Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1047665
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 4 NOVEMBER 2018 CULTURE ENVIRONMENT ABOUT two dozen wild duck species have so far been recorded in the Maltese Islands. Half are very rare, some extremely so (like seen just once). At the other end of the spectrum, some species are seen in flocks numbering hun- dreds every year, winging low and fast over the waves. In the middle range are those that are neither too rare nor too common. This is where the handsome ferruginous duck sits, so-called because of its rich, rusty dark chestnut colour, especially the pale-eyed male. Unlike the familiar domes- tic mallard which up-ends in order to graze on underwa- ter vegetation, the ferruginous duck (M. brajmla ħamra or ferruġin) is a diving duck. Thanks to this trick the bird can reach vegetation that lies deeper than would be accessible to the surface dabblers. By evolving different habits and adap- tations, a variety of animal species exploit different niches and share a habitat without creating too much competition for food among themselves. That's nature for you, a study in balance. Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 535: Stay informed about our activities by subscribing to our newsletter https://foemalta.org/signup Text Victor Falzon Photo Joe Sultana 536 - MEET A LOCAL FARMER 633. FERRUGINOUS DUCK Join us on Sunday the 11th of November at 1pm, for the final event of the Let's Nature series of walks in Gozo. As part of this event, we will be discussing good food and good farming practices, in a beautiful setting of Ta'Ċenċ, a Natura 2000 site. Following a walk led by Annalise Falzon, who will be informing us of the flora at Ta'Ċenċ, we will be visiting a local farm. Kelinu, a farmer who has fields at the site, will be taking us for a tour around his fields, where we will be joined by a chef to prepare a meal together from local produce. We will be discussing the value of Nature 2000 sites, food production, agriculture in Malta and how agricultural policies influence farmers and the food we eat. The event is free of charge but bookings with a refundable deposit are necessary, via the form on our website as the event has a limited number of places. Visit us on fb at foemalta or on our website www.foemalta.org/events Let's Nature Ta'Ċenċ MEET A LOCAL FARMER Walk in a Natura 2000 site, visiting a farmer & sharing a meal made with local produce Co-financed by the European Union Blitz presents WICCNA by Zvezdan Reljic WIĊĊNA by Zvezdan Relic is an at once intimate and collec- tive compendium of lith-printed photographic portraits; a quiet celebration of the immeasurable variety of faces that inhabit or pass through the Maltese Islands. The project unfolds in two parts, an exhibition at Blitz, and accompanying book of over 200 portraits alongside aesthetic, anthropological and literary es- says on aspects of physiognomy, identity and photography, each written in languages that have influenced Malta throughout its history – Arabic (Walid Nab- han), English (Alexandra Pace), French (Philippe Parizot), Italian (Virginia Monteforte), Maltese (Leanne Ellul), and Spanish (An- toine Cassar). WIĊĊNA features portraits of individuals from dif- ferent backgrounds, generations and ethnicities, accompanied by a caption taken from the individ- ual's answer to the often compli- cated question "Where are you from?" According to the physiognomi- cal beliefs of Sir Thomas Browne in his treatise Christian Morales (c.1675), "there are… Provincial Faces, National Lips and Nos- es…" There may be some truth in these words, insofar as certain physical traits repeat themselves across a more or less defined re- gion. Then again, if no two faces are identical, how can a face be 'from' anywhere specific? Reljic says he has often taken a guess at one's nationality based on the contours of their face, and been wildly mistaken, even after years of experience of portrait photography. WIĊĊNA aims to be an extended snapshot of the nuanced – neither limited nor diluted – diversity of contempo- rary Maltese society, and a pho- tographic legacy that looks back at the society it has portrayed and looks also into the eyes of fu- ture readers. The exhibition at Blitz, in St Lu- cia Street, Valletta, will be open from 15 November to 23 De- cember. Entrance is free. A pub- lic event, including readings and meeting the authors, is being or- ganised at 7pm on 29 November. About the artist Zvezdan Reljic is a publishing industry specialist with 30 years experience in photography, pre- press, printing and graphic de- sign. He graduated from Graphic Arts School in Belgrade with a specialisation in photography reproduction. Along the way he has integrated the new technolo- gies of digital imaging and pre- press but always kept close to his heart a love of the printer's craft. In 2015 Zvezdan was commis- sioned by the Valletta Interna- tional Arts Festival to produce portraits of 20 Valletta residents, as hand-printed lith-prints, for the exhibition Beltin, curated by Raphael Vella. In the same year he also produced 100 portraits for the breast cancer awareness campaign. The portraits were photographed on 35mm film and printed by hand. In 2017 he collaborated with three UOM dance studies students on Som- na, at the Malta Postal Museum, Valletta. Zvezdan currently runs his own publishing house and graphic design and film photog- raphy studio. thisisblitz.com Blitz, 68 St Lucia Street, Valletta VLT1181 – +356 2122 4992 – contact@thisisBlitz.com – www.thisisblitz.com Blitz is a voluntary organisation registered with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations in Malta. (VO/1052). Images, clockwise from top left: Isabel Farah, Leigh James Marshall, Amanda Eke, Vin Mooneeram. POPULAR singer Amber and household name Marry Rose Mallia have launched a new track en- titled "Reminders." The track, written in Maltese by Elton Zarb, Am- ber and Simon Bartolo will renew many memories for many people who love English music". Mallia is a household name in Maltese music, reaching success not only in Malta but aboard. She has been described as a passionate singer, that en- compassed "everything that is Maltese." "It was an honour to work an icon like Mary Rose," Amber said. According to Bartolo, who managed the track, "Reminders" is traditional Maltese music with a modern twist, "making it not only a song, but also a tribute to our unique culture." The contrast between modern and traditional added a unique twist and that it could be felt in the track, he said Alongside Bartolo, Elton Zarb and Amber worked on the music for the track. Zarb said he hoped the track would encourage the younger generation to seek out older styles of music and appreciate music from the past, which ultimately paved the way for the music people love and listen to today. Amber and Mary Rose Mallia release new song entitled 'Reminders'