Doranne Alden

Doranne Alden is a professional graphic designer and artist. As an artist, her preferred painting medium is watercolour based media. In particular she is drawn to using a liquid watercolour (ink) which enhances the boldness and sharp contrasts in her work. However in this exhibition she has chosen to concentrate on both traditional watercolour and watercolour inks. She is inspired by colour rather than by subject matter. Doranne was born in Sliema in 1963, and after completing her education, studied art for a number of years at the School of Art in Msida under the guidance of Joseph L. Mallia (1937- ). She also followed other Design related courses, including Interior Design, but chose to work as a Graphic Designer and Artist.

Contemporaneously she frequented a painting group led by Joy Micallef Farndell(1924-), an exceptional watercolourist. In Malta she worked as a graphic designer for over fifteen years with several major advertising agencies and eventually as a freelance designer. Over the years she gleaned experience in several aspects of design, but it was during the years as a freelance designer that Doranne produced a series of original postcards: ‘Details of Malta’, posters: ‘Glimpses of Malta’ and personalised photographic calendars. Inevitably this led her to launch her own advertising agency: ‘Details Design Ltd’, along with a partner up to 1995.

In 1996 she settled in Germany with her family and there held drawing and watercolour classes for adults. She also became an active member of an art group of abstract art organised by German artist Frau Renate Botzenhardt in Tutzing, Bavaria. She lived in Bavaria for almost seven years, during which time she participated in joint and collective exhibitions. Her three major exhibitions were: a joint exhibition held at the Town Hall in Tutzing, Bavaria and two solos: the first at the Gasthaus Zur Post in Wessoburn, Germany, while the second solo was held at the Art Hotel in Vienna, Austria.

In 2006 Doranne won first prize in the watercolour section in the Silver Palette Competition organised biannually by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Recently she participated in a collective exhibition entitled ‘New Faces 2008’ at Gallery G, Lija. Doranne has received positive criticism. Her third and most recent solo was held in December 2008, at a VR-Bank near Passau.
Her work has been referred to as ‘little jewels of art’ in the ‘Ammersee Kurier’; as ‘natural without being too realistic’ a phrase by Thomas Wellens in the ‘Weilheim Tablett’; Marika Azzopardi coined the epithet ‘warmth and mouth-watering mellowness’ for her fruit (pears) in the ‘Weekender’ the culture section of ‘The Times’ a local paper. Alden’s paintings form part of several private collections in Malta and overseas. One such work holds pride of place in the foyer of the Munich International School, Percha Bavaria.

Doranne Alden is the daughter of well known Maltese watercolourist Albert Caruana and is married to Simon Alden (vice president of the German-Maltese Circle).
Artist’s contact info:
Email:
Webpage: dora
Mobile: 00356 9943 8158

Marika Azzopardi


When a father decided to resume his study of art in order to actively support his daughter's newly-found interest in painting, little did he know that one day, their works would be sharing exhibition space in a joint event at one of Malta's most exclusive art galleries.

Albert Caruana and Doranne Alden are currently showing a cross-section of their paintings beneath a title that says Sensitivity vs Passion. One would be inclined to assume that the sensitivity refers to the works of Mr Caruana while the passion emanates from the works of Ms Alden.

A walk around the exhibits - 125 of his and 56 of hers - leaves these categorisations firmly at the door. Is passion simply conjured up by a strident colour? Is sensitivity merely a delicate hue?

To all intents and purposes these diametrically different personalities come through firmly and yet there are common strains of colour and shared ideas - a common vein.

My Dad is one of Ms Alden's most poignantly moving watercolours. Yet it is totally unlike the rest of her works and if it weren't for the title, one might be tempted to think it was a Caruana self-portrait. Ms Alden admits she has always loved watercolours. Yet, here, the colours are her father's, the technique is his, but the poignancy must and can only be hers. "It was a cold day in Germany and we had just been painting. My father sat down to rest and enjoy the scenery."

That explains why the colours are so different from her usual dramatic and undisputed excitement. Yet, the colours are probably also contributing to bring forth her own image of "dad" and reflecting the tone of a moment rather than merely hinting at Nordic weather and light.

