Reality Star International Talent Contest gives singing stars the chance to Shine in Marbella. Prize Money of 1500€ Awaits the Lucky Winners!  Sign up before 20^th May to see your dreams of fame become a reality!

With Russian, Georgian and UK music industry connections, Reality Star is all set to fan the flames of the fame game, giving international talent a chance to shine in Marbella this summer. The first annual edition of the international talent show, Reality Star, is inviting all talented singers aged 8 to 50 to take part in a dynamic contest put together by a high-powered international panel of show business experts, along with representatives of Marbella Town Hall. With lucrative prizes awaiting the winners, including 1500€, a professional recording session and music video, the winner will also be promoted at talent shows around the world, with the opportunity to perform in other countries.

Reality Star’s mission is to help foment Marbella as the cultural capital of the Costa del Sol, attract international visitors to the resort and bring together the local and international communities on the Coast in an exciting event that will showcase a spectacular range of talent.

Taking Centre Stage

With contestants already entering from a number of countries, Reality Star is open to all singing talent – within the stipulated age range. Among the hopefuls are two contestants from the Eurovision Song Contest in Georgia.  Artists will be nominated for “best singer” “best performer” and “best junior performer”.  There will also be an “audience favourite” and sponsors special prizewinner. Contestants will be pre-selected for the semi-finals by 20^th May and the live semi-finals and finals will take place at the H10 Andalucía Plaza Hotel on 15th and 16th June.  The event is inviting sponsors to support and contribute to the event, and finalists are expected to play at the high-profile cocktail party, semi-finals and finals.

Full details of the application procedure are featured on the website, and contestants must submit recordings, videos and photographs by 20^th May to be in with a chance of impressing the judges. Entrants pay a nominal administration of 15 euro, and have the opportunity of a lifetime to gain recognition, win lucrative prizes and set sail on route to stardom.

The Dream Team

Included in the founders and judges panel are Giga Kukhianidze, producer of the Eurovision song contest in Georgia, Natalie Stuart Fox of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce, multi-talented media mogul Roger Cook, and son Adam Cook, recording artist and producer, and Sergay Krisitivsky from the Russian band Uma2Urman. The team, which also includes leading international business figures from the area, will be producing a professional CD and video of the finals and semi-finals, which will be available to purchase.  Sponsors include Studio Avalon London, Mancela Design; DSP, Nash Dom, EuroGeorgia, CCG Accountants and Marbella Town Hall.

www.realitystar.es

The website will be posting news and musical clips of a selection of contestants, and you can follow the event on FaceBook  at www.facebook.com/pages/Reality-Star/385282581489650

Black and White Restaurant Café… Trendy urban-style décor, great – and affordable food, wicked cocktails, friendly and slick staff and a frontline port position overlooking the Banús super yachts.  What is there not to love about funky new Marbella restaurant Black and White!  Report: Louise Cook Edwards.  Photography: Gary Edwards.

If like many Marbella residents, you have a love-hate relationship with Puerto Banús, Black and White, the hot new frontline venue is about to reignite your love affair with the place. With far too many long-established restaurants in the port, blasé staff, tired décor and predictable, overpriced menus are a turn-off for year-round marbellis tend to only venture into the port for cocktail parties, Sunday morning coffees or a bit of designer shopping in the sales.

A Winning Formula

But the monochrome masterpiece that is Black and White is about to change all that. With a prime location in front of the largest yachts moored in the marina, the venue is much more than just another Banús restaurant. With bright and funky décor, characterized by original touches of Formula 1 glamour, state-of-the-art lighting, video screens, sound system, driver simulator with X-Box, and free Wi-Fi, more than just a restaurant, Black and White is all set to give diners a total experience with upbeat music, singers, shows  – even choreographed waiters – as well as great food at decent prices.

With a racing car featured in the entrance, and a glass-fronted shop offering assorted racing merchandise, Black and White is upping the revs and getting ready to overtake other Banús establishments that have rested on their laurels for too long and short-changed the public on the food, service and ambience. Now they will all be racing to catch up to this winner that manages to be trendy café, cocktail bar, restaurant and show venue all in one bright and shiny new package.

