Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/424604
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 THIS WEEK 47 What was the main aim of the exhibition? The main aim of the exhibi- tion was to encourage artists and sculptors who are working in iso- lation to exhibit their work in the gallery environment. It enables artists to submit one or two pieces of their artwork and therefore not have to work towards a solo exhi- bition, which can be a bit daunt- ing for an artist. To promote this we offered a small entry fee, in order that the artists could sell their works at their studio prices. We offered a curatorial service for this and a contemporary art space to showcase their works, we have also introduced a Replacement System, which allows the client to take away the sold artwork from the exhibition and the artist to re- place their artwork for another the same size. We felt this was neces- sary over the festive season. How does the exhibition fit into the overall programme of what Studio 104 is about? This is the first Entry Fee based exhibition and it is another dimen- sion to our Fine Art Promotion Program. We want to encourage artists and independent curators, looking for a highly equipped art space, to use our curatorial serv- ices and consider Studio 104, Fine Art Space for group and solo exhi- bition gallery hire. How did you go about selecting artists for the exhibition? Which criteria did you use? We decided to advertise an Open Call to Artists on our Studio 104 Valletta, Facebook page. In order to cover a wide range of artworks, themes and styles, the selection criteria, for this Winter Salon 2014, Christmas Exhibition was by entry only. This is not necessarily the precedent for future group ex- hibitions; however we are delight- ed with the standards of artworks which are extremely high, as you can see from our list of participat- ing artists. How do you hope people will react to the exhibition? The visitor reaction was very positive. Studio prices have made the artworks very accessible and an inviting option. There is a wide range of academic styles and themes. The art space genuinely looks interesting and eclectic and the Opening Night was a huge success, as an event and for sales. During the exhibition we are also hosting a Book Signing Event and, from December 6-11, the Winter Salon 2014 will have an interim exhibition of Award Winning Tex- tiles by Australian artist Jenny Bowker. What's next for Studio 104? Studio 104, Fine Art Space, is working towards presenting a wide range of Fine Art & design projects in the future. We have recently in- troduced a permanent; Small Scale Fine Art & Design giftware range. This aims to support our local art- ists in that they will always find an ongoing outlet for their high end, small scale work. We are a diverse art space, who is ready to take on new challenges and work towards Valletta 2018. Participating artists at the Win- ter Salon include: Mario Agius, Victor Agius, Arthur Aquilina, Hazel Ashley, Ray Axiaq, Gabri- ella Azzopardi, Maria Borg, Alex Cachia, Carl Caruana, Emmanuel Caruana, Mariz Cassar, Nathalie Debono, Arthur Dutton, Henry Falzon, Louise Fenech, Francis Galea, Nicolette Galea, Lara Man- ara, Franco Navarro, Mario Sam- mut, Darren Tanti, Maria Tonna and Lewis Wirth. The exhibition will remain on display until De- cember 19 Art as an affordable gift this winter Ahead of the 'Winter Salon' exhibition at the newly inaugurated Studio 104 Fine Art Space, we speak to curator Melanie Farrugia ahead of this collective exhibition Arthur Aquilina – New York Francis Galea - Valletta Residence Alex Cachia – Windy Day Darren Tanti - L-art imwieghda Mdina and Rabat before the Knights: the cradle of Malta's Renaissance DIN l-Art Helwa will be organising a public lecture by Charlene Vella, Department of History of Art, Uni- versity of Malta on December 11 at 18:30 at Din l-Art Helwa, 133, Meli- ta Street, Valletta. At the turn of the sixteenth centu- ry, the spill of the Renaissance into the island of Sicily was complete, and as a result, informed patrons in Malta acquired Renaissance paint- ings and sculpture at quite an early stage. Among these Renaissance works are paintings by the nephews of the great Sicilian Renaissance painter, Antonello da Messina (c. 1430 - 1479): Salvo d'Antonio and Antonio de Saliba (1466/67 - c. 1535). There may also have been a Maltese connection between the De Saliba family of artists and Malta. Antonello's Sicilian followers were arguably responsible for the over- spill of the Renaissance style into the Central Mediterranean. This paper will focus on some of these Maltese paintings, with special emphasis being placed on paintings that have been diagnos- tically tested and studied, and sub- sequently restored, thanks to the help of the University of Malta and private sponsors, two of which will soon be inaugurated at the Francis- can Minor church of Santa Maria di Gesù (Ta' Gieżu), Rabat. This is part of Charlene Vella's PhD research and an offshoot from her latest publication: The Mediter- ranean Artistic Context of Late Me- dieval Malta (1091-1530). Charlene Vella is a PhD candi- date at the University of Warwick in the last stages of her research on Antonello da Messina and his Sicil- ian School. She is the author of The Mediterranean Artistic Context of Late Medieval Malta (1091-1530) published in December 2013 by Midsea Books, which is a finalist in the Malta Book Awards 2014. Entrance to the lecture is free of charge, but donations to Din l-Art Helwa would be appreciated