More typical of Ms Alden is a set of still life paintings showing apples. Both painted earlier this year, they are exquisitely different in composition and technique. Apples for Barbara harks back to Ms Alden's own background in graphic design and verge on the quasi-abstract, while Apples Painting is attempting to emulate post- impressionism.

Ms Alden's favourite theme is certainly seascapes. Yet it is also Mr Caruana's. Two storms brewing, one by him and one by her, emulate a clash of titans and a subdued resignation. In Ms Alden's case it is the colours that speak out for her, clashing and clanging even in a relaxed moment and space as in Nothing Like a Good Read. Her blues are the most striking ever.

With Mr Caruana, everything is subdued. Even in a dramatic moment such as that shown in Menqa, wherein the artist re-evokes memories of a bad storm way back during his days in Gozo, the colours are elegant, contained, restrained and it is only the central pull and thug of the fishermen that make a difference.

The selection available from Mr Caruana's oeuvre is understandably larger, thanks also to the wise foresight of curator E.V. Borg. Mr Caruana's is also a far wider range of exhibits, harking back to his time as art student with Anton Inglott. A handful of oils depict still life compositions. They are his first works, executed in 1945 at the age 13 or 14. "These were made under Inglott's guidance, just one year before he died aged 30. His influence is totally present and I can still recall his words of advice when I voiced a difficulty on how to show 'strange' colours such as those of a metal flask."

Mr Caruana moved on to create what seem like impromptu sketches of passers-by that today, with hindsight, seem to document an age and a time long lost. These were actually lifted from candid shots taken without people knowing and which have, in their entirety, produced a collection that shows eye-catching characters, their clothes, their habits, their way of walking, their way of laughing. Nobody got away with it. Not if Mr Caruana noticed them. He clinched a wave of popularity at the end of the 1970s with a series of pen and ink drawings depicting rural farmhouses and trades, moving on to a celebrated calendar that showed the churches of Malta. Something of each of these phases is there on show, proof of an artistic development that has virtually touched upon everything short of the female nude.

This joint exhibition contains something for everyone. And on re-thinking the title, two different words come to mind: Exuberance vs Restraint - I would have called it that...

February 9th, 2009 - Naxxar,
“A firework display of colour” or 'Ein Feurwerk der Farben aus Malta” was the title of a solo exhibition by this well known local artist held at the VR-Bank in Freyung, which is a small town near the historical University town of Passau on the banks of the river Danube. The exhibition, which was opened by Director of VR-Bank Mr. Josef Leutziger was sponsored by Messrs. Erhard & Mario Dumps, owners of Bavarian Technology Systems, an electronics assembly company which started operations in Malta in 2004, as they are keen to promote cultural exchanges between Bavaria & Malta. In his opening address, Mr. Leutziger praised the high standard of work on display and expressed his delight that the bank was given the opportunity to enjoy and exhibit Doranne Alden’s works, which added a flourish of colour to the drab winter weather in Germany!

The art on display was very well received by the local community and guests at the opening reception as it gave them a colourful artistic insight to the Maltese islands. The local newspaper PASSAUER NEUE PRESSE remarked in its coverage how the artist used strong and intensive colour contrasts in her work, additionally highlighting the fact that Alden had previously successfully exhibited in Bavaria during the 8 years she spent living in Germany.

