WeDesignIt

                                           Bizzilla (Lace)

Lace making in Malta and Gozo was influenced by the same styles of Venice in the 16th century.The Maltese started to teach lace in 1990 at the Gozo School of Arts. The school is run and maintained by Mrs.Consiglia Azzopardi teaching history research, traditional craft and other techniques which have been abandoned and revived.Consiglia is also the director of The Koperattiva Ghawdxija tal- Bizzilla u Artigjanat, where graduate are taught to perform beautiful lace on traditional and original designs.

Figure 1: Bizzilla

The school was upgraded in 1996 by Lace Making Programme at The University Of Malta Gozo Centre. A three year certificate course and a Diploma in Lace studies is offered.The colours most commonly used are the cream, honey coloured and white. Most of it is made from Spanish silk, linen and black silk which was used until the 20th century.The eight pointed Maltese cross is worked with whole or cloth stitch into most of all the lace. Another distinguishing feature of Maltese lace are the leaves, known as "white ears" or "oats", wide and round. Bedfordshire lace is similar to the Maltese lace and developed from the Genoese bobbin lace. It is also interesting to know that the patterns do not have pin holes marked as in the Genoese lace.

Figure 2:Maltese Lace worker

At auntie's house.  Since our house is modern we don't have any doilies, so I went to my aunties house. She has so many beautiful hand made doilies.

The Maltese cross is usually seen in most of the doilies.

To ensure the continuity and survival of this ancient craft besides teaching in Government schools, Manufactures and Commerce give evening classes. Exhibitions in Malta and Gozo are held from time to time to arouse public awareness and to boost deeper studies on this subject.

Works Cited:

Vassallohistory.files.wordpress.com. (2016). [online] Available at: https://vassallohistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/lace.jpg [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

Vassallohistory.files.wordpress.com. (2016). [online] Available at: https://vassallohistory.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/image129.jpg [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

Maltese History & Heritage. (2013). Maltese Crafts. [online] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/ [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

Malteselace.eu. (2016). MalteseLace.eu - The portal about Lace in Malta. [online] Available at: http://www.malteselace.eu [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

               The Rotunda of Mosta.

I visited Mosta Church on the 28th of October. The church of the Assumption of Our Lady is without doubt the most beautiful and original church we have on our island. It is well known as The Rotunda of Mosta and is a Roman Catholic Church. It was built in the 19^th century on the site of a previous church. It was designed by a Maltese architect.  The original church was left in situ while the rotunda was built around it. The church was officially consecrated on the 15^th October 1871. It is the third largest dome in Europe and the ninth largest in the world. The internal diameter of the dome is 37.2 metres and the rotunda walls are 9.1 metres thick to support the dome’s weight. The architecture’s plans were based on the Pantheon in Rome. Construction began in 1833 and completed in 1860. Its sheer size makes the rotunda one of the most top tourist’s attraction. The roof of the famous Mosta Dome shows original intricate geometric patterns. The Rotunda was designed by George Griognet De Vasse, a French citizen resident in Mosta. Griognet choice the type of stone by insisting on having one slab from each quarry operating in the islands he then decided to test their durability. In the end he chose a quarry in Mosta. 

This church is original and very different from other churches, and so I chose this Rotunda to do my design assignment. Personally, although I am not from Mosta I think that this church is the most beautiful in Malta .

Figure 5: Mosta Church

Figure 6: Mosta Dome

Reference from  :

im, S., Jim, S. and profile, V. (2012). Our Travels. [online] Jimsylviacline.blogspot.com.mt. Available at: http://jimsylviacline.blogspot.com.mt/2012/10/tuesday-october-30-2012-valletta-malta.html [Accessed 1 Nov. 2015].

Google Books. (2016). The Pantheon. [online] Available at: https://books.google.com.mt/books?id=vjKDS_XoPXQC&pg=PA156&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false [Accessed 29 Mar. 2016].

The Triton Fountain The Triton fountain is one of the most beautiful fountains in Valletta, just outside the City Gate. The square where the fountain is located is also Malta’s central bus terminus. In fact it was installed in its present location to decorate the terminus. The fountain was sculpted by the Maltese sculptor Vincent Apap in 1959. The fountain is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese islands.  Unfortunately the plate on top of the fountain was damaged in 1978, since music festivals were organised on top of the fountains. It is still a public fountain but the Ministry responsible for its conservation declared that Apap’s bronze fountain has great value as a public art work. Without doubt this beautiful and spectacular centre piece is a tourist’s attraction. This stunning piece of local art is also situated just outside the historical walls of our impressive and attractive capital city Valletta.

