Bioenergy expert Micheal O'Doherty

Would you like to face 2012 with renewed health and vigour?  Then “Take Control of your Health” a seminar being held on 4th February at the Kempinski Hotel Estepona is for you. This one-day seminar will equip you with invaluable skills allowing you to transform stress into vitality and better health and creativity – for yourself, and others.

The seminar is led by Michael O’Doherty and Tom Griffin, both internationally-respected pioneers in health care and founders of Plexus Health care. With clinics in Ireland and London’s Harley Street, Plexus Health Care counts many celebrities among its clientele.  Famously, Michael O’Doherty was credited in restoring health to international dance legend, Michael Flately, when a debilitating virus left him lethargic, confused and unable to walk.

Life Skills
Imparting simple tools to allow individuals to manage the stresses of modern life, O’Doherty and Griffin have an impressive 22-year background in improving the health and lives of thousands of people around Europe. “Those attending will also be given the opportunity to develop a career in one of the most exciting, integrated healthcare systems in the world today. Respected Sotogrande-based nutritionist, Claudia Norris, will be a guest speaker on the day.

The Take Control of Your Health seminar runs from 10.30am – 5pm, and will cover the following

• Tom and Michael’s Journey (History of the Plexus Healthcare System)
• The cause of Illness
• Understanding the body from an Energy Perspective
• Stress and its effects on the body
• Children’s Healthcare (Learning and Behavioural difficulties)
• Emotional Health
• Therapist Training Information
• Family Healthcare
• Foods to Beat Stress with Sotogrande-based nutritionist Claudia Norris

Energy Shift
The primary aim of Plexus Health Care is to locate energy imbalances in the body using a series of unique hand movements.  The therapist then proceeds to rebalance the energy systems, which in turn unlocks the body’s natural healing process.  Treatment is given over four consecutive days in a relaxed environment with music that has been found to enhance the effect of the therapy.  The therapist also advises the patient on lifestyle issues such as diet, exercise, visualization and rest to help the individual take steps to better health.

Bionergy Benefits
Bionergy therapy is particularly effective in the treatment of children with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and ADD.  The therapy tackles the root cause of such conditions, which can often be attributed to trauma at birth causing imbalances in the body’s electrical system that, in turn, can create imbalance in the left or right side of the brain.  Children are treated with leading techniques, including sound therapy and parents are fully involved in the process of healing and recovery. The Plexus Health Care system can also successfully help children suffering from exam stress, asthma, eczema or burnout.  For more information visit Michael O’Doherty’s website www.justimagine.ie

1-Day Health Care and Education Programme, 4th February 2012, Kempinski Hotel Estepona

Entry Fee – 50 Euro per person To reserve your place contact Gillian at gillianmcclafferty@gmail.com Tel: 0034 664 561 773.

The Red Penguin Art Gallery is 1st Commercial Art Gallery within El Corte Inglés in Andalucía. marbellas.com joined artists for the Colourful Launch

Serious art lovers and Marbella’s creative elite were out in force to celebrate the launch of the new Red Penguin Art Gallery at El Corte Inglés in  Marbella. Some 200 guests enjoyed the spectacular collective exhibition entitled Identity which kickstarted what promises to be an exciting new venture bringing quality international art into the heart of the resort.  Some of the artists featured were present at the event, mingling with guests and discussing their works as a violinist kept the tempo up on an electrifying debut night for the cultural venue.
Showcasing a wealth of quality art from upcoming and acclaimed Spanish and International artists, with  “Identity”, a collective exhibition of 18 ground-breaking talents, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is launching as it means to go on, as a dynamic gallery which acts as a creative platform for talent,  ideas and diverse cultural interests including not only art itself but also: Vintage Objects and Collectables, Art & Design Books & Magazines, Art Consultancy, Art to rent for companies, Decorative artistic painting, Education, workshops, lectures & events.

Drawing on a wealth of knowledge and talent, the Red Penguin Art Gallery will work in close collaboration with four other galleries based in Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Beijing creating a broad international platform for the exchange of some of the world’s most exciting artistic talent.

