In a fast world where inadvertently, minutes roll into hours, the hours roll into days and it seems like a week goes by in a matter of seconds, 25 years ago may seem like yesterday and a quarter of a century's worth of work and activities all lead to single defining moments in history.

This is why the Ghaqda Armar Madonna tas-Sokkors, a voluntary organisation responsible for assembling and maintaining most of the street decorations required for the village feast of Kercem is taking a trip down memory lane via a series of activities and events spread throughout the year.

Leading to their culmination in the village feast on the second Sunday of July, the Ghaqda Armar Madonna tas-Sokkors aims to honour both its past and current members and at the same time include the general public in these activities, which is why it is currently hosting an exhibition of its works at the Exhibition Hall in the Ministry for Gozo, St Francis Square in Victoria.

The exhibition, entitled FestArmar, will remain open to the public until Easter Sunday, the 27th of March and features some of the organisation's best works and street decorations commissioned during the years.

Although most of the works on display are seen annually during the days of the village feast in July, the exhibition also aims to showcase older pieces, thus allowing for comparison of styles in work and giving a clearer idea of the evolution the organisation had to go through to reach its current state.

From works by artists renowned around the Maltese islands such as Michael Camilleri Cauchi, Paul Aquilina, Manuel Farrugia and others to original designs conceived by members of the organisation themselves, the exhibition will be of interest to both those familiar with street decorations and feasts and the general public alike.

The highlight of the exhibition will be the old titular statue of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, patron saint of the village of Kercem, which was engraved in wood by the Sicilian sculptor, Francesco Lo Turco and carefully restored by the Ghaqda Armar Madonna tas-Sokkors to its original condition in 1997.

The statue was brought to Kercem back in 1891, just six years after the village was proclaimed as a distinct parish making it the first titular statue and an essential part of Kercem's history as a village.

FestArmar will feature pieces from both the organisation in general as well as the Kummissjoni Marci Brijuzi, the organisation's subcommittee responsible for the organising the Marc tal-Hdax on the day of the feast.

It will also serve to be a unique opportunity for the public to familiarise itself with the workings of the organisation and maybe follow on the example set by the founding fathers and join in the work carried out by the Ghaqda Armar Madonna tas-Sokkors.

Photos: Charles Spiteri

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