10. Check out Paul Scerri’s solo exhibition
Paul Scerri’s upcoming solo exhibition, Running with Scissors, features 30 new works, including his iconic portrait busts, wall hangings and freestanding figures. The exhibition will be held at Splendid, Strait Street, Valletta.
The exhibition is curated by Lisa Gwen Baldacchino, who explains how “Paul has found a most distinct aesthetic. His figures are exceedingly curious to behold, not unlike the characters out of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, only more autobiographic and context-specific… each of these figures has been drawn from the artist’s immediate environment; each piece triggered by an eccentric character, a random encounter or even by a news item”.
“Paul’s work”, says Baldacchino, “is presented through a series of recurrent themes, reinforced through the use of objects or symbols such as blindfolds, keys, scissors, facemasks, headdresses, birdcages. These are sometimes accentuated through the use of mixed media, found objects or bright and iridescent metals.”
“There is also a distinct link with the work Paul presented in past shows, almost as though there is a narrative being presented through continuation and the re-use of symbols,” she says.
Scerri is no newcomer to the scene. Over the years he participated in several collectives, locally and abroad. One of the more recent shows, which put a spotlight on his work, is Xebgħa Nies in 2014.
Running with Scissors runs between Saturday and December 16.
www.paulscerri.com.
9. Watch a short film
Part of the Valletta 2018 Cultural Programme, a new short film series, Tafal, is reviving little known maritime stories through an unexpected approach. Inspired by artefacts and stories from another V18 programme, Qatt ma Ninsa, Tafal breathes new life into Malta’s forgotten past, using the mediums of filmmaking, choreography and contemporary dance. The films can be viewed on www.tafal.org.
The project was produced through the collaboration of professionals from different cultural fields, including web designers, costume specialists, makeup artists, filmmakers, developers, historians, the Valletta 2018 Foundation, the ŻfinMalta Dance Ensemble, the Malta Maritime Museum and director Cedric Vella. The result was five short films that invite the viewer to explore the depths of the sea, board a world-travelling dgħajsa and go behind the curtain of a barber shop frequented by Royals.
Collaborators faced several challenges in producing this short film series, including the rigours of dancing underwater and the nuances of dancing for a camera.
8. Listen to the angels
On December 11 and 12, a group of musicians from top local bands, in collaboration with production company Skene Luqa, will be staging a live Christmas concert at Metanoia Theatre in Luqa. The concert will feature music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra repertoire and a number of popular Christmas songs that blend together with the narrated story of an Angel’s first journey to Earth.
A blend of popular seasonal songs and the progressive rock orchestrations that are the trademark of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be performed by a big band made up of David Cassar Torreggiani, Paul Barbara and Stefan Farrugia on guitars, Robert Galea on bass, Patrick Camilleri on drums, Josef Farrugia and Matthew Pellicano on keyboards and guest violinist Inga Marcel from Lithunia. They will be joined by singers Chris Grech, Justin Galea, Raquel Galdes, Nadia Vella, Luisana Bartolo, Paul Spiteri and Daryl Ebejer,
www.ticketline.com.mt
7. Celebrate with carols
Carols by Candlelight returns with another evening of music, art and food at St Augustine’s Priory, Victoria. Introduced by the Schola Cantorum Jubilate in 2003, this year’s event includes an exhibition by Manuel Farrugia. After the concert, a Christmas menu, prepared by Ta’ Frenċ Restaurant, will be served in the cloister of the same priory. As in previous editions all proceeds will go for Ġużeppa Debono Home of Għajnsielem, which caters for pro-life activities among other educational services.
The events takes place on December 11 and 12 at 7.30pm at St Augustine’s Priory, Victoria. Tickets are available from D’Amato Records Shop in Valletta and from Bargate Bookshop in Victoria.
www.scjchoir.com.
6. Read a graphic novel
Set against the conflict of World War II, Steam is a new graphic novel penned by Ashley Eric Peschel and illustrated by Peter Magro.
The story is set in Malta, where something terrifying has been released on the small island. Realising they are in over their heads, the local authorities request help in tracking a sadistic killer, whose body count already stands at five. A special team is dispatched at once and so the hunt begins on the war-thorn island.