In my opinion this fountain is very beautiful and its a pity that its not working and not well kept. Valletta Local Council should take immediate action to turn this fountain back to life.
               

Figure 7: Triton Fountain

Information Obtained from:

Phoeniciamalta.com, (2016). Triton Fountain. [online] Available at: http://www.phoeniciamalta.com/destination-guide/valletta-our-capital-city/triton-fountain [Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].

Times of Malta . Triton Fountain (Malta). [online] Available at: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110503/letters/Triton-Fountain-and-approach-to-Valletta-1-.363345{Accessed 3 Nov. 2015].         
                        
   

Glass Design in Malta.

Mdina glass is a manufacturer of glassware which produces over 4000 items of beautiful and colourful glassware to use or for decoration. It is the first glass factory opening in 1968. These handmade glassware are originally designed not only for home use but also for churches, offices, schools and public places. I visited this factory in my Easter holidays and together with
my mum bought some decorations for our house.

Figure 8: Glass Ornament

Figure 9: Glass Ornaments placed in the corridor.

Figure 10: Stained Glass

Figure 11: Stained Glass framed in our hall in  wooden arch of the combined rooms, as you enter our house. This is my mum's favorite because it was originally designed by her.

These glass blown life style products custom made to satisfy anyone include, lampshades, fused plates and bowls, vases, dinner sets, glass tiles, scented candle holders, lanterns, table tops, centerpieces, decorative tiles, window panes, trophies, house names etc... Lighting solutions include wall,hanging and ball lights and even custom-made chandeliers. Apart from Art- bottles, Mdina Glass produce mouth blown perfumed bottles, desk top clocks and clocks which can be also given as gifts. Mirror frames are made in all sizes of modern or classic interiors for halls and bedrooms. Picture frames in all shapes are designed for displaying photographs and paintings.Cast glass blocks are soaked with color and patterns to make them look more original. These glass blocks are also framed in wood, stainless steel and lit from the inside of the frame. Tiles are also custom made for kitchens and bathrooms. Glass door handles are also infused and engraved with logos, patterns an pictures. The results are extraordinary.

Figure 12: Stained Glass in our house.

Figure 13: Stained Glass in my room.

Figure 14: Stained Glass in my room. My lampshades.

I like colors because I am a very positive person and these designs and colors reflects my personality.

Works Cited

Anon, (2016). Mdina glass. [online] Available at: https://www.mdinaglass.com.mt/en/products.htm#.Vvp_E8fInlJ [Accessed 22 Mar. 2016].

Anon, (2016). Mdina glass. [online] Available at: https://www.mdinaglass.com.mt/en/aboutus/aboutus/5/home-glassware.htm#.Vvp_E8fInlJ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2016].

                               The New Parliament of Malta

I visited The Parliament house on the 20th of October. The Parliament House is the meeting place of the Maltese Parliament in Valletta. The building was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano and opened on 4^th May 2015. It cost the government of Malta more than 90 million euro to build. Piano was paid 6.6 million for his work on the project. It is located in City Gate adjacent to Saint James Cavallier and the ruins of the Royal Opera House. Opposite City gate shopping Arcade and Palazzo Ferreria. 

By early 2012 the steel frame of the structure was complete, and it began to be covered in limestone which had been quarried in Gozo. It was cut and designed in specific shapes in Italy. About 150 workers worked on the site every day. The project was supposed to be completed in November 2012 or early 2013. Contractors failed to meet deadlines and the building was still not completed by the end of 2014.

The Parliament House consists of two blocks connected together with bridges, one of which houses is the chamber of Parliament. The two blocks are separate so as not to block the views of Saint James Cavalier. Each block has three floors. The structure consists of a steel frame clad in Gozitan limestone. The stone slabs are designed in such a way that they seem to be destructed by nature.

The Parliament is a zero emission building since heat energy is recovered from or given off to the mass of rock below. This is used to heat or cool the building, avoiding any cooling towers or boilers.

