The Art Project Minerva, created by respected London-based artists Blandine Martin and Magdalena Rutkowska, has raise nearly £5000 through an organised auction of artwork at the Italian Institute of Culture in London Belgravia.

The purpose of the auction was to raise money to assist in the renovation of one of the most famous churches of the L’Aquila region, “Di Santa Maria del Suffragio”.

Many churches and buildings in the medieval city of L’Aquila were destroyed in the devastating earthquake of 6 April 2009 causing incalculable damage to Italy’s culture heritage.  The dome of the Santa Maria del Suffragio cracked open, exposing the delicate gold patterns inside.

The auction on 2 July 2009 featured work donated by artists from L’Aquila and internationally and was supported by Italian Institute of culture,ArteLaguna Prize,The Knaypa,Sam Flowers and many other institutions.  The auction was run by Bloomsbury Auction House.  There were around 300 hundred guests, many of whom took advantage of the opportunity to buy work at a fraction of its usual price and by doing so helped to boost the total raised.

“Our auction was a great success,” said Magdalena and Blandine.  “We have had an overwhelming response from people keen to help, from artists donating their work and buyers attending the event.

“At the moment we are working on preparation for the next event which will take place in Venice, followed by a similar event in Paris and possibly New York.  We strongly believe that with the kind support we have enjoyed so far we will be able to provide help to restore the Di Santa Maria Del Suffragio church, an important symbol of art and culture for many generations in L’Aquila.”

The guests attending the 2 July auction included:
Roberto Schneider-press corespondent Italian embassy
Rossana Pittelli-art expert Italian Institute
Lord Simon Clanmorris
Cindy Jackson
Lady Belhaven&Stenton
Polish Consul Jakub Zaborowski

Barbara Taylor

Sally and Gary Barton’s

Teresa Potocka

Jenifer Mohsen

Raffaella Quieti Cartledge-London correspondent  for Abruzzo Economia

Alice Castle-local news

Piotr Gulbicki-Polish Dziennik

Lieutenant from Embassy of Angola
Kulvinder Ghir actor and comedian
Michele Celeste poet and play writer
Jack Vettriano popular artist

British,Italian,Polish press representatives
and many many others..

Chrissie Hammond MA presenting SNAFU to the NHS- a rather mischievous character who frequents her studio invariably causing absolute havoc on a daily basis-Although she confesses to be happy tolerating his distractions, as he is good company in an otherwise insular environment and together over the years they have formulated a close appreciation for each other and more importantly

—A Vision……..

Chrissie’s vision with SNAFU is that one day in the near future he will become an iconic character for the NHS- promoting their messages in a light hearted and memorable way.

Chrissie said…”The NHS has offered me and those closest to me an inordinate amount of care & support over the past years. Consequently I would like to put something back in the only way I know how——-through creativity. Currently I am working on various options/projects with the NHS to make this a reality- however I am always looking for new ideas and through experience I have found that often the best ideas stem from the people who work in the organisation itself- so if anyone would like to be a part of the initial ‘Think Tank’ all thoughts will be gratefully received. “

Please send all ideas large or small to www.nolimits.uk.com or e-mail: no_limits@tiscali.co.uk

The icons featured are the work of my older brother Andrew who is a graphic designer and an icon painter . Andrew has undertaken many public and private commissions for various churches, chapels, institutions and individuals
His work is based on Byzantine and Russian images,  but he has also composed many new icons to meet specific devotional functions. These contemporary interpretations are an opportunity for the continuity of the universal spiritual precepts of icon painting.
Andrew has studied the various parts of mainland Greece, Northern and Southern Cyprus, Istanbul, Ravenna and Sicily in order to explore Byzantine art and icons.
As well as exhibiting Andrew has also taught groups and individuals the medieval techniques necessary for icon painting; gesso preparation, gilding and the particular use of egg tempera. This practical tuition is in relation to the art historical context of icons and emphasizing the need for continuity of tradition, spiritual function and above all, presence.
Andrew is currently working on a large number of exhibitions planned for this summer.
He has also  been invited to show his work to the public at a few major Cathedrals and of course, being his little sister, I would condescend to let him join us at our “Catch..”at Covent Garden…;-))
Magdalena

terms-and-conditions-of-the-arte-laguna-prize-2009     http://www.artelagunaprize.com/There is a brief info about ArteLaguna project in which we are involved  this year.For terms and conditions please visit the website:

http://www.artelagunaprize.com/ or contact: info@premioartelaguna.it

ART. 1 – Goal
The Italian Cultural Association MoCA (Modern Contemporary Art), in cooperation with Arte Laguna, organizes the Third International Art Prize “Arte Laguna”, directed to the promotion and valorization of the contemporary art.
The Prize is organized under the patronage of the Region of Veneto, Province of Veneto, Province of Venice, Municipality of Venice, Municipality of Mogliano Veneto, Venetian Ca’ Foscari University, Cassamarca Foundation of Treviso, Ascom of Treviso and Mogliano Veneto.
The Prize is subdivided in three sections: painting, photographic art, sculpture.