If this were not bad enough, the team also have to face off against a mysterious Nazi team, who are also hunting the killer, but for darker reasons.
The 158-page adventure will be launched during this year’s edition of Malta Comic-Con. It will be available in bookstores.
5. Experience the Maltese tenor in concert
The third edition of the BOV Joseph Calleja Fund Raising Christmas Concert is back with the Maltese tenor, accompanied by a number of scholars who are currently being supported by the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation. Calleja will be performing a repertoire of Christmas songs in an intimate atmosphere. It will be followed by a reception at Villa Arrigo that will also be attended by Calleja and the accompanying artists.
All donations raised from the concert will go towards the BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation.
Set up two years ago, the foundation has a two-pronged focus: The Gifted Youth and The Vulnerable Child. Launched earlier this year, The Vulnerable Child arm sees the foundation partnering with a number of organisations with a view to develop specific programmes that aim to assist the development of underprivileged children.
The concert takes place on December 20 at 7pm at the Divine Mercy chapel, San Pawl tat-Tarġa. Seats for the concert are available against a donation of €100 each and may be reserved on www.ooii.com.mt.
www.bovjosephcallejafoundation.com
4. Enjoy Christmas at the priory
Immerse yourself in Christmas spirit at the Candlelit Carols Concert and Christmas Dinner being organised by Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA). The Voca choir will open the evening with a repertoire of Christmas music at St Mark’s church, Rabat, built in 1558 by Girolamo Cassar. Following the concert, guests will be invited to welcome drinks and a special Christmas dinner in the priory built by Andrea Belli in 1740.
A four-course Christmas meal, prepared by Osborne Caterers, will be served in the priory’s indoor cloister, complete with traditional Christmas Swedish Santa Lucia pastries. Proceeds from the evening will go towards the restoration of the priory’s medieval four-panel altarpiece of Our Lady of Mercy, which FAA is restoring. This unique set of four wooden panels, dating to the late medieval period, has been described as one of the most important art treasures in Malta due to its rarity and fine quality. The event takes place on December 11 at 7.30pm at St Mark’s church in Rabat.
www.faa.org.mt
3. Be enchanted by live piano music
Eden Culture presents a live stage performance by Maurizio Mastrini, known as The Barefoot Pianist. Mastrini is known for his unique technique of playing masterpieces in reverse, while tapping his bare feet on the ground. His sound forms a bridge between traditional music and new contemporary classical music.
Many of his works are minimalistic compositions, while others show a mathematical formation which, with such an abundance of notes, sound like an orchestra is performing.
Mastrini’s musical career started off as a percussionist in his father’s blacksmith workshop. By turning empty paint tins into simple drums, he discovered his love for rhythm and sound. He shortly moved onto playing the piano and found himself performing in Italian theatres with experts referring to him as a child prodigy. Since then, Mastrini has played in more than 450 concerts all over the world.
The concert takes place on December 20 at 4pm at the Eden Cinemas, St Julian’s.
www.edencinemas.com.mt.
2. Learn a new art
The Malta Society of Arts is offering visual art courses in various subjects, including art for children, art for juniors, art preparatory course for ‘O’ level standard, art for leisure adults, art for leisure 50 +, clay modelling, digital arts – photography, fine arts – human figure (nude), wood sculpture and floral and bridal bouquet art. Courses are held between February and May at the MSA’s premises at Palazzo de La Salle, Valletta.
www.artsmalta.org
1. Watch girls undress
Through art, more specifically through an exhibition by Selina Scerri. The exhibition marks a dramatic departure from Scerri’s recent visual exploration of fairy tales, mythology and exotic creatures, but her work remains a celebration of being human and pursues a creative force that is limitless: the palette and subjects evoke a dream-like freedom. Encouraging positivity, love and kindness, her visuals are something of another world of femininity and adventure.
The exhibition space, once a thriving retail area of Valletta, has been empty for the past 20 years and is also home to Malta’s oldest and most notorious cinema, The City Lights.
www.facebook.com/events/1068237816520146/