Citta' Magica

The 9th of January holds a few surprises to those visiting or staying in Valletta. Citta Magica follows the events of Notte Bianca and Notte Magica. The only difference is the event caters for creatures of the day as well as those of the night. Citta Magica starts at noon and will go on until midnight.

The newly restored St George's square will feature heavily but events will also be spread out in other parts of the city such as Merchants Street and Freedom Square. Visitmalta.com lists the events taking place.

All the events are within walking distance from Valletta G-House.
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Malta Arts Festival and Censorship

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It does not augur well for the annual Malta Arts Festival when the Arts Council decides to exclude an installation by artist Raphael Vella from a collective at 68 St Lucy Street.

It is not the first instance that the Maltese islands have been in the news for censorship. This year, the play “Stitching” was banned on moral grounds (Case is pending in court) and, egged on by Gozo Bishop Msgr. Mario Grech, police arrested a group of young men who dressed as Jesus during the Nadur carnival celebrations.

All is not doom and gloom for the 2009 Arts Festival. The Malta Jazz Festival has returned to its original form, taken away from the hands of purely commercial private interests. The annual Jazz Festival will hopefully become a fixed appointment on the calendar of many a true jazz enthusiasts, both local and foreign.
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The new entrance to Valletta

Great expectations in Valletta today as this evening world renowned architect Renzo Piano himself will unveil his plans for City Gate. A hand-built model of the project plans will be the main attraction in this long awaited launch outside the Museum of Archeology. The grand ceremony will also be televised live.

Piano interviewed on Bondi+
Renzo Piano Building Workshop

Mingle with a medieval mob

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Mdina is a superb city. I've frequently compared it to Joan Collins - It's so well preserved it looks the same as it did in it's heyday, but without the smut. Most Valletta G-House guests love it (Mdina, not the smut), while some complain it is too immaculate, lacking in city colour.

This coming weekend Mdina becomes Medieval, with pageantry, jousting tournaments, medieval football (If that is anything like Florence's Calcio Storico, that'll be a feast for the eyes), human chess games, medieval knights, men in Medieval costumes and, best of all, traditional medieval food and an abundance of wine and beer.

There will also be guided tours and relics of the past (no more Joan jibes please) as well as attractions like Punch and Judy, jesters, jugglers and donkey rides.

If you want a respite from the primitive throng outside, I beg you to take a peek at the amazingly beautiful Palazzo Falson. Chances are it might also be crowded but with a rather more enlightened assemblage, one would imagine. If not to look at the historical artifacts on show, perhaps you could have tea in the highest place of all, upstairs.

Take bus number 80, 81, 82, 84, 86 to Rabat Bus Terminus from Valletta Gate


The table is set at Palazzo Falson
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Square

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I can safely say that last Friday's exhibition opening at 68 St Lucy Street was a hit. Square is a collective exhibition of works, the common theme of which is the 10 x 10 inches size of each work. I usually find that the absence of a brief results in chaos, but if that were the case this was one pleasant chaos. The Valletta town house that has been converted into a space for creativity a few months ago keeps on providing us with outstanding stimulation for the brain and for the heart. Square will be open until 19 April. 68 is an 8 minute walk from Valletta G-House.
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Half price entry to museums next Saturday

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A visit to the National Museum of Archaeology in Republic Street, the National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street and the Palace Armoury will only cost half price on Saturday 28 March on the occasion of Valletta day. Tickets from Heritage Malta.
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An evening with two

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My sister invited me to go watch a Unifaun Theatre play yesterday at the St James Cavalier Centre. Unifaun have featured in the news lately for challenging the absurd censorship of a Nielson play by the local Censorship Board. I have been wanting to go watch Frost/Nixon at the cinema, based on the interview that Frost made with Nixon on the Watergate scandal but have not had the time so far. Like the film, the play I went to watch - The Devil's Advocate - by Donald Freed also deals with the conversation between two people.

The military dictator Manuel Noriega seeks refuge at the Apostolic Nuncio. He and the Vatican's Archbishop Jose Sebastian Laboa partake in a game of accusations that gives us an insight into the relations between the US of A and Latin America. The tension in the play is throughout, with hardly any respite. I don't know if, in effect, it is a failing of the script or in the way it was directed, but there were times I wanted out. Actors Manuel Cauchi and Paul Portelli gave a most powerful performance. My favourite scene where the archbishop prays for Noriega while Noriega danced in a trance titillated me, but I still felt it could have been even stronger had the lights been more dramatic.

Devil's Advocate is on at St James on today, 21, 21, 27, 28, 29 March. Tickets from St James Cav.




Just before the play, we managed to catch a glimpse of Robert Zahra's exhibition of drawings, paintings and photos of city spaces. A strong line, stripped to its raw form, frequently dark and just as compelling. "Mkejjen" is on at St James until 03 May.
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68 St Lucy Street

A fascinating new exhibition space in Valletta has brought new life into the city. Alexandra Pace and her partner Nadine who are the creative minds behind the agency LAB1977 have transformed an empty property in Valletta (a heirloom) into this amazing 4 storey space to launch RedPrints, a fine art website. The space itself is worth a visit, large high ceiling rooms with patterned tiles. The current exhibition is open until 11 November and is divided in 4 sections; 56 photos lovingly printed in a darkroom.

The parallel projects - creating 56, mostly black and white photographs, shot on film, and the simultaneous rehabilitation of the house - have been followed on Facebook, attracting artists' attention. Ms Pace has posted both art and conversion processes online, through images and video, allowing viewers to take part in the progress.
The 16 rooms remain empty but Ms Pace maintains that a gallery should be simple and not overshadow the works. They have been cleaned up and adequate lighting and hanging facilities installed, while the colour schemes of the walls are those of her grandmother's days but afforded a fresh coat.
They are adorned with collections of sculptural male and female nudes, Soldier Boy and Boutique; another of underwater shots, Santa Marija; and one depicting food and entitled Maggie's Kitchen, after the photographer's mother, who was brought up in the house and is a "fantastic" cook.
The Times of Malta

Chefs-d'oeuvres de l'Armurerie de Malte

An exhibition of Maltese armoury is presently being held at the Musée de l'armée in rue de Grenelle in Paris. Here is what Napoleonica magazine writes about the exhibition that will create new interest in the islands of Malta, in particular Valletta, amongst the French:

The Musée de l'armée pays tribute to the rich military and artistic heritages of Malta and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which held sovereignty over the island during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The exhibition explores the 'patronage' of the Knights and Grandmasters of the Order, and is organised by the Maltese Embassy in France, the Maltese government and the Musée de l'Armée. This is a rare opportunity to see on display some exceptional items, and in particular a number of loans from the Palace Armoury of Malta. The latter holds many prestiguous examples of weapons and pieces of armour dating from 16th to 18th centuries. Rarely are these pieces seen outside of the Grandmaster's Palace, located in Valletta, the Maltese capital. As well as these items, there are also a number of paintings, artillery pieces and examples of gold and silverwork to accompany the presentation.

Napoleon.org