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A never-ending cycle of love!

How the love and passion of a team pays off in a breathtaking result...

An endowed creator

The Death of Snow WhiteThe first teaser of Naupaca’s upcoming production!

An interview with sensational artist AaronCamilleri Cauchi.

2Published by the Fejn se Mmur team. Copyright (C) Fejn se Mmur 2012. Photo copyright (C) Anthony Grech 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied without the prior consent of the Fejn se Mmur team.

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08Tomatolicious!Discovering the first edition of the “Tomato Festival” organised by the Kercem Local Council and Band Club, in collaboration with the Ministry for Resources.

A never-ending cycle of loveIn this edition’s main feature, Mariliana Debrincat sets out to talk to some of the volunteers involved in the prepara-tions for the Santa Marija feast in Victoria- a feast in which love and passion take centrestage.

An endowed creatorMariliana Debrincat interviewed artistics sensation Aaron Camilleri Cauchi on his past and present work, and his ex-citing future as one of the very best artists on our island.

I can be fun!!Getting up, close, and personal with this month’s protagonist, Monique At-tard! Mariliana Debrincat delves into her life, character, and experiences!

Published by the Fejn se Mmur team. Copyright (C) Fejn se Mmur 2012. Photo copyright (C) Anthony Grech 2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied without the prior consent of the Fejn se Mmur team.

cover imageThe Cathedral of the As-

sumption, Victoria. Taken by Anthony Grech.

24 The Death of Snow WhiteNaupaca Dance Factory is set to once more us all by storm with the in-credibly-fascinating production “The Death of Snow White”. Find out why.

fejn se mmurRadju KatidralGozo CathedralVictoria, Gozo

@gmail.com

28 Cultural CalendarCheck out what’s up this August in the Cultural Calendar for this month!

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Our Capital city is surely a very busy one, with sever-al events revolving around this city, not to mention the tourist attractions, such as

the Citadel. In summer, the city of Vic-toria boasts of having two of the largest feasts on our island: that of St. George in July, followed suit by the one of the As-sumption of the Blessed Virgin in exactly mid-August. Both feasts attract residents, locals, Maltese, and foreigners alike, how-ever, the Santa Marija feast in particular is without any shadow of a doubt, the most acclaimed, most popular festa not only in Gozo, but also on a national basis. It’s the feast which best defines Gozo, Malta, and its people, with their unwavering devotion towards our special patron and protector. Such a huge feat requires a lot of prepa-rations and work from different sections, gathering both the Cathedral Parish Church of the Gozo Matrix, and the Le-one Philarmonic Society- the oldest civic band in Gozo, founded in 1863. The bond between these two very different, yet ev-er-so-similar organizations traces back to the beginning of the twentieth century, reaching its peak in 1956, when the Band Club donated its statue of the Virgin Mary in heaven to the Cathedral Chapter. From that momentous day on, both organiza-tions have never failed to work hand-in-hand to provide a feast which is truly like no other on our islands!

In order to try and make people appreci-ate the various street decorations we in-terviewed several sections in the Leone Philarmonic Society , the first being the Għaqda Armar Santa Marija where they explained to us in brief what their role is, as well as the different processes which

the talented artists and volunteers have to perform in order for us to be able to ap-preciate the final product.Mr. Bajada from the team started by saying that “street decorations play a particular role in these manifestations. These eye-catching installations are both traditional and artistic.” One cannot agree more, as it is this festive, colourful coat that covers our streets during this period, which intro-duces us all to a jubilant atmosphere. The installation of various pedestals, statutes, artistic fabric works and light decorations, transform the main streets and squares of Victoria, into a real outdoor artistic ex-hibition of the highest standards. Part of these decorations, statues and wooden pedestals in particular, have adorned the streets of Victoria for a substantial num-ber of years, some of them clocking to near a century. The Għaqda Armar Santa Marija has thus lately committed itself to restoring these works of art, in order to keep them in pristine condition.

