Band club turned into temple of sacred art

The La Valette Band Club in Republic Street, Valletta, is hosting an exhibition of sacred art related to Holy Week, with some fine works on display.

The club had set up a commission headed by Canon John Charlò to oversee the exhibition.

Jonathan Grima, the curator, has not only roped in two Maltese and a Sicilian artist to display their works, but has brought together a collection of paintings and artefacts from various churches in Valletta.

The stairway leading to the exhibition halls is lined with works by Daniel Scerri, whose art has an added touch because it features wood.

"Wood has so many religious connotations, from the manger to the cross. I find it ideal to use as the background for my work," Mr Scerri said.

In the main corridor upstairs, one can see an array of sculptures in wax made by Fr Charles Vella.

Some of Fr Vella's works were exhibited at the St Catherine of Italy church in Valletta, last year including the one of Jesus laid to rest before the burial which art expert E.V. Borg had compared to monumental works by Michelangelo. Fr Vella is also exhibiting a number of new works.

Fr Vella's intricate works are adorned with ganutell by Anna Balzan. A Via Sacra by Sicilian artist Salvatore Montanucci is also on display.

One of the rooms houses the artefacts collected from churches in Valletta that include chalices embellished with panels of Mother of Pearl and mosaics depicting items related to Christ's Passion. There are also a number of sacred vestments and decorations that were formerly used in churches during Holy Week as well as five paintings by Maltese artist Rokku Buhagiar dating back to 1736, which were used during Lent in the basilica of Our lady of Mount Carmel.

Apart from all this there is a display of photographs of Good Friday processions, some dating back to the 1920s, where one can see university students in their togas collecting money for the Fratellanzi which organised such processions.

The exhibition was inaugurated last night by Bishop Paul Giglio in the presence of Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier and the president of the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Vallette, Ray Bondin. Bishop Giglio, who is retired, has served as an Apostolic Nunzio for countries such as France, Iran, Nicaragua, Egypt and Washington.

Mr Grima was yesterday morning busy mixing wine, balsam, oranges and tangerines as well as cloves which are kept gently simmering to produce a sweet aroma, adding to the 'holy' atmosphere.

The exhibition runs until Good Friday at 1 p.m.

This evening, the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette will be giving a concert, playing the marches that will be played during the St Mary of Jesus - Ta' Giezu - Good Friday procession.

The La Valette Band Club has been taking part in this procession for the past 109 years.