The threshold of contemporary art - special offer for Times readers

Thresholds, a selection of over 50 artworks by 39 contemporary British artists from the British Council’s collection, will be inaugurated at St James Cavalier tomorrow. Thresholds, as the exhibition is called, marks the British Council’s 75th anniversary in Malta.

Thresholds presents a unique opportunity to enjoy world class contemporary art in Malta. The exhibition focuses mainly on drawings, prints and photographs of acknowledged contemporary artists, including works by Lucian Freud, Walter Richard Sickert and David Hockney.

Rarely seen early photographs by Cecil Beaton and Madame Yevonde, nudes by Gwen John and Wyndham Lewis and watercolours by Edward Burra will also be displayed. The majority of the artists participating in this exhibition have never been exhibited in Malta. Lucian Freud is considered the greatest figure painter of the 20th century and his show is currently open at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

David Hockney is also having a major exhibition at the prestigious Royal Academy this year.

Chapman Brothers are radical exciting artists of the yBa (young British Artists) generation that includes Damian Hirst, Tracey Emin etc.

The British Council has been collecting works of art, craft and design craft for more than 60 years.

The collection, started in the late 1930s, with a modest group of works on paper has now grown to a collection of more than 8,000 artworks covering all media and all aspects of British art and design of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The collection has no permanent gallery and it travels to all parts of the globe.

Admission to the exhibition is free of charge and free guided tours will be provided. St James Cavalier will also offer workshops in art and creative writing to Maltese schoolchildren. Robert McPherson, the co-curator of the exhibition, will be giving a lecture to the art students of the University of Malta and MCAST.

• The exhibition, which will run until May 20, will be open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information about guided tours may be obtained by phone on 2122 3200.

Special offer for Times readers

On Saturday, 14 April, Robert McPherson, the co-curator of Thresholds, will give a special tour of the exhibition, exclusive to the readers of The Times and timesofmalta.com. The tour will be conducted in English and will last approximately one hour.

Robert McPherson has been The Curator of Gainsborough´s House Museum in Sudbury, Suffolk, Gallery Director at Chester Arts Centre, Co-Ordinator of Air & Space, an artists run collective where he organised Paula Rego´s first exhibition in Great Britain. He has worked for The National Art Collections Fund, The British Council, The Arts Council, The BBC and was Chairman of The Charleston Trust. He has been a Member of the Board of The North West Arts Association, and on grant advisory panels for the Arts Council and The London Arts Board. He assisted Paula Rego in the selection of Thresholds as he has wide knowledge of the British Council Collection. 

The tour is exclusively available to timesofmalta.com and The Times readers on a first come first served basis. To book a place, interested persons should call Ingrd Eomois on 79434864 and provide name, surname, number of places requested (maximum 2), and contact telephone number .

More information about Thresholds: http://www.britishcouncil.org/malta-arts-and-culture-thresholds-exhibition.htm

Visual Arts

Ends tomorrow
VAM: Valletta Art Museum
Valletta is a city bidding to be European Capital of Culture 2018. Sadly, its antique tapestries remain locked up, its modern works of art are left in storage and its contemporary art scene has no real home. After over a year of collaborative research and design, Chris Briffa Architects present a proposal whereby the Valletta covered market, Is-Suq tal-Belt, is rehabilitated into an art museum fit for the city of Valletta: the VAM. An architectural exhibition running at Lily Agius Gallery, 54, Cathedral Street, Sliema illustrates their proposal, with visitors having the opportunity to leave their comments which will subsequently be presented to the media and the authorities. The exhibition is supported by The Malta Arts Fund.

Till Monday
Works by Doris Micallef
An exhibition of Doris Micallef’s paintings together with her new book Paintings of Malta and Gozo which includes 133 of her paintings is open for viewing all day till late, at The Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana.

Till April 20
Captured Moments
An exhibition of photographs by Mary Attard is showing at the Exhibitions’ Hall, St Francis Square, Victoria. Open Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

Till April 27
Watersedge
An exhibition of paintings by George Apap is showing at the Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta.