However this group of largely youth en-thusiasts also holds strong to its innova-tive roots. Apart from restoration work, each and every year there are new works of art that are being installed in the streets of Victoria. Although decorations start to be set-up from a month before, work at the workshop is underway practically all year round. Such work varies, with differ-ent people performing different jobs. Clay moulding, elaborate designs, painting, gilding, form moulding, works in wood and fibre... you name it. Every type of manual artistic activity is being performed in these workshops. However the special ingredi-ent for this project to be viable and sus-tainable is that all this work is done volun-tarily. They do it out of their love of culture

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and their patron saint, without any regard for personal gain.”

Another section is the VAMPA Organisa-tions, which every year takes care of the pyrotechnic works during the Santa Mari-ja festa. This section was officially set-up back in 1990. The fire show may truly only last just a few minutes, however months of preparations, dedication and sacrifice are involved into that awesome show. During the years since it was founded, the VAMPA has been inviting the best pyrotechnic factories from around the is-lands, in order to collaborate and present us with a spectacular pyrotechnic show. The peak of these works reaches its peak towards the end of the procession of the Assumption on the 15th August, where surely everyone witnessing the fireworks is left impressed and satisfied with the spectacular and magnificent show.

There are, of course, other sections in-volved. The revelry (“briju”) branch within the Leone Philharmonic Society is nowa-days renowned for its annual “surprise” at-traction- this year being the recreation of a massive disco ball which surely provides a spectacle in the jam-packed marches, full of such energy, passion, and love for all that is festive. Work here doesn’t stop at all, but is based on past performances, in an effort to provide a product which the people will appreciate and interact with-

which after all are the elements required for a successful march.

Our team had the opportunity to visit the Gozo Cathedral during the two weeks of preparations. We could see how far such undertakings go, and could understand that should there not be numerous vol-unteers, the level of success would not be even close to what it is. Be it decorat-ing, polishing, and cleaning, answering the hundreds of telephone calls the Pa-rochial Office receives during this period, or broadcasing on the Community Radio Station, volunteers bustle all day round, without any self-interest in mind. One truly comes to appreciate how much sweat is involved- all leading up to that moment in which the beloved statue of the Virgin: a national treasure and local jewel, is seen being taken out of its Cathedral, and into the streets of Victoria, to bless, inspire, and encourage its devotees to keep on working harder and harder, for yet anoth-er year- A never-ending cycle of love!

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... Volunteers bustle all day round, without any self-interest in mind...

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Between the 11th and 12th August, Gozo will be celebrating its centuries-old tomato-picking tradition in the Tomato Fest to be held in the quiet, semi-rural village of Kerċem. This is the peak period for tomato picking in the Maltese Islands and the

Gozitan producers thought it would be appropriate to share this experience with the public.

Kerċem’s Pjazza Orvieto is set to become somewhat of a temporary tomato picking site, with the public being given the opportunity to pick its own tomatoes. A competition with prizes for the best variety of tomatoes will be open for all tomato producers and farmers and games shall be organised for children and adults. About 40 pieces of machinery related to the to-mato industry will also be on display. A varied menu of tomato based food shall be available throughout the whole evening. The evening will be accompanied by live stage performances and various local artisan exhibitions. The Sunday morning celebration will start with a folk mass (Ghana) in the square and band marches will follow. The program will run until one in the afternoon.

The Tomato Fest is being organized by the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, in col-laboration with the Ministry for Gozo, Ta’ Kerċem Local Council, Local Tomato Producers, the Għaqda Muzikali San Girgor and Grupp Armar Għajn Tuta.

Entrance to this activity is free of charge.

tomatoliciousCelebrating the wonderful tradition of food!

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Our culture is intrinsically merged with the religious beliefs of our people. It is a unique fusion of art, passion, and raw talent, which together gives off a result which is truly awesome. Whether it is dur-ing the jam-packed festa period, the se-rene Easter and Christmas days, or the intense Good Friday duration, we seldom halt from professing our faith and belief through the arts.

The work of Aaron Camilleri Cauchi may just be the embodiment of all this. The sur-name on its own already gives off a hint of what to expect: a capability in artistic expression that is unique as it is power-ful, suggestive, and inspiring. Mr. Camill-eri Cauchi, though one of the youngest offsprings of the art-endowed family, has become a sensation, some of his work being recently presented in an exhibition, for which “massive” would not even come close to describing the turnout and level of success.

