the city is there

the city is there - 70x70cm
acrylic on canvas

Naxxar

Naxxar - Oil on Canvas - 50x70cm

Joseph P. Smith featured on Black and White Photography

Maltese photographer Joseph P. Smith’s book Survivors has been featured in the international photographic magazine Black and White Photography.

Described as "a noble commitment that freezes time for a second, preserving it, and a generation of memories, in magnificent monochrome",  Survivors presents a collection of photographs depicting the people of Birgu, and aims to tell their 'life story' through portraits.

The author has just published the second reprint of the book and copies are available from Agenda outlets and from the author himself and is currently working on the second volume of Survivors, "as there are more stories in Birgu waiting to see the light".

For more information log on to: www.smithjp.com.

Call for Artists

An Answer to Jeremy

In a recent post on his blog, (http://jeremyellul.blogspot.com/) friend and fellow artist Jeremy Ellul posed a couple of questions that I would like to answer. In a nut shell, in his post Living off Art - Daily Bread, he asks....1. if it is wise to abandon one's profession to become a full time artist, and 2. 'Would living off art affect the work i.e. creativity?'

So let's start with question 1. It all depends on how badly you want to become a full time artist. Any commitment to the profession depends only on what the artist is ready to give to it, nothing else. I for one, even though I studied art most of my life, my 'profession' was Interior Design. Studied and worked as an interior designer for nearly 15 years, having my own practice etc. But then, my love and passion towards my art took over and I took the plunge. The experience is similar to bungee jumping without the rope. Most artists shy away from the the jump for many reasons which are not necessarily related to the quality of their work. Family commitments, not being able to run a studio, lack of entrepreneurship skills, don't know from where to start, are only a few of an endless list why artists are afraid of the 'jump'. It is all about choices and personal commitments. Being a full-time artist, especially during the first few years brings with it a certain level of uncertainty that not all are ready to go through. But if you know the profession, or if you're ready to learn fast, it is doable. Artists have to remember one thing, the skills you need to be an architect or a doctor are not the same as those you need to run an architectural studio or a clinic. And it's the same thing with being an artist and running your own studio, being a good artist is not enough. 

And this leads me to question 2. 'Would living off art affect the work i.e. creativity?' I think all of us agree that to do a good job, an artist, among other things, needs to be creative. So we can easily ask the question in another way, would an artist living off art do a good job? Ask the same question to any other profession, would an architect living off architecture do a good job? or would an engineer living off engineering do a good job? Doing a good job and living off something are not necessarily related. Again, it only depends on the artist or the architect or the engineer or the electrician etc. Yet, in architecture, design, engineering, medicine, etc., the best work is nearly always done by the professionals and very rarely by an outsider. So is art, the best work is nearly always done by professional artists. Take all the great work in history as an example. Like most other things, (and maybe more) art requires time. The more time you can dedicate to it, the better your work. And another thing, in art, unlike many other professions, there is no room for mediocrity. Anyone dealing with international galleries knows what I'm saying. 

But let me ask another question, does doing what you want because you don't depend on it makes you a good artist? Would you be able to produce good art because you are not dependent on it? Again, these issues are not necessarily related. 

To be able to make a living off of your art, yes you need to be good at what you do but being a good artist  is not enough. And this is where most artists fail. To be able to make a living off your art, you either need a good manager (which are very hard to find) or you need managerial skills. There is no escaping this.

Artibus 027

Diego Rivera from the cycle: Political Vision of the MexicanPeople (Court of Fiestas):Insurrection 1928

I don't think artists can avoid being political. Artists are the proverbial canaries in the coalmine. When we stop singing, it's a sure sign of repressive times ahead. - Theresa Bayer

ART COMPETITION - First-Time Solo Exhibitors

The Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce is taking the initiative to organise an ART COMPETITION to encourage FIRST-TIME SOLO EXHIBITORS in visual arts to compete and win one of the five (5) exhibition spaces beingmade available by the Society for five (5) solo exhibitors.

The competition is for persons 16 years and over who have never had a solo exhibition before who live in Malta and Gozo. Competitiors are asked to provide good quality electronic photographs of ten of their work (300 dpi) and a CV. These works cannot be copies of other works, and can be drawings, paintings, sculpture and photography. The guiding principle in making selection, among other criteria, is how original, innovative and artistically ambitious is the work.

The ten (10) electronic photographs (300dpl) and CV must be sent to the eamil address events@artsmalta.org by not later than the 9th February, 2012. A jury composed of five (5) persons will view these entries and select five (5) partecipants whom shall be asked to exhibit the ten works at the Society's premises, Palazzo de La Salle between the 19th April, 2012 and 12th May, 2012.

For the purpose of this exhibition "Solo" is being defined as not having exhibited more than nine works in any single event.

Redbubble Home Page

Yesterday, one of my paintings, Rabat-Mdina, was featured on the home page of redbubble.com 

Skyline to Red Earth

skyline to red earth
acrylic on canvas 100x50cm

Where's the Cat?

Where's the cat?