In my opinion the Renzo Piano project and the accompanying beautification of Valletta were among the best achievements of 2014. One needn't go back many years how Valletta was choked by cars and how open spaces were used as ugly car parks. I like the design because its very modern and original 

                                                                  Figure 15: Parliament (re-built)

 Reference from:

Blog.maltaweathersite.com, (2016). [online] Available at: http://blog.maltaweathersite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/stairway-to-heaven-malta-landscape-photography.jpg [Accessed 15 Oct. 2015].

Blog.maltaweathersite.com, (2016). [online] Available at: http://blog.maltaweathersite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/parliament-Keith-Buhagiar-photography.jpg [Accessed 15 Oct. 2015].

Blog.maltaweathersite.com, (2016). [online] Available at: http://blog.maltaweathersite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/a21.jpg [Accessed 15 Oct. 2015].

 Google.com.mt, (2016). De Rohan Arch - Fittex bil-Google. [online] Available at: https://www.google.com.mt/search?q=De+Rohan+Arch&rlz=1C1SVEE_enMT632MT632&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMInubslMjsyAIVC1UUCh0ffAii&biw=1366&bih=667#tbm=isch&q=The+New+Parliament+of+Malta&imgrc=xZIxKSuTrAlyIM%3A [Accessed 15 Oct. 2015].

Maltese Clock

The Maltese clock origin dates back the 17th century and at those times it was found in noble houses and churches. It's true origin is unknown and lost in the past but I learned that Grand Master Pinto de Fonseca (1741-1773) promoted clock making in Malta. The clock made of wood and covered with plenty of gypsum was beautifully engraved and decorated with gold. The case had two doors the inner door and the front door. The inside door held a built in hand painted dial and the clock mechanism, designed by hand and fixed from behind by Maltese Clock Makers. The clock case was painted, decorated with flowers and colorfully finished, looking more original and different from other clocks. A pane of glass was fixed on the outer part of the frame. The most popular colour is green. In the middle of the dial one can usually remark a hand painted Maltese landscape of Mdina, Grand Harbour or seascape of Marsamxett or Marsaxlokk.

  

                                                      

                                                               Figure 16: Maltese clock known as " Tal- Lira"

Figure 17: I took a picture of this beautiful clock at my auntie's house. It was donated to her as a gift on her wedding day. In my opinion although it is a copy, it is handmade and so beautiful and attractive. It is sure a nice wedding gift to treasure much more than monetary gifts.

The most popular clocks are those wall mounted although table clocks exists also. These clocks are worth a fortune and costs thousands of euros, since it is guilded with a 23.5 carat gold leaf. Although it is worth more than a pound, it is also called "Tal- Lira". They are rare and are collectors items. It can have two types of movements, mechanically, adapted from the inside or by battery movement. The sizes vary from 300mm up to 1000mm. However replicas are still popular and given as anniversary, wedding gifts or other occasions.

Works Cited

Maltese History & Heritage. (2013). Maltese Crafts. [online] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/ [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

Pound, M. (2010). Wünderkammer: Maltese Clocks - Arloġġ tal-Lira or Clocks that Cost one Maltese Pound. [online] Filforn.blogspot.com.mt. Available at: http://filforn.blogspot.com.mt/2010/07/maltese-clocks-arlogg-tal-lira.html [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

The Art of Gilding. (2010). Maltese Clock. [online] Available at: https://artofgilding.wordpress.com/malteseclock/ [Accessed 23 Mar. 2016].

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Bauhaus ( 1. Design)

Staatliches Bauhaus, commonly known as Bauhaus, was an art school in Germany that taught and combined crafts and the fine arts. The Bauhaus was founded in 1919 in the city of Weimar by German architect Walter Gropius (1883-1969). It was well known for  the unity of all the arts. The Bauhaus combined elements of both fine arts and design education. The curriculum commenced with a preliminary course that engaged the students, who came from a diverse range of social and educational backgrounds, in the study of materials, colour theory, and academic relationships in preparation for more specialized studies. 

Between 1919 and 1933, the Bauhaus School, based first in Weimar and then in Dessau, reorganized architectural and aesthetic concepts and practices. The buildings put up and decorated by the school's professors (Walter Gropius, Hannes Meyer, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Wassily Kandinsky) launched the Modern Movement, which shaped much of the architecture of the 20th century.