Our Mariliana Debrincat had the opportu-nity of interviewing Mr. Camilleri Cauchi about his career, work, and prospects for the future.

To what extent does art define you?

“I can say that art is my entire life be-

cause I come from a family of artists and I have grown up in such an environment. Presently, I work as a freelance artist in my studio in Fgura, apart from being en-gaged with the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs as an art consultant and con-servation coordinator. I consider myself to be an artist because God gave me a tal-ent which I skilfully use together with my creative imagination so as to be able to create aesthetic objects.”

What are the various techniques that you use in order to convey messages to your respective audience through your works?

“Most of the works of art which I am com-missioned to create are sacred statues. The majority of them are made of tradition-al Maltese papier-mâché and are used to decorate the main streets and squares of Maltese and Gozitan localities during the festa week. However, I have also been commissioned to compose statues for parish churches, both locally as well as abroad. Some of these statues are made of papier-mâché while others are carved out of wood. Whatever the medium used, I believe that a sacred work of art must be devotional enough to evoke the virtues of humility, charity and justice. An academic style, originality in colours and gilding are

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synonymous to my works of art too.”

Can you describe to us the process that such work involves?

“It is interesting to know that the type of papier-mâché that I create is an old local tradition of high cultural heritage, which I learnt to produce from my father, who inherited this technique from his father Comm. Agostino Camilleri. According to a study conducted by the University of Dresden, traditional Maltese papier-mâ-ché is the most durable amongst all other types of papier-mâché that are produced around the world.

The process of making a papier-mâché statue includes various steps: First, the statue is sketched on paper as desired. After enlarging on paper to the desired measurements, the statue is modelled in clay using hand modelling tools. When the clay-modelling is finished, the differ-ent parts are cast to create a mould of the clay model. This part of the process in-volves the mixing of plaster of Paris with water. The mixture is then used to cover all the clay. Once the plaster dries out, the clay is removed from the moulds. The

moulds are then filled with a layer of pa-pier-mâché. When the papier-mâché dries and settles, it is pulled out of the moulds. The different parts of the statue in papier-mâché are attached together to re-create the original modelled statue using plaster of Paris. About two to three coats of plas-ter of Paris are then applied with a paint brush to the entire surface to make the structure strong enough to withstand its own weight. All surfaces are then levelled using rasps and sandpaper. The statue is then hand-painted using a mixture of oil paints. In some cases, some highlights of the statue can be gilt using gold leaf.”

Are you working on any projects right now?

“At the moment I am working on a range of papier-mâché statues commissioned by various band clubs and festive decora-tions societies so as to be displayed for the first time during this summer’s feasts. Moreover, I am looking forward to carv-ing two wooden statues together with my father, which we will start working on once the summer festive season is over. One of these wooden statues will be por-traying the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,

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commissioned by Naxxar Parish Church while the other will be depicting Christ the Redeemer for Saint Mary’s Parish of Ħal Għaxaq. The latter will be the third wood-en Good Friday statue, which we have been commissioned to compose out of a set of eight.”

How did Aaron Camilleri Cauchi start this journey into the world of artistic creation?

“Since of a very young age, I used to ob-serve and help my father modelling clay, making papier-mâché statues and bronze monuments, as well as carving sculptures out of wood, limestone and marble. Grow-ing up in the environment of our art studio led me to start my own career in the artis-tic sector. In fact, in 1995 I began working at Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar, where I was responsible of restoration and conserva-tion works as well as managing the resto-ration team. In the meantime, I was also responsible of restoring and conserving antique Good Friday papier-mâché stat-ues, found at the Cathedral Chapter in Victoria, Gozo, until then I started creat-ing my own statues.”

What inspires you whilst working on your masterpieces?

“I must admit that I consider my father as a point of reference in my career. This is because he is always there to support me, to motivate me and to share with me his ideas. Therefore, I feel that I will be able to create the best piece of work. Looking at masterpieces created by great artists, such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Anto-nio Canova, also inspires me while ac-complishing my works of art.”

“ I consider myself to be an artist because God gave me a talent which I skill-

fully use...

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I can be fun!!