A Haven of Style and Talent
Owned and managed by Dutch art experts, Joris Marjot and Loni Olfers, both of whom bring to the new venture extensive careers in art & design. Joris is a talented interior designer who has decorated a plethora of luxurious homes, hotels and temples of style, while Loni has successfully managed several art galleries in Holland and Spain.  Passionate about raising the cultural and artistic game in Marbella – to help the city compete on the world stage as a high calibre destination for international tourism, at Red Penguin Art Gallery, they will be doing everything possible to put Marbella on the cultural map, with a presence at the top art fairs around the globe, and contributions to new art magazine Artmosphere.

As Loni Olfers states, “Art and creativity are important to the economic recovery of Marbella, and we have a major project underway that will help to make Marbella more beautiful by transforming the streets and empty shops and offices with the help of the Town Hall, and business and creative community in the town.
“At Red Penguin Art Gallery we scour the world  – and the web – to tap into rising talent. We dig deeper and get fully acquainted with the artist, their work and methods to make sure only top quality art and design is on show in our gallery. We are looking for work that will stand the test of time, and gain in value. The Red Penguin Art Gallery is within the Centro Comercial El Capricho on the 2nd floor of El Corte Inglés.  The first professional art gallery to ever have a presence within El Corte Inglés departments store in Andalucía and only the second in Spain following the launch of a similar venture in Madrid, the Red Penguin Art Gallery is excited about working alongside the store’s interior designers and sourcing art works for their clients.

Stellar Artists
Among the artwork on display at Red Penguin Art Gallery’s inaugural exhibition will be works by Joseph Klibansky.  A hot new talent working in new media, aged just 27, Kibansky’s work has already been acquired by Sotheby’s for 34,000€ – the highest yield ever for such a young artist. Present at the launch, the artist Joseph Klibansky currently based in Amsterdam said he was “happy to help  stimulate the cultural landscape in Marbella”.  Also present were artists Felix Muyo,  Russel West and Jacinto Moros.

The artists featuring in the inaugural “Identity” exhibition include: Antonio Puri painter and mixed media; Barbara Nanning glass objects; Berend Strik photography with embroidery bordado; Corneille painter; Debra Franses Bean Artbag; Jacinto Moros Sculptures; Jerome Esch photography: Joseph Klibansky new media, Gary Edwards photography, Kantcho Kanev paintings mixed media; Lu Luo   mixed media: Nicole Montagne template press Plantilla de prensa; Odile Kinart sculptures; Otto Bachorik sculptures; Paul Smulders mixed media; Peter Pollág paintings and sculptures; Robert Hromec engraved paintings; Russell West painted sculptures; Zhuang Hong Yi mixed media.

www.redpenguinartgallery.com
Red Penguin Art Gallery, 2nd floor, El Corte Inglés, El Capricho, Bvd. Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, 2, 29600 Marbella.  Tel: +34 664340107  +34 639616300.
Opening Hours: 11am  – 9pm – throughout December.

An interview by Louise Cook Edwards with Wendy Salisbury, best selling author of the Toyboy Diaries, on the launch of her first novel “Blood on the Sand” on Amazon and Kindle.

LCE: What prompted you, as an English woman, to write a book about bullfighting?

WS:  Blood on the Sand is essentially a love story.  In the 1960s, when I was 18, I came to Andalucía for an extended holiday.  My parents had already built a villa in Las Chapas and my sister had married a local Marbella boy.  First I got a job with the architect who designed Puerto Banus then I met two journalists commissioned to write the biography of Manuel Benitez El Cordobés, the most iconic matador of the time.  They needed an interpreter!  I sort of fell into their laps.

LCE: Did you know anything about bullfighting at the time?

WS:  I was already a true aficionada. I’d seen my first fight when I was 9. Love it or hate it, la tauromaquía is an ancient art, an integral part of Spanish culture.  The drama, the power, the sights, the sounds, the smells…  All those dashing toreros in their exquisite suits of lights! My pre-pubescent heart pounded with a passion yet unknown!

