Heard in the Hive

Immediately after its election at the start of this scholastic year KSJC (Kunsill Studenti Junior College) embarked on a programme of activities such as the Strina Fund Raising, Club Lounge party, Pasta Noon, a football tournament, youth awareness talk with Mrs Sonia Camilleri , the Commissioner for Children, as guest speaker and the JC Soiree Launch party. The latest activity which proved to be a great success was the organisation of the first ever " Prom".

Council members and other students rolled up their sleeves and started organising and preparing for the Prom.

Just a few weeks before the big night, KSJC put up a stand in the Junior College foyer where members and helpers were selling Prom tickets. Apart from selling tickets, applications for Prom Queen and Prom King were also available for the second year students. A total of 32 contestants, 11 males and 21 females, took part and soon photos of the contestants were displayed in the foyer to help students decide whom they should vote for on the night.

Students were excited as they wanted to decide what to wear on the night and some even designed their own dress and with fingers crossed kept waiting for the tailor to finish it. The boys of course, had less of a problem - either a suit or perhaps their father's DJ.

Finally it was time for the big night of March 20. Students started to arrive at San Antonio Hotel, Bugibba, for the eagerly awaited event. The Prom kicked off with BMA award-winning Dripht. The band performed for a whole hour and students quickly got into the atmosphere.

While the voting for the Prom King and Queen was on, another band started performing on stage. This was Bus-stop with their singer Daniela of Red fame. Bus-stop gave a great performance playing various classical songs in tune with the event.

When the clock struck midnight voting results were ready and everyone was anxious for the outcome. Candidates grouped together to see who of them will be crowned Prom Queen and Prom King. KSJC's president Reuben Debono together with other members of the council got up on stage with the results together with the awards and announced the winners.

The first ever Junior College Prom Queen and King were Petra Muscat and Waylin Abdilla. Winners were brought up on stage to receive their award and to listen to their comments. The event then continued with the participation of DJ Drew and Jeremy T.

About 500 students attended the Prom Night, thus contributing to its success, to the obvious satisfaction of the KSJC.

Hulsta at Joinwell

The directors of Joinwell hosted a party at the Sliema showroom to launch the Hulsta 2005 range of furniture from Germany.

The party was held in the presence of German ambassador to Malta, Georg Merten. Hulsta was set up by Karl Huls in 1940, and is now a global brand which first achieved international recognition in the Sixties, when it revolutionised the market for sleek, contemporary furniture.

Hulsta is now a world leader for stylish, functional furniture. Its award-winning and timeless designs are classics of innovation. Karl Huls was a living legend in Germany, and his furniture remains legendary today.

Bank of Valletta supports Blitz

Bank of Valletta is sponsoring Blitz, an original, artistic show organised by a group of contemporary artists known as START. This exhibition is being held in the underground chambers of the Couvre Porte war shelter in Birgu.

BOV head of Public Relations Michael Galea recently presented the sponsorship to Raphael Vella, the organiser of the exhibition and a member of START at the art studio.

Mr Galea said: "BOV encourages the development of arts and culture in Malta. We regularly support Maltese artists in their efforts, helping them to stage exhibitions which can then be enjoyed by the general public. We are delighted to be associated with Blitz which will project an original fusion of art and heritage for the appreciation of all those who visit the exhibition."

Mr Vella thanked BOV for their support and said: "I chose this unique location for this event to commemorate the 16th anniversary since the end of the World War II. But military conflicts are still a terrible reality today. The artists of START will show that Maltese artists are committed to dealing with issues that have been and are still relevant in our times. Visitors will experience the contemporariness of history in a series of poetic transformations of the underground spaces."

START is known for changing old or historical sites into contemporary living museums. The group has held exhibitions at the Old Prisons of the Cittadella in Gozo, at Pinto Stores in Valletta and even in an old brothel in Valletta.

The artists who will be exhibiting works in Blitz are Norbert Francis Attard, Ruth Bianco, Austin Camilleri, Savio Deguara, Patrick Fenech, Charles Gatt, Anton Grech, Pierre Portelli and Raphael Vella. The exhibition will be open until June 1.

Successful exhibition opening in Berlin

James Vella Clark's first exhibition abroad entitled Impressions, currently being held in Berlin started off on a positive note as the artist's collection of 20 paintings received a warm acclaim from all guests attending the opening at the Gasthaus Steglitz.

After a welcome address by Herbert Weber, mayor of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, the guests were welcomed by Malta's Ambassador to Germany, William C. Spiteri.

In his address Mr Spiteri dwelt on Malta's identity and role in the Mediterranean and referred to the artist's unique portrayal of the Mediterranean traditional landscape and architecture. The ambassador also referred to the embassy's continuous efforts to promote Malta's identity and rich heritage by hosting cultural and artistic events.

Martin Schönfeld, the exhibition curator, then delivered a critical appreciation on the various thematic aspects of the works comprising the exhibition.

In his address, Mr Schönfeld said: "Many were the artists who influenced the northern European image of the south such as Paul Klee, August Macke and Louis Moillet. James Vella Clark's works run parallel with these artists' works. His is the view of a native who discovers in his daily surroundings the exceptional moment, who finds in his home town the picture and the mirror of his own life and his own social situation.

"His paintings are very individual because they formulate a very personal view to the urban and rural situations. They open not only a very specific view to Malta and its places but also a window to the emotions, thoughts and situations of the painter himself. His urban-landscape structures become a hierarchy in a social and spiritual dimension."