Acrylic on canvas, 145x96cm, 2011

Barrakka Ta Fuq

Barrakka ta' Fuq - 80x80cm

Acrylic and Oilbars on Canvas

Currently exhibited at Capotavola, Marsascala

beyond the light

beyond the light - 60x60cm

Acrylic on Canvas

currently being exhibited at Capotavola, Marsascala

And Then....exhibition at Capotavola

extended to the end of February 2012

Standing Out of the Crowd

Standing Out of the Crowd
Mixed media - 100x100cm

Mother and Child

Mother and Child
2011

Artibus 026

Painting, n. The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather and exposing them to the critic. -  Ambrose Pierce, The Devil's Dictionary

Plans for 2012

This time of year, every year, I would be making sure that my plans for next 12 months are pretty much settled. Its not easy but when you are dealing with exhibition spaces and /or art galleries you have to. Most galleries have the coming few months, if not year or two, booked. So late bookings are not an option. Obviously you cannot have everything planned. Most things have to be decided at a much closer date to the actual event but at least the big stuff is decided.

So, my main events for the next year or so will be a solo exhibition of works in ink at  Capo Tavola that will open in a few days. Another solo exhibition at Gallery Pi in April 2012 and, as I already announced in an earlier post, a solo exhibition in London during the first half of October 2012.

Ink is a medium I find hard to abandon and I find myself revisiting quite often. The spontaneity, the suddenness, the working with 'mistakes' are few of the things that keep me coming back to ink. Hopefull my latest works tha I will exhibit at Capo Tavola will be well received.

The exhibition at Gallery Pi will be something completely new. These last few months I have been experimenting with a number of different media and working with different materials. A more three-dimensional kind of work is emerging, some things more conceptual than others. Gallery Pi would is the ideal place for such a collection.

For the exhibition in London, I am still at the planning stage. I am still working on a theme and researching my approach. But some ideas are already emerging. The city as a place of human interaction is a topic I would gladly explore. In these uncertain times, aiming the spotlight over human behaviour in these large mechanical containers we call cities might be interesting. Especially for someone like me who does not live in a big city like London. Now we'll see, there is still time.

There were another two projects that I wanted to work on but they depend on other factors. One is a collaborative project with a couple of other artists and the other is a retrospective exhibition by Bertu! my cartoonist alter ego. Both have to happen, if not in 2012, early 2013.

Grand Harbour from Isla

Grand Harbour from Isla - 180x80cm - mixed media

This piece was commissioned by Amicorp Malta Limited, Ta Xbiex. It is now hanging in their boardroom . 

638 Kilo Tanz ist Kunst

Maura Moralesin Ella - photo Gorka Bravo

It's been over a week since I attended 638 Kilo Tanz in Essen. It was just one incredible experience, 5 days of pure artistic bliss. I have always found dance as a good source of inspiration  in my work and my involvement in Argentine Tango made things worse (or better). This is nothing new. Human movement has always been a constant source of artistic inspiration and dance in particular has always attracted visual artists. Take Degas for example, I love his ballerinas, and what about Toulouse Lautrec's cancan dancers? Just brilliant! A source of inspiration that is still alive and can easily be found in works of contemporary artist like Rosemary Butcher. 

Boglarka Börcsök in Discounts - photo Gorka Bravo

So, being in Essen, in close proximity to a number of highly creative people whose main artistic language is human movement was just overwhelming. And it was not only about movement but also about personalities. During rehearsals, during breakfast or breaks you can easily see the other side of these artists and I could not but realise how similar our work is, we just chose a different language. There was a general feeling that the festival was proposed by artists and belonged to the artists, and its true. The way the organisers take care of their public, the way they nurture the relationship between themselves, the public and the performing artists was just inspiring. This is the 5th year that this festival is being held and the organisers have managed to build a magnificent following. All nights were sold out.

Jule Flierl in Happiness is a War M Gun
photo Gorka Bravo

To add to all that, I formed part of a fantastic jury, with jury members having different backgrounds but all with some involvement in dance. Festival organisers, critics, theatre owners all contributed to interesting, deep and mind opening discussions, sometimes very hot, which made the whole experience more electrifying. 

In the end, the 638 Kilo Tanz Public Award 2011 went to Maura Morales' ELLA and the 638 Kilo Tanz Jury Award went to Boglarka Börcsök and her production DISCOUNTS. Jule Flierl deserved a special mention by the Jury and was awarded a two-week residency at the Dresden Theatre Project.

I Cannot but thank Jelena and Sabina for their hospitality and for involving me in their creation and to all the people I met and made friends with during my stay in Essen. Thank You All!



event organisers - http://www.tanzgebiet.de/
photos  - http://gbravophoto.com/

Back.....and forth

Finally back! Well, I've been here a couple of days now but I always need some time to settle back in my routine. The last couple of weeks were just incredible. I have been to London and then to Essen in Germany, then to London again and back to Malta. 

I always enjoy London and this time in particular. I was there to finalise details regarding my forthcoming solo exhibition which I will be holding in London next year. More details on this exhibition will be posted here in the future. 

In Essen, I attended the 638 Kilo Tanz Festival and was part of the jury. It was an inspiring and unforgettable experience where I have met some incredible people and seen some mind blowing stuff. In the coming days I will try to write more about this, about the whole event and the performers I met. Anyway, now its time to continue catching up with life.