December 13th, 2008 - Naxxar,

Freyung. Leicht verschwommen schaut das kleine Madchen in der gelben Regenjacke von einer der Stellwande in der VR-Bank Freyung. Mit leichten, aber dennoch expressiven Pinselstrichen aus Aquarellfarbe wurde es von der Kunstlerin Doranne Alden auf eine Leinwand gebannt.
Bis zum Freitag ist die Ausstellung vom Doranne Alden mit dem Titel 'Ein Feurwerk der Farben aus Malta' noch in der Bank zu bewundern. Und so entsteht im kunstinteressierten Besucher oder auch im normalen Bankkunden eine leichte Ahnung der Natur Maltas, wennn er die Bilder betrachet.
Zu Stande kann der Kontakt mit der Kunstlerin, die sich uber die Ausstellungsmoglichkeit sehr freut, durch die Firma Dumps in Rohnbach. Dank einer Tochterfirma auf der Insel Malta ist es der Unternehmerfamilie wichtig, 'auch kuturellen Austausch zu fordern', so Mario Dumps. Gleichzeitig soll die Kunst in der Region unterstutzt werden.
Fur den kulturellen Austaucsh sorgt nun Doranne Alden, die Tochter in Malta uberregional bekannten Aquarellmalers. Sie arbeitet als professionelle Graphikerin und Malerin, wobei sie fur ihre Aquarellfarbe benutzt und damit auch starke und intensive Farbenkontraste erzeugt. Acht Jahre lang lebte die Malteserin in Oberbayern - Tutzing hatte sie sich fur diese Zeit als Heimat und Schaffensort ausgesucht. Ihre Werke, die in Fachkreisen teilweise auch als 'kliene Juwelen der Kunst' bezeichnet werden, wurden in dieser Zeit schon ein parr Mal in Bayern ausgestellt.
Ein bisschen Farbe in die Winterzeit kann sich der Kunstinteressierte noch bis zum 4. Dezember holen.

Taken from PASSAUER NEUE PRESSE - Mittwoch, 3 Dezember 2009

July 29th, 2008 - Naxxar,


Albert Caruana (1928-) and Doranne Alden (1963-) are organising an art exhibition: 'Sensitivity vs Passion' at Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, 4 Sir Ugo Mifsud St., Lija, Malta. The inauguration on Friday 12th September 2008 will present this father/daughter team with around 100 works. The exhibition will remain open for public viewing from 13th September till the 2nd of October.

The works by Albert and Doranne reveal a polarity of taste, vision and concept. They work in tandem and demonstrate deep understanding. The relationship is perfect: Albert, the introvert loves tranquillity and serenity and nature in a docile mood; Doranne, the extrovert is stunningly passionate and emotive. Albert is the lyrical escapist; Doranne faces challenge reacting in a bold and forceful manner. Albert loves classical tradition and sacred art while Doranne's choice of may be subject simple and mundane, the interpretation is modern and fresh. Both are inspired by nature, both love genre and landscape. Albert is a master of line while Doranne loves colour.

Albert evokes the music of silence with attendant therapy. His romanticism is highly contagious. Doranne is exuberant and extravagant. Her work has been referred to as 'little jewels of art' while Thomas Wellens has described her work as 'natural without being too realistic'. Her speciality: fruit, deserved the epithet 'warm and mouth-watering.' (Marika Azzopardi, 2008).

The polarity recedes into the shadows while individuality breaks forth into contrasting character. Albert is Doranne's mentor, the link to a close team. But while Albert admires the melting mists of Turner, Doranne adores the sculptural Cezanne and the boldly colourful Matisse.

10. 07. 2008 E. V. Borg

March 19th, 2008 - Naxxar,


Translated article which appeared in the Weilheim Tablett - Bavaria, by well known art critic Thomas Wellens.

MALTESE ARTIST EXHIBITS WATERCOLOURS IN BAVARIA.
Maltese artist Doranne Alden, currently residing in Bavaria, recently held a solo exhibition of her works in the Bavarian town of Wessobrunn. Critic Thomas Wellens had this to say: ` The artist, Doranne Alden, a graphic designer living in Germany for some time now, delights in painting still-life pictures which are rich in vibrant colours. She was born in Malta and certainly her native island, so flooded with light and glowing sunshine, has influenced the intense hues and style of her watercolours. The variety of fruit and flowers enhances their attractive man-made containers of different shapes and textures (vases, baskets, bowls, etc.) and results in a well-balanced, beautiful composition. .... Although she works mainly with watercolour Mrs. Alden usually avoids the soft flowing lines of the wet-in-wet technique and applies the medium on a white, dry background. The artist avoids too much detail by allowing the free-flowing colours to shape the vessel, flower or fruit and attain the intended result. Contrasts are ultimately the secret to these paintings which seem to be so full of life and light: red tulips in a blue vessel, all these entice the eye. Natural without being too realistic, this exhibition reveals the grandiose richness of a lush, ever sumptuous world.'