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Being a special festa edition, our team did not miss out on tak-ing the opportunity to center this month’s photoshoot of the month around the beauty, pas-

sion, and oh-so-glorious energy which is Summer and its numerous festivities! And, sure enough, this month’s protag-onist could not be any more apt: a fun, energetic, and lively young woman- can we ask for more other than Mo-nique Attard?

We started off by asking Monique about none other than the traditional festa: the hub of the Gozitan summer calendar. How much is our protagonist fond of this defining tradition?

“Yes I love them indeed, especially my village feast of Xewkija. The at-mosphere feasts create is something found nowhere else except on our is-lands; a tradition for every locality to celebrate its patron saint. What I find really amazing is how many individuals work hard for everything to be just per-fect. Obviously in my opinion the best thing in a locality feast is the marc held on Sunday morning where youngsters and the young at heart throng to the streets clapping and singing under the scorching sun and throwing buckets of water over them to refresh them. On the other hand I feel actually sad when the statue is back-facing the crowd returning back to the church. At that point, I hope for another year to pass as quickly as possible to re-live the excitement and happiness my feast brings about.”

This summer is surely going to be re-membered for the sweltering heat wave which took over our air, leaving us panting for breath and resorting to long, relaxing hours at our sun-kissed

beaches. What bays does Monique really enjoy spending time at, while swimming in the glorious blue water? “I normally wish summer is all year round, but now I’m rethinking on what I was wishing for. This heat is killing me and what I enjoy the most is either staying at home with A/C full on or going to the beach. I usually go either to Ramla, which is not very far away from where I live, or Ħondoq.”

As with every protagonist, Monique was asked to define herself. Who is Mo-nique Attard according to herself? Her answer- short, but very sweet! “Actual-ly I am still learning about myself. What I know for sure is that I can be fun. Ac-tually, it’s rather difficult to describe myself as it’s others who can judge me best!”

We were not quite satisfied with that answer, so we threw another question at Monique, with the hope of revealing more aspects of her character. What are the three things our protagonist never leaves home without? “First and foremost, there’s my mobile phone, though according to my parents and friends I am never reachable; second-ly, there’s the chewing gum (I’m kind of an addict), and home/car keys.” In-teresting...

And finally, what was the most hilarious experience Monique could remem-ber? “I’m always trying new things, so my friend Rodienne and I took part in a film as extras. The make-up artist end-ed coloring me all dark and then blue paint all over my face. On top of all we were wearing sack materials. It was an amazing experience, where we had a lot of fun!” We could have asked for a photo from that day, but we ended up thinking it would be too cruel of us!

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THE FEJN SE MMUR PHOTOSHOOT OF THE MONTHPHOTOGRAPHER: ANTHONY GRECH | STYLIST; PAUL CASSAR

HAIR STYLISTS & LOGISTICAL HELP: RHONA FENECH, FIONA FENECH LOCATION: CITTADELLA, VICTORIA

(C) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ANTHONY GRECH PHOTOGRAPHY 2012

Want to be the next protagonist?Send an email with your photo to fejnsemmur@gmail.com, and you can be the next to be featured on our magazine!

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Naupaca Dance Factory presents “The Death of Snow White; A Tragedy in 7 Days”, a contem-porary dance interpretation based on the story of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as told by the Brothers Grimm, set to take place on 1st December 2012 at Aurora Opera House,

Victoria, and on 7th & 9th December at The Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Referring to the significance and meanings contained within myths and rites of initiation and death, Naupaca Dance Factory’s The Death of Snow White reaffirms the Brothers Grimm’s story as a tale of wonder, yet reconsiders the functional unity of the fairy tale, in order to reveal the darker vision of the human condition repressed within it. The Death of Snow White rereads the function and nature of dance itself, as it does not present the medium as a celebratory expression of bodily movement, but as a means through which the enthropic nature of the dead and the dying body could be ex-plored, as it presents physical beings that are unable to escape and move beyond the liminal phases of existence.

