tradition are flot only a tribute to an ancient art that dates back to the Middle Ages, but to bis own faith. "He's a famous artist but he's also studied the- ology," noted diocese secretary Davor Milicevic. "He has a lot of religious knowledge. It was a great bonour 10 have him here." .WilI return this winter Mr. Marunich, one of tbe world's best-known fresco arlists, bas since returned to Serbia to work on his 34th church, but plans on retumning to Milton this winter to finish one wall. Hz was originally attempting to complele the job prior to this past summer's celebration of 2000 years of Chrislianily held ait the cburch, but be was unable t0 do so wtthout bis assistant wbo was unable to make the trip. More tban 10,000 Ukrainians, Grecks, Russians, Armenians and Serbians attended the June 24th pan-Orthodox event on the pic- luresque 44-acre Niagara Escarpment property. Mr. Milicevic pronounced the celebralion "ýmagniticent." The term 'fresco' meaning 'fresh' in Italian, is used to describe the ancient medium of painting with powdered pigments on fresh wet plaster. It's one'of lhree artistic genres cultivated by the Serbs. As the plaster dries, incorporating images -ses ARTIST on page E2 Phsts by GRAHAM PAINE The ceiling of the Serbian Orthodox Monastery boasts a breath-taking fresco, painstakingly painted by Serbian artist Dragan Marunich. ,lElvis tri bute artist teams up with St. Paul's choir By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Merry Christmas, baby. For those w ho find themsel ves ail shook up over the holi- days, a good dose of Elvis ought to blow the Christmas blues away. Especially when,îhe King's classic holiday lunes are accompanied by Millon's respecled St. Paul's United Cburcb choir. It will aIl bappen December 18 sud 19, when well-known Elvis tribute artisl Stephen Kabakos retums 10 the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (OCPA) for bis first-ever, al-ouI Christmas show. The full-sized St. Paul's choir will join Mr. Kabakos for tlfrez songa during thz two-hour concert. "They're a ver prestigions choir," be said. It energized by adds a certain sometbing to our show." the breath-tak- For those who follow these things, Mr. ing vocals of Kabakos bas been delivering bis full-throttle the St. Paul's tribute performance for more than fine years choir. now. D ur i ng Hz sypically doza it along wilh a 13-piece those, Mr. baud, including thz TVB Players. the '1VB Brass Kabakos- and the Memphis Sound singers. wbo bovers Include a series of costume changes aimed ai around age taking lisîzuers on a musical joumey lbrough the 30, looks as '50s 10 the '70s and you've got yourself a heck fresh as an of a show, Priscilla. Ivory soap ad But Ibis time it'I be différent. Afler an bour of and bas been .A4 wbat can accurately be called Elvis' greatest bits known to gel t* - think Dont Be Cruel and Suspicions Minda those between Steve Kabakos - the Christmas spirit will begin to shimmer ,the age 6 10 like rbinestones ou a 1970s Elvis jumpsuit. 96 aIl ný a lather - said belil have a bard lime The holiday bour will feature a dash of gospel, keeping bis cool. some bluesy seasonal tunes sud Ibrez songs "I'm going 10 have 10 concenîrate bard on wbat 1'm doing because 1'm going 10 be listes- ing to how beautiful it sounds," be said. Though keeping the choir's songs as tightly wrapped as the King's alleged grip on a lried peanut butter and banana sandwich. Mr. Kabakos did reveal il il add a soaring six part hartnony to the already pretty First Noel. And that the other chosen songs just happen to be bis favourite Christmas tunes. "1 can't stress that enough," said Mr. Kabakos. It's going to be something else." The choir arrangements were penned by TVB Player Don Featherstone. And thz result bas Mr. Kabakos as excited as an Elvis fan in Graceland. -l can't wait. It'îl just be phenomenak" he said. 1tIl be rich, a layer of sound." Tickets cost $30, and are available at the OCPA box office, g815-202 1. I Naw Vou bave the power ta chaos. yaUr electricity fram a numbor of campanios. I CALL 1-9UU-SO8-4636 and Vlve aVO @rue, 15-PUS br@Chure. For more information on electricitn competition in Ontario, please visit our website at www.est.govon.ca or 1mai!: fni@esr gos.on.ca & Ontario