Breaking with tradition

Bank of Valletta is breaking with its 10-year long tradition of retrospective shows dedicated to established artists in Malta and giving space to the younger generation instead.
Six artists - Gilbert Calleja, Elisa Von Brockdorff, Michael Xuereb, Teresa Sciberras, Patrick Mifsud and Emanuel Bonnici - have been brought together. There is only one common thread in their work - their relocation to further their studies.
This notion has culminated in an extensive project, the organisation of which has been underway for months, titled precisely Relocation.
Under the curatorship of visual artist, educator and writer Raphael Vella, "the basic premise of Relocation is that contemporary artists are border crossers. For the Maltese artist in particular, the experience of relocation is unavoidable. The alternative is insularity.
"In the past, there was Rome and other parts of Italy, then England, and now we are faced with the international traffic of ideas and people, virtual and real transactions, as well as societal changes and inequities. These relocations have brought about changes in cultural, artistic and curatorial practices, some of which are being reflected in this collection of works."
The artists were born in the late 1970s and 1980s and have all been through a direct and extended experience of relocation, mainly by following undergraduate or postgraduate studies in the visual arts outside Malta. Many of the selected works also come to terms with problems associated with cultural, spatial and political identities and are intended to co-exist creatively and effectively, simultaneously reflecting a diverse blend of media and concerns in the visual arts in contemporary Malta.

Relocation is being inaugurated today at Bank of Valletta's headquarters in Sta Venera. The exhibition will be open until July 16. Opening times: weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Visual Arts

Till Sunday
Edward Caruana Dingli (1876-1950):
Portraits, Views and Folkloristic Scenes
Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti is presenting a major exhibition of artistic works by Edward Caruana Dingli, showcasing some 250 of his most remarkable paintings, illustrating prominent figures in Maltese history as well as Maltese traditions and folkloristic scenes. The exhibition is open daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at The Palace, Valletta. www.patrimonju.org

Till June 11
City Flowers
An exhibition of photo-graphics (a photo-based technique) by Albert de Marco is showing at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

Till June 13
Marinara
An exhibition of works by Joseph Cassar, a Maltese artist based in Australia is showing at St James Cavalier's atrium.

Till June 19
Deconstructing Michelangelo
George Scicluna is showing a series of works at Heritage Malta head office, Merchants Street, Valletta. Open from Monday till Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Till June 25:
Yesterday + PIX
An exhibition of 90-plus oil paintings by Ljupco Samardziski is showing at the Auberge d'Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.

Bathers by Olaug Vethal (1946-2010)
An exhibition of paintings on the bathers' theme by the late Olaug Vethal is showing at the main lobby of the Radisson Blu Golden Sands, Għajn Tuffieħa.

Till June 27
Abstracts by Philip Chircop
An exhibition of works by Philip Chircop is being held in the main hall at St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity.

Till June 30:
Earth, Fire, Air and Water
An exhibition of paintings by Adrian Pignatelli is showing at the Istituto di Cultura Italiana, St George's Square, Valletta. Free entrance.

Abstract art exhibition
A series of paintings by Christine Attard will be on show at the Mdina Gallery, Triq Santa Sofia, Mdina. www.themdinagallery.com

Till July 5
Fibonacci Skies+ PIX
Jeni Caruana is showing a series of 88 acrylic paintings depicting a repeated theme of the sky and sea from the same viewpoint as it is affected by time, light and weather, at Opus 64 Galerie, 64, Tigne Street Sliema. The gallery is open between 10.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily except Sundays, or by appointment. www.opus64galerie.com

Till July 31
A Sight to Sea+PIX
A photographic exhibition by David Pisani is underway at the newly-opened SO Galerie, Dun Karm Street, Iklin. The exhibition is open to the public from Monday July 31. Opening hours: Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Saturday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., or by appointment.
www.sogalerie.com

Performing Arts

Today, tomorrow and Sunday
The 39 Steps
This hilarious comedy is based on the Alfred Hitchcock classic movie featuring four actors playing over 100 roles between them. This production has won numerous awards on both sides of the Atlantic and has been described as "theatre at its finest!" by the New York Times. The local production stars Alan Montanaro, Julia Calvert, Alan Paris and Steve Casaletto and is being staged at the University Theatre by Mellow Drama.
www.mellowdrama.com.mt

Music/Concerts

Today, tomorrow and Sunday
Għanafest
The Malta Council for Culture and Arts presents a fabulous three-day festival of Mediterranean folk music. Besides għana (Maltese folksong), the festival will also host local folk ensembles, Maltese songwriters and folk musicians from neighbouring Mediterranean countries. The programme also includes a series of workshops on traditional instruments and a special programme for children. A wonderful event ideal for the whole family complemented by traditional Maltese food and the marvellous surroundings of the Argotti botanical gardens in Floriana, situated within walking distance from Valletta. The festival starts at 7 p.m.

Sunday
Leone Goes Pop
The Leone Philharmonic Society AD 1863 presents the third edition of the pop series concert Leone Goes Pop. This open-air concert dedicated to pop music wil be presented in Independence Square (it-Tokk), Victoria at 9 p.m.

June 9
James Blackshaw/Nancy Elizabeth
Hairyamp are bringing the 12-string guitar prodigy/virtuoso James Blackshaw and the highly acclaimed singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Nancy Elizabeth to perform at the MITP Theatre in Valletta at 8 p.m.

Talks, tours and other

Tomorrow and Sunday
Festival Marittimu Senglea 2010
After winning an international award for European Destination of Excellence for Aquatic Tourism, Senglea will once again be hosting this two-day festival at its waterfront.

Tomorrow and Sunday
Earth Garden
The fourth edition of the MTV Mobile Earth Garden festival in Malta will be held over a two-day period, providing two main areas: the Open Village, which will be on a free entrance basis, and a music concert tomorrow, for which tickets are needed. The festival is held at the Ta' Qali National Park. www.earthgarden.com.mt

Sunday
In Guardia
This historical re-enactment portrays an authentic historical event that took place regularly inside Fort St Elmo. The show starts at 11 a.m. and lasts 40 minutes.

Useful contacts

Manoel Theatre
2124 6389
bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
www.manoeltheatre.com.mt

St James Cavalier
2122 3200
info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org