Time for a change….

This week, I waved a fond farewell to the last of my summer visitors and as I watched them take to the skies, I found myself once again filled with mixed emotions….. I always feel a bit sad when yet …

‘Brass-necked’? I wish! ‘Brassed-off’, more like…..

Sorry folks – I didn’t mean to be silent for so long…but then I never intended to fall flat on my face (twice!) either –  and knock my 5th vertebrae out of alignment in the process!. Yes, I’ve been in …

A Friend in Need…….

Here we are, not yet July and already Skiathos is a hive of activity. The Summer ‘buzz’ is most definitely in the air (although the football may have more to do with the crowded cafés and bars on the Paralia!). …

Mourning, Miracles & Magic. Xristos Anesti!

Hello again! I don’t know about you (and if you’re very religious or a regular church go-er it’s unlikely you’ll be able to relate to this) but over the last few years, for me anyway, Easter has become a bit …

“Yvonne’s World”

‘Yvonne’s World’ Digital painting by Beth Edwards (1stAngel) How many times have you heard this: “Attention! Ladies and Gentlemen. This store will be closing in 20 minutes. Please proceed immediately to the nearest checkout with your purchases and exit through …

St. Nicholas, Sailors and Sweets

Earlier this week,  as I was walking along the ‘paralia’ in the Porto Limani (old port): I approached the  ‘St. Nicholas’, one of the larger tourist boats moored alongside, to find an excited crowd had gathered.  It’s owner, Mr Kyriakos …

Almost Heaven….

I know I risk becoming boringly repetitive -  but the fact is that even after 30 years of coming to Skiathos (somewhere so small, relatively,  that I feel there can’t be anything left to discover) I’m continually amazed how it …

Ευτυχές Πάσχα! ‘Happy (Greek Orthodox) Easter!’

So sorry not to be joining in the celebratons of this very special time on Skiathos but I’ve only just returned from Egypt, where I travelled high into the arid mountains of the Sinai Peninsula to visit the remotely-situated St. …

Byzantium

As I’m in London only a few more days and given how passionate I am (and hopefully you are too!) about all things Greek, ancient and modern, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the ‘Byzantium 330-1453′ exhibition which …

pomegranates, paintings and ponderings

There’s talk that, come October, we’re going to be enjoying the sunshine and clear blue skies once again but for the moment, looking out onto the rain-soaked terrace, that’s hard to believe. It would appear Summer has definitely come to an end. All week we’ve had rain, wind and dark forbidding skies and, disappointing as that is for the last of the season’s holiday makers, for artist Mary Dillon and myself, it was a chance to retreat into the studio, light the fire and settle down to many hours of uninterrupted painting. Bliss!

Mary, (who who has now returned to Ireland), had a body of work to finish for her forthcoming exhibitions and as for me, well after a very busy few months, it was a chance to slow down and tap into some creativity once again. Working quietly in our respective corners with only the sound of the rain lashing on the roof and windows outside, each other and a cd player for company, the hours flew by and undisturbed as we were, it was easy to lose all sense of time. A couple of times, having started early in the morning (and with only an occasional coffee break and hastily put together sandwich mid-afternoon) we continued working through the day into the night, only downing our brushes when we realised it was way past midnight!

my corner

Mary at work

some of her beautiful watercolours

Mary produced several wonderful paintings. Totally inspired as she is the flowers and fruits found on Skiathos, she painted not only stunning vibrant studies of her trade mark subjects such as hibiscus, jasmine and fuchias but also of figs, olives and pomegranates.

Guided by Mary and inspired by her technique and unique application of watercolours; freely applying layer upon layer of subtle colour till a painting of incredible depth and vivacity appears, I thought I’d have a go myself (oils and acrylics being my usual preferred media) and this was the result – a real departure for me – a watercolour painting of pomegranates, picked fresh from the garden:

My pomegranates

detail 1

detail 2

Yours Truly, happy with the final result, Thank you Mary!

All work and no play makes for a dull child so Mary’s last day here found us dashing about the island for there was so much I still wanted her to see. We spent a morning exploring the tiny cobbled alley ways of Skiathos town for last minute purchases which included some fine examples of Greek jewelery, local white lace and embroidered cafe curtains, antique bronze and copper pots, and silver ceramic shells for table top displays. After a (light!) lunch on the old port, of tzaziki, fried courgettes, ‘gavros’ (local small fish) and ‘yigantis’ (butter bean stew – my favourite!) and a carafe (or 2!) of local Greek rose wine, the late afternoon found us heading up into the hills on the island’s remote north side in search of Aghia Iannis, Krifos ( the hidden church) and to take photos of the spectacular sunset that filled the sky with amazing hues of deep pink and orange against the backdrop of Mount Pelion, with Mount Olympus far off in the hazy distance. Finally, we visited Kounistra Monastery, bathed as it was in the rose-pink glow on the fading light. We took a few moments to stand in silent awe before the ancient un-restored icons, just barely visible in the flickering candlelight before warming ourselves in front of a roaring log fire, newly lit in the refectory and heading for home.

“Colours of Skiathos” Art Exhibition 2008

After weeks of discussion and planning and a frantic few days of final preparation, The 2nd annual “Colours of Skiathos” Art Exhibition opened last night, with a wonderful, well-attended ceremony, presided over by the Mayor of Skiathos,Mr Nikolaos Plomaritis and other prominent local Municipal dignitaries.

It’s opening coincided with the start of ‘Navy week”; an annual festival that celebrates Skiathos’ long association with the sea; a week filled with nautical displays, official parades, commemorations, demonstrations, cultural events and general fun and frolics, all centred around the old port of Skiathos town. Fittingly, many of the art exhibits on show this year, carry a nautical theme.

The Mayor has kindly granted us permission to house a ‘permanent’ exhibition this time, inside the beautiful North Hall of the Bourtzi Cultural Centre and it will run for two whole months – until August 30th.

For the first time artists from other islands in the Northern Sporades (namely Skopelos and Alonnisos) have been invited to exhibit their work alongside the 40 or so local artists, thereby widening our our thriving creative community and strengthening the bond between us and the neighbouring islands.

We gained access to the hall only a few days before opening so getting everything ready on time required a mammoth effort on the part of a whole team of volounteers lead by the indefatigable Despina Mitselou. Time was of the essence and every detail had to be meticulously planned; carpenter Nikos worked like a Trojan to get all the wooden stands made (all 30 of them, according to Mary Dillons specifications; 2.25m high by 1.5m wide! ) and Costas Zembekis’ team rigged up a state of the art lighting system. We were also fortunate to have sponsors step in at the eleventh hour and they (Slip Inn, Casablanca, Infinity Blue restaurant, NVL and the Skiathos Palace hotel) provided invaluable financial and practical assistance.

Disaster almost struck when the hessian fabric (to cover the stands) we’d ordered from the mainland, failed to arrive on time. Then, just 48 hours before opening, I spotted a very comical but welcome sight; the local courier company’s tiny moped with 3 huge bales of fabric precariously balanced across the drivers foot-board, wobbling down hill, hot from the ferry port – and I knew all was not lost!

Here is the story in pictures and some of the artists with their work:

Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the exhibition (so far!) has proved a huge success and we hope to welcome many visitors throughout the summer.