LCE:  How did you and the journalists research the biography?

WS: I set off with Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins to Córdoba where we joined El Cordobés’s entourage.  We traveled round Spain with him for the season of 1965.  Manolo, as he was known, was at the top of his game. Always surrounded by clamouring fans, fighting daily in a different city.  We interviewed everyone he’d known as a gypsy orphan boy in Palma del Río and the book ‘…Or I’ll Dress you in the Mourning’ became a global best seller.

LCE: What was Manolo like as a person?

WS: The most charismatic ‘nutcase’ I’ve ever met – before or since!  He had such charm, such joie de vivre, yet he faced death every afternoon.  He was exceptionally brave, always striving to please the crowd.  His style was random and exciting, not classical like Belmonte or Manolote.  He loved and respected the animals and treated them with nobility. He became the highest paid matador in history yet he was still illiterate.  His parish priest travelled with us teaching him to read and write.

LCE:  Life must have been very intense.  What did he do to relax?

WS: He’d bought himself a 6-seater plane, a Piper Aztec, and he was learning to fly.  We used to buzz around from city to city.  On rest days, we’d hang out on his ranch, having long lazy lunches then we’d ride out to visit the breeding herd. At night, he’d play his guitar and we’d dance flamenco under the stars.  It was a very heady time for me. There were always friends, relations and hangers-on around.  But we did get time alone together…

LCE: Did you fall in love with him?

WS: I suppose so, in a way.  He wasn’t the type of man you could just take or leave.  You had to get involved!

LCE: And your novel Blood on the Sand? How did that come to be written?

WS:  It was a story that had lain dormant inside me for over 40 years.  When the season of 1965 and my job as interpreter ended, Manolo asked me to go with to South America.  My father wouldn’t let me.  So I came home to London, married and divorced twice and I now have 5 grandchildren.  I decided to write my version of events imagining what might have happened had the English girl married her torero.

LCE:  Would that have been a happy life?

WS: Not at all! The story became unbelievably complex full of twists and turns.  It surprised me even as I wrote it!  El Macho, the central character, is really an anti-hero – a savage womanizer with a very dark side.  The young girl, Cassi Samuels, is ill-equipped to cope with it.  She goes from trauma to drama and back again, but she’s feisty, believes in the power of love and ultimately survives in the face of gut-wrenching adversity.

LCE: And Manolo himself?  Did you ever meet again?

WS: Yes! Two summers ago in Marbella he received a Lifetime Achievement Award.  I met him backstage at the bullring and we reunited with hugs and kisses.  It was wonderful to see him again.  It gave me some closure too. He’s married with 5 children now but for 73, he still looks great!

LCE: Do you still visit Marbella?

WS: Absolutely. It’s my home from home. My sister and her family live here and I come to relax whenever I can.  I wrote Blood 0n the Sand on the terrace of my late parents’ home near Torre Real. The Spanish edition La Inglesa y el Torero came out last year and I hope the English version available now on Amazon Kindle will give everyone who buys it a ‘bloody’ good read!

www.WendySalisbury.com

One of the longest established real estate companies in Marbella, Casa Marbella celebrate 30 years of recession-busting success. Photography  ©Gary Edwards

Few are the companies that rack up an impressive 30 years of trading – and even less so in Marbella, a cosmopolitan melting pot where many businesses are unfortunately set up with a boom or bust mentality. All the more reason for Wolfgang Schlesier to be celebrating the enduring success of his real estate agency Casa Marbella, one of just a handful of property companies in the area with a long history of steady success in a competitive industry in which true professionals stand out.

Three Decades of Success
With offices bookending Marbella in Elviria and San Pedro de Alcántara, Casa Marbella has been purveying properties to a local and international clientele  for three decades, and to celebrate a job well done, managing director Wolfgang Schlesier and his partner Xusan Teo held an  upbeat  party for colleagues, clients friends and well-wishers at top Marbella Thai restaurant, Thai Gallery.
Among the guests were tourism councillor Jose Luis Hernández, gallerist Shahed Kavousi, Architect Pablo Villarroel with his wife Claudia, Mandarin Tutor Yingying Hu, Architect Pablo Mena Owens and his wife Llanos, Silvia & Rui Carlos Conceicao and many well-known Marbella personalities.

