Many visitors to Barga are surprised by the sheer number of exhibitions that take place during the summer months. A quick check through the archives of barganews (article here) in fact show that there were no fewer than 40 exhibitions in Barga last summer. This year it looks as though that figure could quite easily be met or even surpassed. This afternoon there are four new exhibition’s open to the public.
The mix of artists showing their work fairly well sums up the vibrant artistic community of the city, drawing on local artists, other Italian artists and artists from abroad.
At the Scuola Materna, Piazza Giovanni Pascoli down in Barga Giardino we find an exhibition of paintings by the artist Alfredo Gatto ( born 1958 in Avellino, Campania region of Southern Italy)
Coming back up the hill and into Barga Vecchia we find an exhibition of paintings by one of the new British painters – Maggie Melechi from Yorkshire, England.
Continuing our journey into the heart of Barga Vecchia we find at Casa Cordati a mixed exhibition featuring the black-and-white photographs of Caterina Salvi and the mixed media drawings and paintings from Sanda Rigali.
Maggie Melechi completed her BA (HONS) Fine Art Degree at Leeds Metropolitan University in 1988 specializing in large scale mixed media paintings often incorporating sculptural elements to create colourful and sensuous environments.
Recent works continue her exploration of colour, texture and mark making on a variety of scales. Her subject often alludes to the landscape, seascape and aspects of nature i.e. grottoes, volcanic and mountainous terrains, plants and flowers. Her inspiration is drawn from her travels in Southern Italy, Sicily and the contrasting Yorkshire landscape especially the North York Moors. Photography is also an important source of reference – her camera being her sketchbook – site here