` The Ammersee Kurier referred to the pictures as `little jewels of art`. This translated article also appeared in the `The Times of Malta` in 1997.



The following article was translated into English and taken from the Starnberger Merkur, 4thMarch, 1998.


Joint Exhibition with Heike Hornsmann
BRIGHT COLOURS SET AGAINST CLEAR FORMS

Two artists - Doranne Alden and Heike Hornsmann exhibit at the Town hall in Tutzing. A wealth of colours for the Tutzing Town hall - Colourful, shimmering landscapes expand next to earthy-orange, quiet fields, gentle house corners and effective still lives. ......Doranne Alden sets down calculated plains and drawings.... and the mixture of colour and form are the very strength of Doranne Alden. The Maltese Artist, who lives in Tutzing, shows her background as a graphic artist. Still lives that appear unexciting at first deserve a second glance and convince through their balanced composition, clear plains, compact volume as well as their highlights. Especially striking is the system of light effects achieved by leaving blank spaces when painting flowers in the painting entitled `detail of flower stall`, a structured sparkle of colour. Whereas Heike Hornsmann is taken by grand landscapes, Doranne Alden is fascinated by details, also as a photographer. Quiet corners of Malta drawn in fine lines. Several coastal views and fields are composed of stronger deeper colours - but always in a quiet and smooth structure. Winter scenes of Tutzing, realistic, finely detailed as well as more traditional watercolours establish the connection back to Heike Hornsmann's works and the passion for our close surroundings.` connection back to Heike Hornsmann's works and the passion for our close surroundings.`

May 15th, 2009 - Naxxar,
From Saturday 30th of May to 18th June 2009, in the Exhibition Area (level 1) of the Hotel Premises.

‘Collections' is the theme of an exhibition of paintings by Albert Caruana and his daughter Doranne Alden, which is open in the main exhibition space outside the Business Centre at Le Méridien St Julians Hotel & Spa.

Albert Caruana, 80, is showing a number of paintings in acrylics and watercolours dating from 1990 that are in private collections and, similarly, Doranne, 46, is also exhibiting paintings in watercolours and ecoline dating from 1994 that are held privately. In addition, Albert is showing a series of eight limited edition sepia drawings from old photos he took himself of characters in Valletta and Sliema in the 1950s.

Albert was first exposed to art when he practised drawing privately with Maria Pitrè. For two years, from 1943, he studied painting under well-known artist Anton Inglott and, later in life, from 1978 to 1981, took art classes at the Malta School of Art under the guidance of Harry Alden. Since then he has dedicated himself exclusively to painting ‘en plein air'.

Since 1974 he has taken part regularly in collective exhibitions locally and abroad. He held his first one-man exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta in 1990. His works are found in numerous private art collections, banks and other institutions.

Doranne is a professional graphic designer and artist. She studied art at the School of Art in Msida under Joseph L. Mallia and took several short courses in graphic design and interior design. She worked as a graphic designer for over 15 years in Malta, including owning her own advertising agency for some five years.

In 1996 she moved to Germany where she lived for seven years, before returning to settle in Malta, where she runs her studio in Naxxar. As an artist, Doranne's preferred painting medium is watercolour-based media. In particular she is drawn to using a liquid watercolour (ink), which enhances the boldness and sharp contrasts in her work.

While in Bavaria, Doranne had a number of solo, joint and collective exhibitions in both Germany and Austria. In 2006 she won first prize in a Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce competition.

Last year she held a solo exhibition in Passau, Germany, and took part in a joint exhibition with my father entitled ‘Sensitivity vs Passion' at Gallery G, Lija. Earlier this year she had another solo exhibition, ‘Glimpses', at the German-Maltese Circle in Valletta.

collections

October 18th, 2008 - Naxxar,
EXHIBITION OF MALTESE ARTISTIC WORKS AT HEIDELBERG CASTLE IN GERMANY

Prof. Viktor Dulger, Malta's Honorary Consul General in Stuttgart, was the promoter of an exhibition, entitled "Kunstlerkompositionen aus Malta", which was inaugurated on 17th September at Heidelberg Castle, by Malta's Ambassador to Germany, Mr. William C. Spiteri. Prof. Viktor Dulger took the opportunity to deliver a speech for the occasion, in which he dealt with the Maltese art, history and culture and on his business experience in Malta, as owner of three export-orientated companies.