Till April 28
360
An exhibition of woodturned artefacts by Harry Mallia is showing at the Carmelite Priory Museum, Mdina. Opening hours: 10 a.m. till 4 p.m.

Till April 29
Metal Magic: Spanish Treasures from the Khalili Collections
A selection of works from the Khalili Collections is showing at the Grand Salon of the National Museum of Archaeology.

Till April 29
Polarities
An exhibition of ceramic works by Kenneth Grima is showing at the National Museum of Fine Arts, South Street, Valletta.

Till April 29
Encounters
A combined exhibition by Lawrence Pavia and Emilio Vilaseca will be showing at Art..e Gallery, Victoria. Open from 9.30 a.m. till noon and 4 to 7 p.m. or by appointment on 2155 7911/9980 4774.

Till April 30
Roots
An exhibition of sculptures by Mario Agius is showing at Palazzo Ferreria, Republic Street, Valletta

Till April 30
A Cross-Section of My Art Life 2
Mary Clare Albanozzo is holding an art exhibition entitled at her studio at 51A, Tigné Street, Sliema. Open every day. For private viewing call on 2137 1345 /9988 1197 or e-mail: clarealbanozzo@gmail.com

Till April 30
Journeys of Discovery
An annual artistic project organised by the primary art teachers of the Gozo College in collaboration with Heritage Malta. The Gozo Area Exhibition Hall in the Citadel is hosting an eclectic show of drawings, paintings, documentation of an installation and mixed media sculptures by Gozitan primary school students. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m. and Saturdays from9 a.m. till noon.

Extended till May 1
Plastic Dreams
A collection of playful photographs by Elisa Von Brockdorff are on show at Angelica’s Café, Archbishop Street, Valletta.

Till May 31
Memories in Paper
An exhibition featuring 20 works on paper by Aligi Sassu is on show at the Contem-porary Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Concerts

Tomorrow
George Cross Commemoration Concert
The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be commemorating the 70th anniversary of the George Cross award to Malta conducted by Joseph Vella at the Mediterranean Conference Centre at 8 p.m. Free entrance by reservation, phone on 2200 1466 or 2200 1659

Saturday
Baroque Concert Series
The second concert in the series MPO @ Robert Samut Hall features two great works from the period’s repertoire and three enchanting short vocal gems which were found at the Mdina Cathedral archive, which give a glimpse into the music that was composed and performed in Malta during this period. The concert starts at 7.30 p.m. and tickets may be obtained from St James Cavalier.

Monday
Toi Toi 022
A baby-friendly concert for parents and young babies providing mums, dads and carers with the chance to experience and share high quality live music with their infants in an informal atmosphere at the Studio Theatre, Manoel Theatre at 12 p.m. and 1.15 p.m.

Today, tomorrow and Saturday
International Spring Festival
Lunchtime concerts (at 12.30 p.m.) will include masterpieces of the piano repertoire with a special spotlight on young up-and-coming Maltese musicians being held at the Sala Isouard.

Today
Sophie Charpentier and Olivia Gutherz will perform a Viola da Gamba and Harpsichord recital au tour d Bach, his sons and their contemporaries in the main theatre at 8 p.m.

Saturday
The festival closes with the Parisian Elixir Piano Quartet performing Mozart’s G Minor Piano Quartet, Mahler’s Piano Quartet in A Minor and Schumann’s Piano quartet in Eb Major at 8 p.m.

Performing Arts

Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday; April 20-22, 27-29
Becky Shaw
A razor-sharp comedy of romantic errors being presented by Masquerade at St James Cavalier. Artistic director Anthony Bezzina will direct a stellar cast consisting of Isabel Warrington, Malcolm Galea, Laura Best, Toni Attard and Sue Scantlebury. Shows start at 7.30 p.m.

Useful contacts

St James Cavalier
Tel: 2122 3200
E-mail: info@sjcav.org
www.sjcav.org

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

To submit a cultural event e-mail: arts@timesofmalta.com