Our artists Ida Stipčić Jakšić and Dr. Art. Dina Jakšić Pavasović participated as invited speakers at the first international seminar “WinSTONE – Women in Stone”, organised by the Stonemasonry School in Pučišća. This important project focuses on strengthening the position of women within the stone sector and creating new opportunities for employment, professional development, and career advancement in the stone industry, a field traditionally considered male-dominated.
The seminar brought together experts, artists, designers, architects, and representatives of educational institutions from various European countries with the aim of exchanging experiences and presenting successful examples of women whose work is shaping a contemporary approach to stone as a material. A special part of the programme was a panel discussion where Ida Stipčić Jakšić and Dina Jakšić Pavasović presented their artistic and design projects while discussing different approaches to working with and designing in stone.
Ida Stipčić Jakšić, artist and designer, is one of the pioneers of contemporary stone product design in Croatia. More than twenty years ago, she began creating original stone souvenirs at a time when such an approach was uncommon within the Croatian design scene. During her presentation, she spoke about her professional journey, which began with stone souvenirs and gradually evolved into exploring new possibilities for stone in fashion and design. Particular interest was generated by her experimental projects, including a stone dress, as well as her collections of designer jewellery crafted from silver and semi-precious gemstones, which she has been continuously creating for more than fifteen years. Her work demonstrates how stone can move beyond its traditional applications and become part of contemporary design, fashion, and everyday life.
Dr. Art. Dina Jakšić Pavasović presented a series of artistic projects in which stone plays an important conceptual and material role. She spoke about her exhibition held in a Brač stone quarry, a unique artistic event that explored the relationship between landscape, space, and artwork. This was followed by an exhibition of paintings on stone displayed in an abandoned stone house, where traditional architecture became an integral part of the exhibition concept.
Particular attention was devoted to her doctoral dissertation, “On Dowry Through Artistically Shaped Space”, which explored stone as a carrier of identity, memory, and cultural heritage. In her work, stone is not merely a material but a medium through which she investigates the relationship between people, place, and tradition. Beyond conceptual projects, she also incorporates stone into her artworks, creating distinctive stone sculptures through a technique of assembling and bonding stone elements—works that have become a recognisable feature of our galleries.
During the seminar, she also presented several award-winning projects in the field of stone product design, including the Stone Bench, the award-winning Quatro stone set, the Modular Candle Holder, and a range of other functional objects that demonstrate how a traditional material such as Brač stone can be successfully integrated into contemporary design and architecture.
Participating in the WinSTONE – Women in Stone seminar was a valuable experience that once again highlighted the importance of creativity, innovation, and interdisciplinary thinking in the development of the stone sector. We are especially pleased that Ida Stipčić Jakšić and Dina Jakšić Pavasović were able to contribute their experience and work to the presentation of women’s creativity in the fields of art, design, and stone craftsmanship, demonstrating how Brač stone can serve as inspiration for contemporary artistic and design projects recognised both in Croatia and internationally.
