This weeks 3rd of April 2012 edition of The Maltese Herald Gozo section is now available for download by clicking here

Previous editions are also available by clicking on this link.

This weeks articles in the PDF download include the following:

1. His Grace Mgr Mario Grech Bishop of Gozo paid a visit to Gozitan soldiers who are stationed at the AFM’s Qortin Camp in Nadur,Gozo.

During his visit Mgr Grech had the opportunity to observe soldiers performing military training and also to meet and speak with other soldiers who were performing military duties at Qortin Camp.

The AFM detachment in Gozo is named G (Gozo) Command and forms part of the AFM’s Maritime Squadron. There are around 74 soldiers at G Command, which comprises a Land and a Maritime Component. The Maritime Component was made possible by the recent deployment of the Forward Basing of a ‘Bremse Class’ Patrol Boat P 32 at Mgarr Harbour.

During his visit Mgr Grech was accompanied by Colonel Martin Bondin in his capacity as the Commander AFM ‘s representative, Lieutenant Colonel Wallace Camilleri – Commanding Officer Maritime Squadron, Major Claudio Terribile – Officer Commanding G Command, Captain Josef Mizzi – Officer In Charge Patrol Craft 32 and the AFM Chaplain Fr Joe Meli.

Lieutenant Colonel Wallace Camilleri also took opportunity to present a plaque bearing the insignia of Maritime Squadron to His Grace so as to commemorate this memorable visit.

2. Anthony Caruana ‘The Calm before the Storm’ is an exhibition of contemporary landscape paintings. Accomplished plein-air artist Anthony Caruana reveals his remarkable new collection of contemporary landscape paintings, instantly recognizable by the artist’s trademark love for vibrant colour using bold brushstrokes and the impasto technique.

Caruana explores many angles of the Gozitan landscape, some better known than others. Visual detail is left to a bare minimum, choosing instead to transfer to the canvas only the immediate impression this same landscape transmits to the artist’s senses.

A remarkable feeling of depth in these works is acquired through the use of the palette knife that allows for heavy texture while lending the canvas a glowing viscosity. These views are painted not only with the seemingly effortless fluency that characterizes Caruana’s works but with a fluidity and clarity that betrays the artist’s maturity and years of experience of handling this medium.

Caruana does not only seek to capture the ageless beauty of the Gozitan land, but he also plays and experiments with his medium to achieve the sensation of a changing atmosphere. And instead of the bright sunshine and clear blue skies of which Gozo has in abundance; Caruana’s countryside is, with its overcast skies, more subdued, mysterious and at times even foreboding. It is the calm before the storm.

Caruana’s landscape works are deeply rooted in a sense of environmental responsibility, proving that art is now becoming open to visions of awareness. Indeed, artists have always been inspired by nature, but now art is being used as a medium to remind the community that nature still exists in a still beautiful, but increasingly fragile state. In the spirit of a changing mentality, this collection of works is the artist’s statement in favour and support towards a plan for Gozo with a vision to truly re-invent itself as an eco-island.

The exhibition was held at the Banca Giuratale in Victoria.

3. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra recently presented a ‘Community Outreach Concert’ at Ghajnsielem parish church.

The orchestra, under the direction of Michael Laus, played classical and sacred music, including Paulus (Overture) by Felix Mendelssohn, Ave Verum by Mozart, Introduzione and Terremoto from The Seven Last Words by Joseph Haydn, Sarabande by Handel, Biblical Dances by Charles Camilleri, Adagio in G minor by Tomaso Albinoni/Giazotto and Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach/Stokowski.

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1. The Passion play L-Imsallab fi Triqatna (The Crucified in Our Streets) by Ghaqda Dilettanti Gimgha l-Kbira – Ghawdex, was held in Victoria on March 24.

The play left St Augustine square, proceeding through the streets of Victoria, where episodes from the last days of Christ were held in various stations, culminated in the crucifixion on Castle Hill.

2. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech led the Way of the Cross at t’Ghammar hill. Meditations for World Youth Day were recited along the 14 stations, while a family from each parish holding torches walked with Mgr Grech, who carried the Cross.

Photograph by Charles Spiteri.

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