Celebrating with Style
Over two hundred guests enjoyed a champagne reception along with a homage to Casa Marbella
as told by comperes Mugge Fischer and Oscar Horacio, with a thank you speech from Casa Marbella boss, Wolfgang.  This was followed by a fabulous catwalk show by Julia Rep of Fashion Villa. Showcasing an advance selection of winter wonders – including cosy fur-edged parkas, funky leopard print gabardines, 80s inspired red and black outfits, shimmering sequined cocktail dresses and inspired outfits for  bride and “groom.”  An acrobatic dancer wowed the crowd with a display of fascinating flexibility.

Following the formalities and fashion segment, special guests sat down to a sumptuous Thai meal from the legendary chefs at Thai Gallery.

www.casamarbella.com

Turbo Charged Business Event, a Network & Help Charity on Sat 15th October at Hotel Las Piramides, Fuengirola.

A one-off networking event is being organized by some leading UK business experts, to help local business owners on the Costa del Sol  increase their sales, profits and grow their business in today’s tough economic environment.

Turbo Charge Sales and Business Networking will be held on Saturday 15th October at Hotel Las Piramides in Fuengirola.  It is a not for profit event with an affordable ticket price to allow all types of business to take part.

Inspirational business leaders  will give a series  of must-hear presentations and formal and informal networking opportunities will be set up over the course of the day. This mix of activities will equip businesses with great ideas for driving their businesses forward and a large amount of new contacts.

The message of the event is,  “How to Thrive and not just Survive” using the power of business networking. Organiser Steve Hall explains why this is so important “Small businesses are suffering in the current economic climate, but don’t have the budget for expensive marketing methods to get themselves out of problems. Networking is a very cost-effective way of promoting yourself so we’ve combined this with some top business speakers to offer inspiration as well as great networking opportunities.”

Tickets are priced at 10€ per person for a full day from 10 am to 5pm and are on sale via Eventbrite http://turbospain.eventbrite.com/. It is a non-profit event and any income made over expenditure will be donated to two local charities Cudeca and Positively Pink. The event is being held in conjunction with a weekend networking event being organised by website http://thisisspain.info/ with a number of fun networking opportunities.

Event Presenters include;

Steve Clarke one of Europe’s leading authorities on grassroots sales and marketing strategies. Topic – “How to thrive not just survive”. Including information about attracting new clients, selling, copywriting, advertising and marketing.

Nikki Pilkington major name in the world of Social and Internet Marketing; will be offering Bold Blogging strategies for small Businesses.

Gill Tiney Business Coach and self-confessed “networking tart”. Topic – Making the time and effort you put into networking worthwhile. She will share her 7 Secrets and 7 Sins of Successful Networking.

Event tickets are on sale via Eventbrite http://turbospain.eventbrite.com/ for 10€ per ticket.

On Friday 16 September, Suite del Mar in the luxurious Hotel Puente Romano hosted the Global Party.  Many of the Marbella Glitterati and familiar faces from the Marbella press attended the event at Suite. Regular party goers were impressed by the amount of money spent on entertainment, ice sculptures (which melted away in heat of the evening fairly rapidly) and on the spectacular marque and lighting erected for the one night extravaganza.

Clearly raising money for 80 different charities around the World from a series of parties is a good idea – the charities benefit and so do the benefactors as they have a luxurious night out. The amounts paid to the organisers and the amounts donated would make interesting reading as no expense seems to be spared on the one night function. A full list of the charities is not displayed on the Global Party website, however those mentioned include; The Blue Marine Foundation, Raisa Gorbachev Foundation, The Pratham Education Foundation, Prince Harry’s Sentebale Charity, Tusk Trust (of which Prince William is the patron) and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK.

