TOWN SQUARE - Malta's online Art magazine

TOWN SQUARE - Malta's online Art magazine

TOWN SQUARE - Malta's online Art magazine
ISSUE 3

Another month and here I am once again sitting at my table. Once again the weather has returned with a vengeance to being dull and damp. Not that I should complain, after all I did have a very active two weeks while enjoying the constant sunfilled sojourn from winter here. Then that is the Malta weather for you. Sunkissed most of the year with the occasional reminder that there are seasons with rain in the world.
So on to my task or should I say enjoyable narration of what is in store this month.



First a little mild rambling...
Valletta, always elegant, a modestly elegant city, any time of year. Night time is a hugh contrast to day time, as people close shop at 7.00pm and suddenly everyone seems to disappear - it becomes almost ghost like, but still offering some magic. I had the opportunity to be wandering around around 8.00pm alone a week ago, and for the first time in a long time, I saw the main streets totally deserted. It was very windy, gently lit and looked proud and mysterious. I began my walk from the newly paved parliment square, the water spouts on the square, dancing in all directions because of the gushy wind... and I then proceed slowly up the length of Valletta till I reached the last corner of its' long main street, Republic Street(Kingsway to the old folk). I like to think of this city as a woman cultured and modestly sure of herself; comfortable with how well she has matured into a dame worthy of honour and respect but also ready to receive those who visit and love her with open arms.

The history of Valletta is old, perhaps ancient, because the city was built on other older more ancient settlements. Still the Valletta of today stands restored out of the ruins of battles, sieges, and world wars and offers us so much to study and marvel about. Below are a few old maps and a print I "googled" here online to give you a feel and an idea of what it must have been like in past centuries.






















BLAEU, Joan / MORTIER, P. - Valleta ou Valet Ville Forte de l'Isle De Malta
Antique map published in Amsterdam, 1705 (20.3. x .22.3 inches. 51.5. x .56.7 cm.) Excellent
Map of the harbour and city of Valletta was originally published Joan Blaeu in the atlas ?Theatrum Admiradorum??...?. Below the map an index referrers to 57 features on the map. The map was reissued by Pierre Mortier in 1704/1705. In the top right corner a crack in the copperplate is clearly visible.






Description : A so-called optical print. A very decorative and extremely rare view of Valetta, seen from the sea. The mirror-image title in top reads :Vue de la partie sud est de la ville capitale de MalteIn the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries there were many popular speciality establishments in Paris, Augsburg and London, which produced optical viewing devices and special engravings to be viewed through them. In the 18th century the optical print or vue optique came into existence, whose exaggerated converging lines were intended to produce the optical illusion of deep recession.


So enough about Valletta and on to the art events for this month.
I have to admit that I haven't had much time to visit the exhibitions on show this month but I do have a couple of events opening this week. One such exhibition will be opened tonight, 9th March entitled 'Vexilla Regis' by Kevin Attard and Christian Muscat in St. Melita Street. The exhibition will remain open until 30th March. Works on show include complex filigree work and 3d works.

Again on Friday 12th March my other diary event is an exhibition entitled "Studies" by Patrick Scicluna at Palazzo Castellania. To quote E.V. Borg this exhibition is about "dreamy softness and warmth": images that should endear the viewer to the subject matter and create a connection between our childhood memories and present day interactions.
This exhibition will be open until 15th April and open to the public from 8.30am to 5.OO pm. This event is being curated by Mr E.V.Borg.

My closing quote for this month is

“A beautiful thing never gives so much pain as does failing to hear and see it.”
Michelangelo Buonarroti















Art Exhibitions this month:

'Oil Paintings by Contemporary Chinese Students' at the Chinese Cultural Institute, Melita Street. - I am still totally excited by what I have seen here and am convinced it deserves first standing on anyone's agenda for this month. It opens to the public on 19th February and remains open until 31st March 2010.


26 March - 9 May 2010
Mostly Churches

by Marc England at St.James Cavalier Main Hall


Till March 5
Ideal and Sublime

An exhibition of paintings by Joseph Muscat and Leslie S. Agius is showing at Palazzo Castellania, 15 Merchants Street, Valletta. The exhibition is open between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Till March 5
Journey with Caravaggio

Bulgarian artist Daniela Guevska is exhibiting a series of works at the Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta, inspired by Caravaggio, commemorating the 400th anniversary since his death.

Till March 11
10 Years of Art

George Farrugia is exhibiting a series of works executed over the past decade at the Art Academy Gallery, 131, Constitution Street, Mosta.