Students started specialised workshops which included metal working, cabinet making, weaving, pottery, typography and wall painting. Although Gropius aim was a unification of the arts through craft, aspects of this approach proved financially impractical. Maintaining the emphasis on craft he altered his goals, stressing the importance of designing for mass production. The school adopted the slogan “Art into Industry”. 

The Bauhaus has a special role to play in the history of 20th century culture, architecture, design, art and new media. As a School of Design, the Bauhaus revolutionised artistic and architectural thinking and production worldwide, and is considered a keystone of the Modern age, which may be visited in Dessau until today. The Bauhaus was the most influential modernist art school of the 20^th century. It's teaching had a great impact and was popular both in Europe and the United States.

 Even though the Bauhaus philosophy of social reform turned out to be little more than wishful thinking, its dream became reality through the form of its architecture. Its direct accessibility still has the power to fascinate and belongs to the people of all nations as their cultural heritage. 

Example :

                                                             Figure 1: The Bauhaus design 
                                                                   (Gropius 1919)

Information Obtained from :

Unknown author. 1996. Unesco: 

Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau [Online]
Available form: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/729 
[accessed 9th December 2015]

Tate.org.uk. (2016). Bauhaus. [online] Available at: http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/b/bauhaus [Accessed 29 Mar. 2016].

 Griffith W, A. 2007. Heilbrunn timeline of Art History:

 The Metropolitan Museum of Art [Online] 

Available form: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bauh/hd_bauh.htm

 (accessed 9th December 2015)

The Art Story Contributors. 2015. The art story: 

Bauhaus. [Online].

Available from: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-bauhaus.htm.

( accessed 9th December 2015)

Art Nouveau (1892) ( 2. Design)

Art Nouveau is considered a “total” art style, embracing architecture, graphic art, interior design and most of the decorative arts including jewellery, furniture, textiles, household silver and utensils, lighting and fine arts. According to the style’s philosophy, art should be a way of life. For many rich Europeans, it was possible to live in an art- nouveau inspired house, art nouveau furniture, silverware, fabrics, ceramics and jewellery. The term art nouveau commenced from the name of the Parisian art gallery called “La Maison de l’Art Nouveau”.

The 1890’s

The most important events of the 1890’s were the deaths or absences from Paris of the leaders of the avant- garde in the 1880’s- Vincent Van Gogh committed suicide in July 1890, Georges Seurat died in March 1891 and Gauguin left on his voyage to Tahiti in April. A void had been created and had to be filled. 

Les Vingt Artist Group. (1883-1892)

During this vacuum in Paris the Brussels Les Vingt came to play an important role in the Parisian avant- garde. Since it’s inauguration in 1883 Les Vingt had made it a policy to invite avant –garde artists from abroad to show its annual exhibitions, and had established itself as the highest international body of avant- garde art of the 1880’s. Located at the cross-roads between the Arts and Crafts Movement in England and the non-naturalist decorative tradition of France, it became the cradle of Art Nouveau and a leading forum for the decorative arts. Les Vingts of decorative art had an immediate effect in Paris. 

 Modern artists, too, responded to the rise of the applied arts. While Besnard, Aman-Jean and Henri Martin seeked extensive programs of mural painting, the Nabis became interested in furniture, screens and fabrics. Indeed, the rightness of their style to the decorative arts was fully appreciated by Louis Tiffany when in 1894 he selected a number of items of stained glass art from these artists. The completed works were given pride of place at the inaugural exhibition of Samuel Bing's Maison de l'Art Nouveau in Paris in December 1895.

Example : 

                                                    Figure 1 : Japanese Wood cut
                                                                  (Champenois Unknown)

Information obtained from :

Dmoz.org. (2016). DMOZ - Arts: Art History: Periods and Movements: Art Nouveau. [online] Available at: https://www.dmoz.org/Arts/Art_History/Periods_and_Movements/Art_Nouveau/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2016].

The editors of encyclopaedia britannica. 2014. Encyclopaedia brittanica:
Art nouveau [Online].
Available from: http://www.britannica.com/art/Art-Nouveau
(accessed 10th December 2015)

Encyclopaedia of art. Unknown. Visual arts crock: 
Les Vingt Artist Group [Online].
Available from: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/les-vingt.htm