The scenario offered is one in which the conventions of narratology and narrative are broken down, in which time and the passage of time becomes a malleable and controllable object. Plot takes prec-edence over story, as the happenings of the tale remain faithful to those found within the source text by the Brothers Grimm, yet unfold in an achronological manner. Ultimately, what The Death of Snow White explores is the act of telling a story rather than story itself. The story has no setting, or rather, it is set in a timeless space; the stage is a space of liminality. However, not all notions of historicity and specificity are rejected. The choreographic and dramatic material contained within The Death of Snow White presents and explores a sense of antithetical tension which exists between the mythic and the sacred, between the secular and the sublime. The Death of Snow White mani-fests this tension in terms of both a clash and a fusion between Western and Eastern aesthetics and modes of representation. The patterns and rites of ordeal, death and resurrection are analysed not just as a mythological and religious analogy of the fairy tale, but also as an underlying structure in-forming all religious narratives.

The Death of Snow White is a fairy tale, and as with all fairy tales, it can only happen if rules are fol-lowed. The following can only be staged if these three conditions are respected:Every scene is an exploration of death.Every moving body is dying.Time is malleable.

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Resounding GozoBanca Giuratale, Independence Square, Victoria3rd - 16th August 2012Office Hours

The Saints of MaltaBanca Giuratale, Independence Square, Victoria17th - 29th August 2012Office Hours

Choral Anniversary ConcertUniversity of Malta - Gozo Centre24th August 201220.00

Cirque du SoleilSt. John’s Demi-Bastion, the Citadel23rd August 201220.30

10th Delicata Classic Wine FestivalFamily Gardens, Nadur31st August 201219.30

What:Where:When:

visual&performing What:Where:When:

What:Where:When:

What:Where:When:

What:Where:When:

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courtesy of:

culture&traditionsWhat:Where:When:

Tomato FestOrvieto Square, Kercem11th - 12th August 201219.30

What:Where:When:

What:Where:When:

I-Fjakkolata tax-XlendiXlendi Bay11th - 12th August 201220.30

The Santa Marija Agrarian ShowRundle Gardens, Victoria14th - 15th August 201218.00 (Tuesday) / 08.00 (Wednesday)

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A month of artistic variety!

During the month of August, the Cittadella Centre for Culture and Arts will be hosting three exhibitions which vary from the works of emerging young talents, to the masterpieces of a visitor who immortalized Gozo in his im-pressive work, and the products of some of the best local talents on the island.

The first, entitled Primary Colours gathers the watercolours of a number of fine artists, namely Philip Agius, Henry Alamango, Jo-seph Casapinta, Anna Dumicz, George Far-rugia, Graham Gurr, C. S. Lawrence and Tony Macelli. The exhibition also includes work by the Canadian artist Rick Zenker, who painted his final pieces in Gozo last year. Subjects in-clude scenes from Malta and Gozo, portraits and figurative work.

Primary Colours will be presented within St John’s Hall and adjacent spaces and will run until 2nd September.

Another exhibition, this time situated at St. Michael’s Hall is Gozo Lights - an extraordi-nary collection of portraits by Bulgarian art-ist Teodor Radunov. During his recent stay in Gozo, the Bulgarian painter, Todor Radunov was fascinated by the bright sides of this is-land. In more than 20 paintings, Todar Radu-nov has made it easy to feel the simplicity that

is so inherent in the nature around the island, the subtlety in the old streets and buildings of Victoria, the plain majesty of the citadel and the rocks along the coast, but also the move-ment of the water hugging this tiny island.

The exhibition is taking place between the 3rd and 24th of August, under the patronage of the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono and with the kind assistance of the Embassy of Malta in Vienna.

Meanwhile, St. Ursula Hall is also currently hosting a Youth Art Expo, which includes a wide variety of work in various media, from many gifted young artists, kindly provided by the schools of Gozo College. The exhibition offers a truly diverse range of art in many me-dia, with the talents of developing artists ex-hibited alongside works from number young artists that are already well-established on our islands. The exhibition is located in the his-toric setting of the Citadel, which provides a superb backdrop to the colourful works.

The Youth Expo will be presented within St Ursula’s Hall and adjacent spaces and will run until Sunday, 2nd September. Entrance is free of charge, however visitors are kindly urged to offer a kind donation towards the OASI Foun-dation.

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