In an effort to unite leading luxury brands and intensify awareness for charities around the globe the event was inspired by fictional character Phileas Fogg, created by Jules Verne his book ‘Around the World in 80 Days’.  Apparently toted as the hottest ticket this year, the question heard around town was “have you received your invite yet?”

Never shy to throw a good party, Suite del Mar did pull out all the stops for the Global Party.  From acrobats and violinists (the famous Julio) to flame throwers and ice sculptures to internationally acclaimed DJs and performers, the party brought the summer season to a close with a grand impact. Guests were particularly excited for the performance of recording artist and Queen of UK clubs, Hannah.  With number one hits on the club and dance charts in Ibiza and the UK and remixes by top DJs such as Robbie Riviera and Armin Van Buuren, Hannah elevated the party atmosphere.

Invitations to the Global Party enabled guests to select from any of the 80 parties taking place around the world. They could sip Champagne in Marbella, Vodka Martinis in London, Manhattans in New York or Margaritas in Mexico, and with celebrity supporters comprising the likes of Damien Hirst, Elizabeth Hurley, Simon Cowell, Jemima Khan and Boris Johnson; you never knew who you would have run into any of the chosen destinations.  Along with the invitation, each invitee received a limited edition, purchasable Global Party Key-2 Luxury silver key ring, which allowed them access to privileges around the world and entry into a parallel universe of luxury.

The directors behind this ambitious venture are the renowned hedge fund veteran Lord Stanley Fink and luxury lifestyle expert David Johnstone, whose joint expertise have inspired the leading global players to commit to such an extraordinary concept.  This ambitious event is creating a global media stir. Mikimoto, The Orient Express and Harry Winston confirmed as ‘Gold Sponsors’ and the Global Party brought together many luxury brands to create a truly global event.
www.theglobalparty.com

“Car Marbella” took victory in the latest race in China, and now leads the World Championship FIA GT1

A racing car bearing the Marbella town logo raced to victory at a recent race in Beijing, helping to put Marbella on the map in front of up and coming Chinese public.

Young Driver AMR – with “Car Marbella” experienced success  in the opening race GT1 World Championship in Beijing. Stefan Mücke (GER) and Darren Turner (GBR) claimed their first win of the season in a thrilling race with his Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9 AMR – while Alex Müller (GER) and Tomas Enge (CZE) finished the qualifying race with a superb second place. With a dominant performance in China, Young Driver AMR is in an excellent position in the FIA World Championship GT1 ahead of the next race in Argentina.

Sponsored by Buddha Beach and La Sala Bar in Nueva Andalucia, the car proudly wore the official logo of Marbella before a crowd of 250,000 spectators in China,  a great promotion for the city in the growing Chinese market.

Visionary Architect Melvin Villarroel immortalized in Bronze in Marbella. A powerful bust by renowned sculptor Victor Ochoa stands proud, overlooking the prestigious Puente Romano complex in Marbella. The figure represented is Melvin Villarroel, the “father” of Marbella’s most emblematic architectural style and the most celebrated and emulated architect in Marbella. Report – Louise Cook Edwards. Photography – Gary Edwards

Building the future

For those who do not know the history of Marbella’s urban development, back in the 1970s the focus and vision of Melvin Villarroel had a lasting impact on the future shape of the resort to come. It was then that Villarroel created the concept of the “Mediterranean village” as the ideal model for relaxed resort living, moving the architectural focus away from the high rise towers of the age into a much more harmonious design incorporating low density Andalusian style white buildings in spacious,  lush natural surroundings.  Melvin Villarroel’s  signature style began with the Puente Romano Hotel and neighbouring residences, the Marbella Club beach club, Alcazaba Beach and over the years spread to encompass some of the coast’s most outstanding hotels, private villas and residential developments.  Followed into the same professional arena by all four of his children, Pablo, Matías, Francisca and Antonia, the Villarroel trademark is”arquitectura del vacio”. Making the most of the space and natural surroundings plays a huge role in creating the quality of life for which Marbella is famous, all Villarroel projects incorporate abundant use of natural materials, lush vegetation, water features and buildings which invite nature inside through the ingenious use of light and space.