The exhibition consisted of twenty painting works by Ruth Bianco, John Martin Borg, Richard Saliba, Doranne Alden, and Alfred Chircop. Fifteen pieces of sculptures were exhibited by members of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (and, precisely, by Raymond Abela, Raymond Azzopardi, Paul Bugeja Vella, Raymond Buttigieg, Antoine Paul Camilleri, Joseph Casha, Ivan Fenech, Josephine Galea, Pia Magro, Victor Sammut, John Vassallo), and by Gabriel Caruana, while Sina Farrugia presented a series of ceramics creations.

More than 100 personalities from business, finance, the arts, and the medical profession were present for the inauguration, amongst whom, the Rector of the University of Heidelberg, Prof. Dr. Jurgem Sieberke.


DOI – 25.09.2001

October 18th, 2008 - Naxxar,
Exuberance vs restraint
Marika Azzopardi



When a father decided to resume his study of art in order to actively support his daughter's newly-found interest in painting, little did he know that one day, their works would be sharing exhibition space in a joint event at one of Malta's most exclusive art galleries.

Albert Caruana and Doranne Alden are currently showing a cross-section of their paintings beneath a title that says Sensitivity vs Passion. One would be inclined to assume that the sensitivity refers to the works of Mr Caruana while the passion emanates from the works of Ms Alden.

A walk around the exhibits - 125 of his and 56 of hers - leaves these categorisations firmly at the door. Is passion simply conjured up by a strident colour? Is sensitivity merely a delicate hue?

To all intents and purposes these diametrically different personalities come through firmly and yet there are common strains of colour and shared ideas - a common vein.

My Dad is one of Ms Alden's most poignantly moving watercolours. Yet it is totally unlike the rest of her works and if it weren't for the title, one might be tempted to think it was a Caruana self-portrait. Ms Alden admits she has always loved watercolours. Yet, here, the colours are her father's, the technique is his, but the poignancy must and can only be hers. "It was a cold day in Germany and we had just been painting. My father sat down to rest and enjoy the scenery."

That explains why the colours are so different from her usual dramatic and undisputed excitement. Yet, the colours are probably also contributing to bring forth her own image of "dad" and reflecting the tone of a moment rather than merely hinting at Nordic weather and light.

More typical of Ms Alden is a set of still life paintings showing apples. Both painted earlier this year, they are exquisitely different in composition and technique. Apples for Barbara harks back to Ms Alden's own background in graphic design and verge on the quasi-abstract, while Apples Painting is attempting to emulate post- impressionism.

Ms Alden's favourite theme is certainly seascapes. Yet it is also Mr Caruana's. Two storms brewing, one by him and one by her, emulate a clash of titans and a subdued resignation. In Ms Alden's case it is the colours that speak out for her, clashing and clanging even in a relaxed moment and space as in Nothing Like a Good Read. Her blues are the most striking ever.

With Mr Caruana, everything is subdued. Even in a dramatic moment such as that shown in Menqa, wherein the artist re-evokes memories of a bad storm way back during his days in Gozo, the colours are elegant, contained, restrained and it is only the central pull and thug of the fishermen that make a difference.

The selection available from Mr Caruana's oeuvre is understandably larger, thanks also to the wise foresight of curator E.V. Borg. Mr Caruana's is also a far wider range of exhibits, harking back to his time as art student with Anton Inglott. A handful of oils depict still life compositions. They are his first works, executed in 1945 at the age 13 or 14. "These were made under Inglott's guidance, just one year before he died aged 30. His influence is totally present and I can still recall his words of advice when I voiced a difficulty on how to show 'strange' colours such as those of a metal flask."

