Graphic designer brings together 20 artists

Christine Calleja got her first taste of art when she was a little girl sitting on her late father's lap where she could get a bird's eye view of the paintings in their sitting room.

As she grew up she dabbled in painting, but her graphic design career was starting to take off so art had to take second place, even though she was forever admiring other people's work.

This is what sparked her idea to organise a collective exhibition of various works created by 20 artists for the first Vivaldi Arts Expression. Over 130 pieces, ranging from limestone sculptures and photography to poetry and paintings, will be on display between September 1 and 8 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, St Julian's.

"What we have at the Vivaldi is not only a vibrant ocean of works that will most probably lighten up the world of whoever sees them, but also so many stories and so many prayers, some answered," Ms Calleja said during a press conference yesterday.

"For the viewer and admirer of art this will, alas, be a short private journey into the inner being of each and everyone of these artists, whose keen eye and sense of observation has come up with such great inventiveness," she said.

Ms Calleja has teamed up with Vivaldi sales manager Stephen Coppini to coordinate this exhibition at the hotel's newly opened Sonata Suites.

"It was always my dream to set up such an exhibition and the overwhelming response has been extremely encouraging. In fact, I don't exclude making this an annual event," she added.

The participating artists are: Ray Azzopardi, Charles Bonnici, Robert Camilleri, Jeanine Cauchi, Mark Debono, Fabrizio Ellul, Noel Fabri, George Farrugia, Marlene Ferry Camilleri, Johanna Fiorini Lowell, Cedric Galea Pirotta, Mikela Gonzi, Josephine Grixti, Otello Maga, Jacqueline Micallef, Christine Pirotta, Berta Pisani Bencini, Mark Schembri, David Xuereb and Chris Zarb.

Ms Calleja concluded by quoting from one of her muses, Picasso: "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once one grows up."

She said: "I haven't had the time to develop my own artistic streak, so in the meantime I will support budding artists and bask in their collective, vibrant energy."