Monochrome Madness

The high impact monochrome décor would not be out of place in London, Paris or New York – with newspaper print walls and flooring, lots of chrome columns and lighting, original cylindrical aquariums filled with exotic – black and white – tropical varieties… black and white tables and chairs, black and white writing and iconic celebrity photography on the walls, black and white table settings, and friendly young staff dressed in slick black and white, Black and White is the perfect place to head to for a wind-down weekday cocktail after work, an upbeat business lunch, a memorable night out with friends and family or a stunning party.  The interior designer has created an amazing one-off, and the Torre de Banús, the ancient Moorish watchtower is even an integral part of the décor!  With terrace seating looking out over the luxury harbour, a raised VIP area, high tables with bar stools and a host of tables of different sizes for intimate dinners for two, or long celebratory lunch, in a restaurant that can seat up to 250 people, you are sure to find a spot that takes your fancy.

A Menu of Modern & Classic Dishes

Whether you want a girly lunch with sharing plates of yummy Hummus and Baba Ganush, a tasty Tabbuleh or a classic Tricolore Salad, a hearty plate of pasta, a freshly made pizza, or a fish or meat dish, Black and White has a huge menu available to please most palates. All the chefs and kitchen staff have been chosen for their particular fortes and together will be cooking up a storm in the restaurant’s glass fronted kitchens. The pizza is particularly light, crispy and fresh, the pasta, fresh, tasty and abundant, the salads are large, crisp and succulent, and the meat and fish dishes are particularly great value for money.  With a few Asian specialities – such as a tender Yakitori Chicken skewer, risottos, steaks and ribs, and a good choice of indulgent desserts, Black and White’s menu manages to hit the spot.

That’s Entertainment!

Although open just a week before Easter, the switched on team at Black and White are already lining up a host of entertainment to add that extra something to your nights out – so get ready for soul nights and themed parties to get you in a party mood for summer.  And don’t forget Black and White has an amazing cocktail menu to help get the party started!  Their mojitos and Rossinis are already legend.  Join the Facebook page (coming soon) to keep up-to-date with events and special.

Black & White Café, frontline Puerto Banús.  For reservations call: 95281 5607.

Easter Treats… Semana Santa is upon us, so make the most of the Holy Week happenings. Marbellas.com highlights a serious of religious, cultural and sporting treats happening over the next 7 days – so have yourself a Happy Little Easter!

Monday 2nd April

Thinking Outside the Box

The Carmen Thyssen Museum will be turning heads this Spring with a gigantic jigsaw puzzle featuring some of its most iconic works of art.  To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Museum, the Thyssen is getting closer to the people of Malaga, by taking the 3×4 metre puzzle into the street to let the public complete the puzzle, with the help of monitors. Based for two weeks in the bustling central station of Malaga, Estación María Zambrano, thousands of train-travellers will be able to admire some of the Baroness’s alluring art collection up, close and personal while having some fun.  The six works of art featured on the sides of the cubes have been selected bearing in mind the unique customs and legendary locations of Málaga. They include Santa Marina, by Zurbarán, which depicts Malaga’s Holy Week celebrations and Romería, by Gonzalo Bilbao, because of Malaga’s feria tradition.  For the complete calendar of events of the Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga, visit: www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org The puzzle will be at Malaga station until 15^th April.

Tuesday 3^rd April

The Passion of Jorge Rando

Tuesday marks the private view of one of the best exhibitions to be staged in Marbella in recent years.  The work of celebrated Malaga-born artist, Jorge Rando will be on display at the spacious, loft-style Polígono Gallery located in the town’s bustling industrial estate at the eastern entrance to Marbella.

One of the most prolific and exciting artists of his generation, Rando’s vivid, expressionist work is heavily influenced by many years living in Germany. The subject of the exhibition is his depiction of Malaga’s religious fervour – as lived dramatically during the Semana Santa rituals – so what better time to view the powerfully emotive works of this talented artist, sculptor and illustrator.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Wednesday 4^th April.  For opening hours, visit www.poligonogallery.com Tel: 952898998.