Bronze Art

The spectacular sculpture, skillfully crafted by Ochoa is in the artist’s words an interpretation of the man who “moved in the world of architecture in a clear game of decisions and chance, who profoundly loved nature and who enjoyed a global vision, a Renaissance man whose work is timeless”.

Palms and plaques

The bust was unveiled to a large crowd by the Marbella Mayoress, Angeles Muñoz, who proclaimed the work as a much-deserved recognition of an “exceptional” architect. Surrounded by Melvin’s family, Antje his wife, all four children and his many grandchildren together with many well wishers for the unveiling, the statue of Melvin sits amid palm trees overlooking his first masterpiece in Marbella, the Puente Romano. Nearby, a plaque in the main avenue from Marina Puente Romano to the bridge now also bears his name.

“Marbella owes this homage to Melvin Villarroel”, stated the Mayoress, ” an internationally renowned figure who left his mark on Marbella – an exceptional place which has always needed exceptional individuals like Melvin, a visionary who captured the essence of this marvellous town in his work,” she affirmed, adding,” Melvin Villarroel kept Marbella in his heart, and now with this sculpture his name will always be linked to our city”.

Melvin’s son Pablo Villarroel thanked the Mayoress for the acknowledgment, and revealed that his father, who sadly passed away in 2010, had been delighted by the news of the upcoming honour. Matias Villarroel, Melvin’s youngest son, also revealed that a statue will also be erected in China, where Melvin and family are carrying on the family tradition with spectacularly designed architectural projects.

FIAM organisers inc. Caroline Bowley, Louise Cook Edwards and Yvonne Sjokvist with Jose Luis Hernandez and Marbella Mayoress MariAngeles Muñoz who was presented a bouquet by Lloyd Edwards from Swans School.

A sea of white tents, a vibrant array of paintings, sculptures, photography and vintage furniture – the 3rd edition of the Festival Internacional de Arte Marbella did not disappoint. Following a full year of preparations, the FIAM team finally saw the fruits of their labours, an organizational feat that involves the coordination of all the artists, entertainers, tents, technicians, sponsors and promotional ventures.  First time visitors to the event were delighted by the urban buzz stirred up in Marbella’s centre by the gloriously talented artists and entertainers.

Stage Stars
With a full programme of entertainment running from midday to 11pm on a purpose built stage in the attractive Alameda Park a string of talented musicians, singers, dancers and actors kept the public royally entertained all day long.

The event kicked off with a VIP inaugural cocktail party, with an address from Marbella Mayor Mª Angeles Muñoz, who expressed her gratitude for the huge effort put into to bringing such a lively festival to the city for the third consecutive year. Over the following three days, the public enjoyed a feast of art music, dance, poetry and performances with everything from jazz, soul, folk, gospel and opera, along with kid’s creative workshops by author and illustrator Ana Fiscel, and a cycle of art films.

Many of the Coast’s favourite performers were on stage, including, Julie Ann Hunter, Symmetry and Sue Moretta who performed an evening of opera. Other highlights of the programme include Aaran Harding, Fable 44, Georgian teen sensation, IA, Zoe Hughes, Ellen Zacks, Veronica, Mr. Malph and Temo Rtskhiladze. Festival sponsor Sotogrande International School also treated the public to several performances by a stable of their talented students.

An Artful Crowd
Spain, UK, Germany, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Georgia, Italy and Cuba  – were just some of the nationalities exhibiting at this year’s festival – the multicultural mix of participants is a true reflection of the cosmopolitan community in Marbella, while many of the artists had traveled especially to exhibit. A stunning array of styles were displayed, with everything from delicate watercolours to bold photographic portraits, magnificent oil paintings, exquisite bronze scultptures, delicate engravings, vintage furniture and much more.

