MUSIC

SummerDaze Malta

Malta's largest music festival continues today with a performance by British DJ and record producer Sigala at Café del Mar in Qawra.

The week-long festival runs until Wednesday, August 17 with the main events being held tomorrow, in collaboration with BBC Radio 1 Dance Live and Creamfields, and on Wednesday in collaboration with Radio Deejay and M20 at Ta' Qali picnic area.

The headliners tomorrow will be international stars Anne-Marie, Bastille, Elderbrook, G-Eazy and Jason Derulo. They will be supported by BBC Radio 1's Sarah Story and Arielle Free.

On Wednesday, popular Italian deejays Albertino, Fargetta, Molella and Prezioso will take to the decks, along with live performances by J Ax, Baby K, Corona, Ice MC and Meduza.

For more information, visit summerdazemalta.com. Tickets for all events are available here.

Glitch Festival 2022

Over 65 international artists are performing in the fifth edition of the house and techno festival, which runs until Tuesday, August 16.

After yesterday's opening party at the Valletta ditch, the festival is moving to Gianpula Village where industry titans and rising stars are performing on seven stages spread throughout the venue today and tomorrow.

The festival will come to an end on Tuesday, August 16, with a number of boat parties and a closing party at Gianpula featuring Daria Kolosova, Etapp Kyle and Julian Muller.

For more information and tickets, click here.

THEATRE

Il-Kbir Għadu Ġej

The last two shows of the smash-hit jukebox musical are being staged at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, today and tomorrow.

Created and directed by Sean Buhagiar, based on the music hits of Freddie Portelli and penned by Malcolm Galea with musical direction by Dominic Galea and choreography by Warren Bonello, the musical features most of the original cast of 2019, with some new additions, including Debbie Scerri, Julie Pomorski, Gianluca Mifsud, Sean Briffa and Daron Galea.

Kevin Borg once again plays the lead role of Il-Kredu.

Performances start at 8.30pm. For tickets, visit www.showshappening.com.

FILM

Anime Festival

The Eden Cinemas in St Julian’s is currently hosting its first-ever Anime Festival, showing feature-length films of some of the most popular anime series of all time, including Dragon Ball Z, Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia.

All films are dubbed in English or are shown in Japanese with English subtitles.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly is showing until Tuesday, August 16.

For details about the screenings, visit the event’s Facebook page and the Eden Cinemas website.

OTHER EVENTS

Fireworks displays

Several localities aret holding fireworks displays today, the eve of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

Among them, St Mary’s Fireworks Factory of Mqabba will be holding its annual spectacle The Tower of Light, which includes an innovative pyromusical show and traditional Maltese shells.

In neighbouring Qrendi, the Għaqda tan-Nar, Soċjetà Mużikali Santa Marija will be presenting The Conquest of Darkness, promising a bigger and better display than they ever had, while St Mary’s Fireworks Factory of Għaxaq will be presenting The Convoy, featuring traditional Maltese fireworks and a pyromusical display.

The other localities celebrating the feast of the Assumption tomorrow are Birkirkara, Attard, Gudja, Mosta and Victoria.

Delicata Classic Wine Festival

The 19th edition of the Delicata Classic Wine Festival continues this evening at the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta.

Over 20 wines are available, while live cooking stalls are serving a variety of traditional Maltese and international dishes.

Kurt Calleja & Band and the Spiteri Lucas Band will be entertaining the crowd.

Entrance is free but, to try the wines, one has to buy a ‘purse’ with tokens and a souvenir glass to keep. Online prepayment is now closed but cash points open at 7pm. For more details click here. 

Lunchtime tours at Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum

A series of guided lunchtime tours at Palazzo Falson in Mdina are taking place until the end of August.

The tour highlights objects linked to the Order of St John, but one may also admire the rest of the museum's significant collection that is specifically displayed to capture and reflect the life and taste of Captain Olof Gollcher.

Bookings at a suggested donation of €10 can be made by e-mail on bookings@palazzofalson.com or by calling on 2145 4512. One may also arrive at the museum 10 minutes prior to the tour, which starts at noon.

Gustav Café is open to guests for refreshments on the rooftop terrace of the museum.

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EXHIBITIONS

Exhibition marking 80th anniversary of the Santa Marija Convoy

An exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of Operation Pedestal or, as it is best known, the Santa Marija Convoy, is open at Palazz Santa Marija, the clubhouse of the Society of St Mary and King George V Band, in Mqabba.

This exhibition includes a large collection of World War II memorabilia like uniforms, helmets, inert ordinance, medals, badges, documents, photos, newspapers and aircraft relics.

All exhibits are authentic and were used on various battlefields.

