Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1063613
14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 DECEMBER 2018 CULTURE IN October 2018, the National Literacy Agency of the Min- istry for Education and Em- ployment launched the Young Writers' Club at the National Curriculum Centre, Hamrun. Thirty children from Year 4 through to Year 8 classes from State and Church schools are participating in the writing club. The Club participants are being supported to develop their writing skills by partici- pating in a series of ten work- shops run by experienced writing tutors. The club is intended for budding child authors who would like to develop their creative writing skills further, in both Maltese and English, by making use of the Writing Process. In November the partici- pants had the opportunity to join in a workshop with Ian Bland, the renowned chil- dren's poet from the UK. He specialises in action poetry and poetry writing. During one of the workshops the par- ents/guardians had the op- portunity to participate in the writing tasks and to provide their own feedback to their children's writings. The work- shops will resume in January 2019 following a short break for the Christmas holidays. The Young Writers' Club is a literacy programme of the National Literacy Agency and forms part of the Malta Writing Programme. In every school term the Agency or- ganises clubs and writing for fun activities for students and their parents to improve their writing skills. The National Literacy Agen- cy is currently receiving ap- plications for the forthcoming Young Writers' Club which will be held between January and March 2019. Should you wish to apply please call the Agency on 2598 3324. Enriching children's creative writing experience Young Writers' Club THE extensive collection of the Malta Maritime Museum in Birgu has been enhanced even further with the dona- tion of a painting by renowned British artist George Large. In 1984, Large set up his first solo exhibition in Malta at the National Museum of Archae- ology. Now that he is retir- ing with his wife in England, Large has donated one of his iconic artworks to Heritage Malta since he wished that part of him would remain on the island which he has come to love. George Large is known for his incredible eye for compo- sition. Although influenced by the work of Edward Burra and Stanley Spencer, along the years he has created a style of his own which is nowa- days sharply distinguished. He blends his particular interest in shapes and working people with location, activity and col- our, presenting intricate and restless works of art. Large's most known artis- tic characteristic is the exag- geration in bodily form. His figures, consisting mainly of men, are typically dispropor- tionate, with big heads, over- sized hands, and rough and uncouth bodies. The active figures animate the locations which he depicts vividly. Having spent the winters of the last thirty years in a house of character in the village of Ħal Safi, Large became fond of the Maltese Islands and its people. This is evident in his exten- sive works which showcase Maltese locations and local people at work. Large's preferred medium is watercolours. Yet sometimes he paints in oils, usually on a large scale. Although he was very prolific with watercolour works which depict Malta, the few oils relating to the island can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The large painting of Fisher- men at Marsaxlokk which the artist has donated to Heritage Malta is one of these excep- tions. Its theme is in honour of the hard-working fisher- men and their beautiful char- acteristic Maltese boats. Emmanuel Magro Conti, who in these last years served as a Senior Curator at the Malta Maritime Museum, and Liam Gauci, Curator of the same museum, thanked George Large and showed their appreciation to Alaine Apap Bologna for spearhead- ing this donation. They also pointed out that Large's iconic artwork will play a significant role in this museum since it will bridge the connection be- tween local etnographic crafts and boats, the national identi- ty, historical significance and the contemporary art scene. Anton Refalo, Chairman of Heritage Malta, expressed his gratitude for this gift to the museum which documents our local maritime heritage. He regarded this painting of hard-working fishermen in Marsaxlokk as a representa- tion of our crafts, our way of thinking, our hopes and our aspirations which unite the Maltese people as a nation. George Large iconic artwork donated to Malta Maritime Museum The George Large painting showing Fishermen at Marsaxlokk which was donated to Heritage Malta