Till March 12
For the Love of Art

A collective exhibition of unique art pieces, including oil paintings, sculptures, mixed media and photography, from prominent local and international artists is showing at Opus 64 Galerie, Tigné Street, Sliema.

Opening March 13
A Language Within
Gozitan artist John Grima is holding an extensive personal show of recent paintings at the Auberge d’Italie, the headquarters of the Malta Tourism Authority, in Valletta. A Language Within will be open to the public as of March 13 and will run till April 2. Opening hours: 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Opening March 13
Inspire

A fund raising exhibition - the 13th Collective Exhibition organised by the Eden and Razzett Foundation Fundraising Committee - Gozo. The event is being hosted at 18 Republic Street, Victoria, Gozo.

Till March 14
Upon Arrival: Spatial Exploration

This exhibition by Austrian artists investigates architectural and social spaces. Curated by Margit Neuhold, works by Veronika Hauer, Nikola Hansalik, Nicole Six and Paul Petritsch, Andreas Heller, Sabine Bitter and Helmut Weber, Michael Gumhold and Gerald Straub. Showing at the upper galleries, St James Cavalier, Valletta.

Till March 21
Fragments of Tibet

A photographic exhibition by Aaron Micallef is being held at the Malta Maritime Museum, Vittoriosa This event promotes Tibetan art and culture through 38 photographic exhibits and seven rare thangka paintings.

Till March 28
Nocturne
an exhibition of recent paintings by Mark Sagona
at Le Meridien Hotel - St. Julian's - on Level One.

Till March 31
Cosmic Art

An exhibition of works by artists Lilika Papanicolaou and “Turo” Arthur Rizzo is currently showing at Assaggi Restaurant, Qalliet Street, St Julians.

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Filigree Exhibition in St. Melita Street - Valletta
Opening 9th March 2010















Photography by Doranne Alden

Kevin Attard does not look much like a traditional silver filigree maker when I first meet him at his studio on the top floor of a city townhouse. Yet, for the past 20 years, he has been creating intricate silver shapes which, despite their complex detail, are moving in their vitality. And, recently, the filigree artist has turned the traditional methods of filigree-making to contemporary use, with the aim of breathing new life into a fading art.

The result has brought him some success, he says and, although the young craftsman still follows traditional patterns, he has also moved into creating more unusual items – such as chess pieces – and even a miniature silver toilet for a collector.

“Almost anything can be crafted in filigree,” he smiles. “It simply takes patience and some trial-and-error, as the process is always the same.”

The technique of filigree-making was probably adopted from the Spanish-style technique that was popular at the beginning of the Baroque period, he explains. Simultaneously fragile and strong, the silver wires are fused together with fire, using a blow torch or Bunsen burner. “This is the part I like best,” smiles Kevin, “because that is when everything finally comes together.”

Gold and copper can also be used, but Kevin prefers to work in silver, the shiny pieces with their ancient material coming to life under his hands. The beauty of filigree lies in its delicacy, he says, as he skilfully winds the wires into the various shapes.

Over the years, however, the old and beautiful craft had come to be associated with brooches and Maltese crosses, losing some of its versatility and appeal with the young. “Maltese crosses are still the most common items,” says Kevin, “I must have made a million of them,” he smiles.

“But I have also spent a lot of time developing jewellery designs that are also popular with young people,” he says. “The effect remains dainty but, by using modern designs and thinking outside the box with regards to contemporary styles and shapes, it seems that young women are choosing to wear filigree again.”

Standard designs – used in different sizes and in different ways allow for infinite options, he says excitedly. Despite its beauty, however, this old craft is in danger of fading away, he says. “I make all my pieces by hand, but filigree can be manufactured cheaply in countries like China, which has put a strain on the local industry,” he says. The number of craftsmen has in fact been dwindling and today only very few are left, he says.

Yet Kevin is not disheartened. “I subsidise the work that I do with other artistic work such as acting and painting and I hold regular classes, encouraging people to take an interest in filigree making,” he says. And his work can be found in many shops around Malta and Gozo, while he consistently has bulk order items that he needs to work on.

“My work gives me a lot of satisfaction,” says Kevin, “and I love it when a woman wears one of my pieces and is obviously pleased with the way it looks.” A ray of light shines in through the window, lighting up the silver pieces on his workshop, imbuing them with a glint of life. “I am happy that people’s perception of filigree seems to be changing,” he says, “I hope that, as an art form, it can continue to become more and more popular in the years to come.”

courtesy of - http://www.pocketmalta.com/fire.html