One may visit the exhibition until tomorrow, August 15, between 7 and 10pm. Entrance is free of charge.

Harboured

An exhibition of watercolour works by Sarah Calleja inspired by Grand Harbour and its stories is on at Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq in Mqabba until tomorrow, August 15.

One may visit the exhibition today and tomorrow from 7am to noon and from 7 to 9pm. For more information, look up Il-Kamra ta’ Fuq Facebook page.

Read the Times of Malta interview with Sarah Calleja here.

Ceramic Art Collective

A collective exhibition of ceramic artworks is on at the Cittadella Cultural Centre Hall 2 in Victoria.

Taking part are Mario Sammut, Charles Sammut, Hermine Anne Sammut, Phyllis Camilleri, Daniel Scerri, Joan Haber, Christian Formosa, Paul Scerri, Katrin Formosa, Victor Agius, Chris Saliba, Mariz Cassar, Nadia Haber and Sylvana Magro.

The exhibition comes to a close on August 26. For more information, visit the Gozo Ceramics Festival Facebook page.

[attach id=1219130 size="large" align="left" type="image"]Artworks forming part of the Ceramic Art Collective exhibition.[/attach]

A Healing Journey: Redefining Environmental Challenges

An art exhibition aiming to promote minorities and the environment is open in Victoria.

A Healing Journey: Redefining Environmental Challenges forms part of a project which visual and conceptual artist Mary Rose Saliba is conducting with a group of senior citizens in Gozo named SMART.

The study is envisioned towards the self-discovery of dormant talents, as well as enriching the emotional well-being of minorities and marginalised people to help them integrate and gain their voice in society.

The SMART team’s exhibition features mixed media artworks that include samples of earth, soil, rocks, stone, dried leaves and tree trunks which the group have collected during walks in the countryside as part of the project.

The exhibition is open until August 28 at the Banca Giuratale, Independence Square, Victoria. One may visit from Monday to Friday between 7am and 2.30pm and on weekends and public holidays from 9am to noon.

Polymorphs

Claire Farrugia is presenting her first solo exhibition at The Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia, Floriana.

Consisting of works on paper, panel and canvas, Polymorphs shows the artist's concern with the fact that the online portrayal of imagery that the public consumes is often far from the truth; most of the time, it is actually a made-up form of reality.

The exhibition focuses on ‘human polymorphism’, with the subjects presented in a natural stance and with a filter using a mobile app. 

Curated by Charlene Vella, the exhibition also includes a section featuring the artist’s self-portraits.

Polymorphs is open throughout the month of August. Entrance is free. For more information, visit the exhibition’s Facebook page.

[attach id=1219136 size="large" align="left" type="image"]One of the portraits on display at the Polymorphs exhibition.[/attach]

Prehistoric pottery making

An exhibition presenting the results of a scientific investigation of materials and techniques used in pottery making during Maltese prehistory is open at the National Museum of Archaeology. The exhibition runs until the end of August. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9am to 4.30pm. 

Bellum in Mundum

After a seven-year hiatus, artist Tonio Mallia is presenting a new series of works that reimagine a world shaken beyond its tipping point, where the tensions between the human and natural world are no longer at play, nor are they creative or life-giving; they have devolved into a tyrannical order in which mankind becomes subject to its own freedoms.

The exhibition, curated by Giulia Privitelli, runs at MUŻA – Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta until September 11. For more information, visit muza.mt.

Willie Apap – Colour and Light 

A retrospective exhibition of works by Willie Apap (1918-1970), considered one of Malta’s leading exponents of 20th-century art, is currently on at Il-Ħaġar – Heart of Gozo Museum in Victoria.

The 70 works on display feature portraits, landscapes and still-lifes, dancers, human figures, sacred and ethnic works in oils and inks, and are accompanied by a lavish 100-page GEMS # 20 catalogue.

The exhibition, curated by Maria Cassar, runs until October 10. Opening hours are from Monday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Entrance is free.

The exhibition is supported by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Gozo Ministry’s Cultural Directorate. For more information, visit the museum’s Facebook page.

Amelia Saint Geoge works at The Phoenicia

Artist Amelia Saint George is exhibiting a number of her sculptures at The Phoenicia, Floriana.

The sculptures are in clay, bronze and mixed media, and portray animals, which Saint George is particularly well-known for, as well as some humorous sculptures that are more closely associated with her portrait sculptures.

Saint George, who has made Valletta her home, is an established, award-winning contemporary sculptor who has exhibited locally and internationally. She is also the author of several books on diverse subjects and holds sculpting lessons in her Valletta studio.

The exhibition is open throughout August at The Phoenicia's Deep Nature Spa and in September at the hotel's reception area.

whatson@timesofmalta.com