Mr Schönfeld added: "James Vella Clark's works are signs of an irretrievable loss of cultural values represented through the loss of the typical architectural identity. His thoughts, sorrows and sometimes rage at the over-development in his country is inscribed with structures and colours in his pictures. Thus his paintings are not only a picture of a Maltese landscape or village. Rather, his paintings reveal his relationship to his surroundings and his emotional interest for its eventual future.

"Therefore, with his pictures and his landscapes, Vella Clark is reaching a fine border between the motive and its abstraction. It is this risk that makes it possible for the painter to discover new aesthetic challenges. These new challenges are the reason that gives the viewers new artistic experiences and hold on the attraction and interest for his art."

Impressions runs until May 1 and is being accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue with all the paintings exhibited in Berlin and an introduction by Maltese art critic E.V. Borg.

Visit the artist's Website www.jamesvellaclark.com. For a copy of the catalogue send an e-mail to the artist on info@jamesvellaclark.com.

Soroptimist Saturday of Service

Prior to International Women's Day last month, Soroptimist Clubs all over the world were invited to participate in this volunteer day to raise awarness about Soroptimist International's goals.

Saturday of Service gave Soroptimists the opportunity to carry out a service project to advance the human rights and the status of women and girls. Clubs selected a hands-on service project in their community.

The Malta Club chose two different organisations, thus hands-on services were done at the Refugee Centre at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Balzan and at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija in Marsascala.

Linda Halliwell, a Soroptimist from the Kidderminister Club in the UK, who was on holiday in Malta, also contributed towards the international effort by giving a helping hand at Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija.

Concert/dinner for James Grech Fund

The second event being organised in aid of the James Grech Cancer Fund will be held tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. at the Corinthia Palace in Attard. It features a concert by the Euro Academy Youth Orchestra conducted by Manoel Pirotta followed by a pasta dinner (three types of pasta and a soft drink).

The Youth Orchestra will play works by Mozart, Haydn, Carmelo Pace, Manoel Pirotta, Ketelbey, Smetana and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Violinist James Grech, founder and organiser of the Stradivari Season, has sadly been struck at the young age of 28 by lymphoblastic lymphoma, an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer. He is now receiving treatment at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Australia, under Professor Kerry Taylor, one of the world's leading haematologists.

In recognition of his contribution to the cultural life of Malta, fellow-musicians and colleagues have set up the James Grech Cancer Fund to organise fund-raising events to pay for James' treatment.

Tickets for the concert are available at the door at Lm2. Combined concert and dinner ticket is offered at Lm5. Reservations for the dinner are being taken till today on tel. 9945-7126, 7953-7925, 9986-4967; e-mail: stradivari@global.net.mt.

Donations payable to the James Grech Cancer Fund may be sent to JGCF - PO Box 06, Zebbug, Malta.

Book of condolences

A book of Condolences on the sad occasion of the death of Prince Rainier III will be open at the Consulate for Monaco c/o P. Cutajar & Co. Ltd. Notabile Road, Mriehel from tomorrow to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The President's Ball

The Malta Community Chest Fund is organising the 2005 edition of the President's Ball held under the distinguished patronage of the President of Malta and Mrs Fenech Adami.

The event forms part of the Malta Community Chest Fund's annual calendar of events to raise money for various individuals and philanthropic institutions in need.

This year's President's Ball, whose proceeds are in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fun, will be held at the Palace, Valletta, on April 23.

Patrons will be entertained during a gala dinner in truly palatial surroundings, which will be further embellished by the floral creations designed by Therese Sullivan and her team.

Tickets, at Lm25 each, are now available for sale from the Malta Community Chest Fund's office at the Palace, Valletta (tel. 2124-0568).

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - April 11-18

Tomorrow
10 a.m. The President receives Alfredo Spiteri, president of the Circolo Dante Alighieri, at the Palace, Valletta.

Tuesday
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a piano recital by Stefan Cassar at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President is interviewed by Ernest Matskyavichyus from the TV channel Russia for the programme Good Morning Russia, at the Palace, Valletta.

10.30 Mrs Fenech receives mothers of pupils of St Francis School, Msida at San Anton Palace, Attard.

1 p.m. Mrs Fenech Adami presides the President's Ball meeting.

7.30 The President inaugurates an exhibition at the Old University Buildings, Valletta, organised by the Russian Centre for Science and Technology together with the Russian Federation, entitled "Joint Contribution of Malta and Russia to the overthrow of Nazism and Facism in World War II."

Thursday
10 a.m. The President is presented with credentials by Swedish Ambassador Fredrik Vahlguist at the Palace, Valletta.

10.30 Mrs Fenech Adami visits Dar Merhba Bik, Balzan.

11.15 The President is presented with credentials by Albanian Ambassador Pavli Zeri at the Palace, Valletta.

1.30 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited Ambassadors of Sweden and Albania at San Anton Palace.

Friday
9 a.m. The President attends a seminar at the Corinthia San Gorg organised by the College of Notaries and the Law Students Society entitled "Amendments to the Civil Code in terms of Act XVIII of 2004".

10 The President receives a group of French members of the Realites et Relations Internationales (ARRI) at the Palace, Valletta.

10 Mrs Fenech Adami presides over a Malta Community Chest Fund working committee.

11.30 p.m. The President attends the ecumenical service and wreath laying ceremony organised by the George Cross Society at the Siege Bell Memorial, Valletta.

7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a recital by Lydia Caruana at San Anton Palace.

Saturday
7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a symphony concert by the St Laurence Band at the Maritime Museum, Vittoriosa.

Sunday
9.15 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend Mass on the occasion of the feast of St Joseph at the St Mary of Jesus church, Rabat.