Mr Caruana moved on to create what seem like impromptu sketches of passers-by that today, with hindsight, seem to document an age and a time long lost. These were actually lifted from candid shots taken without people knowing and which have, in their entirety, produced a collection that shows eye-catching characters, their clothes, their habits, their way of walking, their way of laughing. Nobody got away with it. Not if Mr Caruana noticed them. He clinched a wave of popularity at the end of the 1970s with a series of pen and ink drawings depicting rural farmhouses and trades, moving on to a celebrated calendar that showed the churches of Malta. Something of each of these phases is there on show, proof of an artistic development that has virtually touched upon everything short of the female nude.

This joint exhibition contains something for everyone. And on re-thinking the title, two different words come to mind: Exuberance vs Restraint - I would have called it that...

April 3rd, 2009 - Naxxar,
Saturday, 15th March 2008 - 00:00CET
A joint adventure in exposure
Eleven new artists bare their soul for the first time
Marika Azzopardi

Eleven in all. All spanking new artists baring their souls to public scrutiny for the very first time - that is the stuff New Faces 2008 is made of. Into its fourth successive year, this annual exhibition attracts wide attention mainly for its proven merits of eking out hidden talent. The criteria for participation are simple - the participants must have potential, be new to exhibiting and unknown. Age, social status or personality does not come into the picture.

Painting, sculpture, photography and more come into play here. Some works indicate well-groomed talent; others are more crude, and a good handful promise genius. And there is something to titillate the tastes of every sort of artistic bud.

...
The last two ladies in the New Faces 2008 exhibition vie with each other for prima donna status. To begin with Sarah Calleja her works are crudely divided in four a collection of decided charcoal drawings of the human figure, a set of nudes that speak of postural virtuosity, a quintet of watercolour landscapes that could very well be confused with those by Kenneth Zammit Tabona and a triptych in acrylics whose central character makes the viewer stop dead.


And then there is Doranne Alden. There is a lot of sea and sky here whether it is acrylics, watercolours, acrylic inks or watercolour pencils. There is something about her vibrant blues that is astounding, more so for her skill at capturing the colours of the Blue Lagoon like nobody else I know has ever done. And then there is a huge still life with four pears that are about warmth and mouthwatering mellowness.

Certainly an inspiring collection, worthy of a visit and more...

New Faces 2008 runs at Gallery G, Villa Gourgion, 4, Sir Ugo Mifsud Street, Lija, until Tuesday. It is open today from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

EXHIBITIONS LIST

1990 Malta International Trade Fair Exhibition
1991 Women`s Collective Art Exhibition - Malta Chamber of Commerce
1991 Photographic Exhibiton (collective) held at Ta`Cenc Hotel Gozo
1994 Art Exhibition in Victoria, Gozo
1994 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa)- Malta
1995 Cathedral Museum Art Exhibition - Mdina - Malta
1995 Local Council Exhibition - Swieqi - Malta
1996 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa) - Malta
1996 Collective Society of Art and Manufacture Annual Art Exhibition - Malta
1996 Collective Exhibition at Murnau Townhall - Germany
1997 First Solo Exhibition at `Gasthof Zur Post` in Wessoburn - Germany
1998 Joint Exhibition at Townhall in Tutzing - Germany
1999 Agenda 21 - Collective Exhibition at townhall in Tutzing - Germany
1999 Starnberger Townhall Collective Exhibition - Germany
2000 Society of Art and Manufacture Malta
2001 Starnberger Townhall Collective - Germany
2001 Second Solo - Golden Tulip - Art Hotel, Vienna - Austria
2001 Silver Palette - Malta
2001 International Trade Fair - Malta
2001 Heidelberg Scholosswienstube Collective of Maltese Artists - Germany
2001 Collective Art Exhibition of Maltese Artists, Adelaide - Australia
2002 Salesians Collecitive Exhibition - Marsa - Malta
2005 The Mystery of Easter - Salesian Brothers Sliema - Malta
2005 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition
2005 VeeGeeBee Christmas Exhibition
2006 Silver Palette Competition - Valletta - Malta
2006 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition
2006 34U June Exhibition
2006 International Trade Fair - Collective Exhibition - Malta
2006 34U Malta Heritage Headquarters - Valletta - Malta
2006 Art Walk Round Mdina Exhibition - Malta
2007 Malta Trade Fair Exhibition
2007 Rotta ta'l Arti Mdina Malta
2008 February - New Faces at Gallery G, Lija, Malta.2008 - 2008 - 12 September - First Joint Exhibition in Malta - along with Watercolourist Mr Albert Caruana - at Gallery G - Lija Malta
2008 Dec Solo Exhibition - Passau - Germany
2008 DEC Collective 'the last five years' at Gallery G
2009 Solo Exhibition - March - 'Glimpses' German Circle - Valletta Malta
2009 MAY Joint exhibition - COLLECTIONS - Albert J. Caruana & daughter Doranne Alden at Le Meridien Hotel, Balluta Bay, MALTA
2009 Filigree - Tradition & Innovation - Exhibition of Maltese Filigree Jewellery
A Collobration of Artists along with Filigree Artists Kevin Attard & Charmaine Gerada October 8 – November 11 2009
Palazzo Castellania, Upper Merchants Street, Valletta
2010 9th January - 29th January Collective E9-2-E99 Exhibitions Hall, St Francis Square, Victoria, Gozo

