Artist Profiles
For this project, local and foreign artists will be involved every step of the way. Art is one way we hope to capture and communicate the beautiful stories about our relationships with flowers, herbs and spices, which will be generated through our workshops. These professionals will give participants the chance to learn some new techniques and provide advice/support to the development of ideas, during the creative sessions.
AMY BORG
Teacher, wanderer, and compulsive scribbler Amy Borg grew up in the US, where she graduated from the University of North Carolina, Asheville’s creative writing program. Since then, she has organized and participated in various community publications and workshops, including the Juniper Bends Reading Series and Headwaters Creative Arts Anthology.
Half Maltese, half Filipina, and all-too-American, she has always been fascinated by the boundaries that crystallize in the gaps between identities, cultures, experiences, and worldviews, as well as the understandings that inform our shared experience. Her favorite things include cats, fairy tales, and tea, and she remains terrified of the monster that, in all likelihood, still resides under her bed.
KASIA ZMOKLA
Kasia Zmokla was born in Poland. Over the past 10 years, she has travelled and lived in various countries, including Poland, Ireland, the UK, Italy, France, India and the US. She currently resides and works on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Kasia perceives photography as a living path that is at the same time both captivating and constantly challenging.
When asked about her work, she says, "I like to discover where my boundaries lie and to be surprised by what my subjects bring to the photograph. I am fascinated by people's unique personalities. I search for individuals that capture my imagination. It's an intuitive and unpredictable operation. I love the freedom of this process, as it allows, and perhaps encourages, unexpected moments to happen."
She received her formal training at the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw, Poland and graduated as a Master of Fine Arts in 2003.
Some of Kasia Zmokla's work:
Photographs Copyright © Kasia Zmokla
GLEN CALLEJA
Description A: a creative with a special interest in words and books as objects.
Description B: Calleja is a reformed misanthrope
Gossip: Currently continuing his formation in traditional bookbinding techniques.
Fact 1: Loves experimentation and interdisciplinary projects.
Fact 2: Not averse to risk.
Artist statement: If you need a new Messiah speak to me.
Some of Glen Calleja's work:
Photographs Copyright © Glen Calleja
ANTONELLA SGOBBO
The lifelong interest in cross-cultural contact, dialogue and understanding, sprouts from her birth place, in the south of Italy. While doing her studies in International development Cooperation the International and Diplomatic Sciences at the School of Political Sciences in Bologna, she began her theatre acting experience with a two years Drama school, followed by acting performances and several classes in physical theatre, mime, dancing, voice, improvisation with Angela Baviera, Daniele Ruzzier, Angela Malfitano, Nino Campisi, Sandra Passarello, Matteo Belli, Antonello Pocetti, Poyraz Turkay.
She has dedicated her professional life to culture and real community needs with the aim of creating innovative applications for community based approaches and an understanding of the importance of sustainable community development programs.
This interest led her to work and travel extensively, over a 4 year period, in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Egypt, and in Sub-Saharan Africa, where she gained significant experience of managing education and health projects, in the rural areas. From 2009 up to 2012 she worked as actress and theatre trainer in the Juvenile Detention Centre and in the adults Criminal Division in Bologna - “Compagnia Teatro del Pratello” directed by Paolo Billi. Her responsibilities included teaching creative writing, dance, a mask making workshop and tailoring sessions. In addition, she was a tutorial figure alongside the youth at risk of social deviance. She would work closely with unaccompanied minors during the day by creating artefacts and designing plays together.
She has also had experience as a singer and has taken part in the Arcanto choir’s projects directed by Giovanna Giovannini, with the music composed by Giovanna Marini (for example Le ceneri di Gramsci, celebrated the 30th anniversary from Pasolini’s death with the stage direction of Giuseppe Bertolucci). Her training continued through workshops with Emma Dante, Manuela LoSicco and Sabino Civilleri.
“My highest aim would be the Cultural Cooperation to unite people through high quality engagement with the world’s cultural heritage”
- Antonella Sgobbo