With a steady flow of visitors from the inuaugration onwards through the entire weekend, the organizers think the 20,000 strong crowd anticipated to be a conservative estimate. The FIAM, which is fully supported by the Tourism Council of Marbella Town Hall, comprises a dynamic street festival bringing the centre of town to life in an explosion of colourful art, music and performances over three days. Sprawling down the Alameda and the Avenida del Mar in the heart of Marbella between the quaint Old Town and the Paseo Marítimo, artists display their diverse works in an attractive line up of individual white tents.

New to the event this year was the Gourmet Corner, where art-lovers could stop to savour the delights of various cuisines, with oriental delights from Wasabi, Lebanese delicacies from La Espiga de Marbella, divine wraps, cakes and coffees from Passion Café. Meanwhile popular Buddha Bar, set up a candlelit chillout zone where art fans could revive their senses with refreshing drinks and cocktails.

It is small wonder that the FIAM has become one of the most eagerly anticipated and most popular cultural events in Marbella.  Based on the art fairs of United States that bring valuable life and revenue into the heart of hundreds of suburban towns, the FIAM in Marbella also serves as an excellent showcase for companies wishing to reach a cultured cosmopolitan public.

* Apolgies to photographers not credited in this piece – mainly singing artists portraits.

FIAM III – Festival International de Arte Marbella – Inaugurating 3rd Annual Edition – 80 artists exhibiting & a full 3-day Programme of Free Entertainment

The team, exhibiting artists and an army of volunteers of Festival Internacional de Arte Marbella are in the final stretch of preparations for the 3rd annual edition of what has become one of the city’s most popular cultural extravaganzas in the heart of Marbella’s Alameda and Avda. del Mar.

An artist’s tented village, 50s & 60s Vintage furniture exhibition, Guarnieri Art Car Competition, art films, gourmet corner, chill-out lounge, media centre and a complete programme of free entertainment will make the third edition of FIAM the biggest cultural event in Marbella this summer. With eighty high calibre artists exhibiting, the Festival de Arte International Marbella is on track to become a cultural sensation when it takes place in the centre of Marbella from the VIP inauguration on Thursday 23rd June to Sunday 26 June 2011.

A Cosmopolitan Artistic Blend

Fifteen different nationalities are represented among the artists exhibiting – the multicultural mix of participants is a true reflection of the cosmopolitan community in Marbella. There are artists from Spain, UK, Germany, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Georgia, Italy and Cuba among others exhibiting to the 20,000 strong crowd anticipated. Art lovers will be able to view some of the artists painting live.

The FIAM, which is fully supported by the Tourism Council of Marbella Town Hall, comprises a dynamic street festival bringing the centre of town to life in an explosion of colourful art, music and performances over three days. Sprawling down the Alameda and the Avenida del Mar in the heart of Marbella between the quaint Old Town and the Paseo Marítimo, artists display their diverse works in an attractive line up of individual white tents.

New this year is the Gourmet Corner, where art-lovers can stop to savour the delights of various cuisines, with oriental delights from Wasabi, and divine afternoon teas from Passion Café and popular Buddha Bar, is setting up a chillout zone where art fans can revive their senses with refreshing drinks and cocktails.

That’s Entertainment

The event kicks off with a VIP inaugural cocktail party on Thursday 23 June, and over the following three days, the public is in for a feast of art music, dance, poetry and performances with everything from jazz, soul, folk, gospel and opera, along with kid’s creative workshops, and a cycle of art films. Many of the Coast’s favourite performers will be on stage, including, Julie Ann Hunter, Symmetry and Sue Moretta who will be performing in an evening of opera on Saturday 25th. Other highlights of the programme include Aaran Harding, Fable 44, IA, Zoe Hughes, Ellen Zacks, Mr. Malph and Temo Rtskhiladze. Festival sponsor Sotogrande International School will also be treating the public to several performances by a stable of their talented students.

Symmetry Sue Moretta IA

For full details of the three days of varied entertainment on offer, look out for the colourful, A5 festival programme, available in a wide range of establishments along the coast from June or log onto website:

www.festivaldeartemarbella.com