Filigree – Tradition and Innovation by filigree makers Kevin Attard and Charmaine Gerada is an exhibition of not just filigree jewellery. The exhibition includes varied pieces of handmade Maltese filigree in both the traditional styles and in the more audacious and innovative forms. The aim of this public showcase of filigree is to highlight the flexibility of this Maltese form of silver smithing, as well as to reveal the more artistic aspect of filigree design. In fact, during the permanence of the exhibition at Palazzo Castellania in Valletta, filigree jewellery designer Kevin Attard will be collaborating with a number of established and upcoming Maltese artists to develop a jewellery creation – pendant or earrings to their artistic design. Visitors to this exhibition can meet the filigree maker and ask questions about the jewellery, observe filigree being made, meet an artist and eventually see each artist’s design on display as the days go by. Ultimately the final collection of artistic designs and filigree jewellery produced from them will be showcased during the last days of the exhibition and officially made public at the exhibition’s closing event. Contributing artists include: Doranne Alden, Marisa Attard, Isaac Azzopardi, Josephine Cachia, Joseph Casapinta, Anthony Catania, Shaun Decelis, Audrienne Degiorgio, Anna Galea, Jimmy Grima, Salvatore Montanucci, Christian Muscat and Kenneth Zammit Tabona. The exhibition is being curated by Marika Azzopardi

Filigree – Tradition and Innovaion – an exhibition of handmade Maltese filigree is at Palazzo Castellania, 15 Merchants Street, Valletta until 13 November. Public viewing times – Monday to Friday – 8am to 6pm. For further enquiries call on 7966 3266.

Artists



ABDULLAEV ABDUSALOM, Tajikistan

DORANNE ALDEN, Malta

ARDUINNA (ALIX), France

AYDIN, Uzbekistan

EAGAN BADEEU, Maldives

ISABEL BAUM, Tuvalu

SUSAN BELCHER, Toronto, Canada

LENA BIRKSTEN, Sweden

ALESSANDRIU BOGDAN, Rumania

..........................

George Muscat was the overall winner of the 2006 Silver Palette Competition with a ceramic sculptor. The theme for this year's Competition was Nostalgia’. Section winners were: Watercolours Doranne Alden, Oils Joseph Pulo, Acrylics Maria Rosella Dalmas, Sculpture George Muscat. No winner was announced for Other Media as according to the judges none of the entries in this section reached the required
standard. The following artists were awarded an honorable mention: Grace Cassar (Oils), Angela Theuma (Acrylics) and Joseph Barbara (Sculpture and Ceramics). A total of 66 artists entered the competition, submitting 107 works, which is an increase over the number of participants and works of art over the previous edition. It is to be noted that the previous edition was also won
by a sculptor, Charles Bonnici.

Watercolours
Section Winning
Work by Doranne
Alden