ART. 2 – Eligible media
The Prize is open to all artists, without any limits of age, sex, nationality or other qualification. Each artist can participate with one or two works, at one or more sections. Technical details:
Painting – total technical and stylistic freedom (oil, tempera, acrylic, ink, vinyl, watercolor, graphite, pencil, collage, etc.) on whichever support (canvas, paper, wood, plastics, iron, etc.).

It is always nice to hear about success of our fellow artists.Congratulation to Michael John Griffiths on his amazing exhibition of paintings along with the poetry.

“’Painted Poetry’ is a labour of love, executed over twelve years. My work charts the journey of the soul.”  Michael explains.
The exhibition runs from March 2nd to the 30th, 2009. Located at the heart of Leeds city centre, in the historic building of Leeds Central Art Library,

Meanwhile Helen Kaminsky being chosen as a finalist of the First of Aesthetica  Creative Works Competition.Aesthetica Magazine is a  British- based arts publication with bi-monthly  issues covering art and other culture related events.The magazine could be find at WH Smith shops nationwide.We wish you the  best of   luck  Helen!
http://aestheticamagazine.blogspot.com/

At  the beginning of May 2009 Magdalena Rutkowska and Janina Grinevich will be working on 10 meter high murals on the walls of  CBR museum and home of  Marie Currie.The murals will symbolise the history of the building used today as a  museum,library and also as a  government meeting place for monthly conferencess between proffessors and MP’s who represents cultural and educational activities in the EU.

We would like to welcome Alice Castle to the forum.

Alice Castle is a national newspaper journalist, blogger and writer. Her first novel, Hot Chocolate, is being published in German this summer by prestigious publishing house Ullstein.And because she is a long-standing friend of the Catch… exhibitions, she agreed to write a few words.

I’ve known Magdalena, the inspiration behind Catch by the Eye, Save in the Heart, for many years now and seen her develop the concept of the exhibition gradually, year by year. She has a very generous spirit and is always eager to bring on new talent and introduce it to a wider audience – and this extends to the general public, who are always encouraged to express themselves at Catch exhibitions on the canvases provided. These pictures provide a unique reflection of the moods of people in different countries and varying parts of the city of London and are worth coming to see on their own. Together with the professional exhibitors Magdalena  draws around her, every Catch exhibition reveals its own unique reflection of the times in which we live. Who knows what our current global mood, of introspection, fear, trepidation and the first tremblings of courage, will inspire? I look forward to finding out.

By Alice Castle

After a few successful exhibitions at Eaton Terrace Gallery it is a time to start preparing ourselves for “Catch2009″. We are taking the project to an exciting Covent Garden location where everything around is about arts and craft: galleries, performing artists, an amazing market with lots of original features and of course delicious ice creams, coffee shops and restaurants. Seems like Covent Garden is never asleep! From the 2 June  for a period of one week we are going to represent a little part of this historic London destination, very popular with tourists and Londoners alike. Some how it does feel sad to leave friendly Eaton Terrace Gallery for  now… I hear from many of our exhibitors that (like myself) they have found the gallery’s atmosphere “homely and warm”, which is definitely expressing the personality of the gallery owners Gordon and Trish Stevenson. They might not necessarily describe themselves as “art specialists” but they are  art lovers which for we artists means so much more than an art critic or dealer…

Well.. those are my reflections on stylish yet welcoming, good “old” Eaton Terrace. It would be nice if any one who exhibited there told us how they felt too. Editorials and other info about exhibitions at Eaton Terrace could be find in Art in London magazine:

http://www.art-london.co.uk/Downloads/Art-in-London-Winter08.pdf

http://www.art-london.co.uk/Downloads/Art-in-London-Autumn-08.pdf

Announcing a new exhibition in the Catch by the Eye, Save in the Heart series, scheduled for 2 - 8 June 2009 at Covent Garden.

Details are still being prepared but I am very excited to be given the opportunity to take the concept to the heart of the West End, at an exclusive location in the midst of Covent Garden’s eclectic and hedonistic atmosphere.

Catch by the Eye, Save in the Heart

I know this isn’t much to go on, but details are imminent.  In the meantime the exhibition’s main web-page will be at  http://www.catchcoventgarden.com.

Please email Magdalena at exhibit@eclusier.com for more information, or use this contact form.