Wednesday 4^th April

Easter Egg Hunt at the People’s Forest

Charity Arboretum Marbella will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt at their beautiful public park Families are invited to Arboretum and will be given a tour around this stunning green space filled with plants, trees and vegetables native to the Malaga region. Then teams will be given clues on where the eggs are hidden and the race is on to find all the eggs. The first team to get back to the start having found all the eggs will be the winner!

Following the Easter Egg Hunt kids will learn the planting technique Nendo Dango, which is a simple effective and fun reforestation method. This is a great way to help Arboretum create their people’s forest and spend time together in the great outdoors  – just outside central Marbella. 3-6pm. Free to attend, but places are limited, please email info@arboretummarbella.org to reserve your place. To find out more about Arboretum and to get involved visit www.arboretummarbella.org

9pm The Procession of El Nazareno sets out, along with a brass band, from La Encarnación, the main church in the Old Town Marbella.  One of the most popular processions of the week.

Thursday 5th April

Floating Your Boat in Banús

If shiny white speed boats and yummy yachts are your thing, Easter in Marbella brings with it the opportunity to ogle around 100 pre-owned boats for sale thanks to yacht brokers Marina Marbella.  With all top brands represented, you can even take the boat of your fancy for a sea spin?

Some 5000 visitors are expected over the 5-day event that runs from 5-9 April in the famous luxury marina of Puerto Banús, west of Marbella’s famous Golden Mile.

For more information contact Marina Marbella on Tel: 952 777 098

Friday 6th April

Capoeira Capers

Now celebrating its VI edition, the Capoeira Festival Marbella will be entertaining Enthusiasts and passers-by as they bring this energetic sport out into the streets of Marbella for the 3-day long contest.  Half-dance, half martial art, this increasingly popular spectacle brings with it all the energy and joie de vivre of the Brasilian street carnivals.  Colourful and energetic, the Capoeira Festival will give you the chance to enjoy an invigorating display of this vibrant Brasilian sport in some of the most attractive settings in Marbella.

7pm – Plaza del Mar followed by a Brasilian party at Premiere Club Marbella

The show continues on 7^th April in the Alameda from 11am – 8pm

The event will be finishing strong on Sunday 8^th in the Puerto Deportivo Marbella

at 12 noon. For further details see www.capoeiramarbella.com

Easter Sunday 8th April

Bunnies & BBQs at Galaxia Marbella

Enjoy some fun and frolics for all the family at this large, safe soft-play centre. It’s spacious enough to give kids freedom, while parents get plenty of breathing space to kick back and enjoy a coffee and some tasty snacks…  The Easter bunny will be making an appearance at the party, and there will be face painting, balloon modelling, games and an Easter egg hunt.  A BBQ will be sizzling for those who wish to make a day of it. 1-5pm – 10€ Entrance fee per child. (Entrance is free for parents). Like their Facebook page – and win free entrance!

There will also be Easter camp every day with lots of chocolate egg making, treasure hunts, sports, games and arts & crafts.

Galaxia Marbella, Guadalmina Commercial Centre. Tel: 952885530

www.galaxiaplay.com

Made by hand in Hollywood, and worn by a firmament of Hollywood starlets, Nialaya the jewellery brand that’s “so hip it hurts” has landed in Marbella. Edgy, spiritual, slick and so damn desirable, Nialaya is the must-have accessory for the thinking fashionista, says Louise Cook Edwards.

Perfectly crafted gemstones, all with hidden powers of attraction, edgy charms featuring Buddhas, skulls, stars, hearts and an irresistible array of quirky symbols; silver, gold and wooden ranges, women’s and men’s lines and more celebrity endorsement than the Vanity Fair Oscar’s party… what more could a jewellery brand want?

Beads of Perfection

Yes, Nialaya could be jewellery’s answer to nirvana, the state of perfect bliss all Buddhists aspire to when perfecting the art of fulfilling their karma and never having to be reincarnated again… What could be more perfect than a piece of Nialaya jewellery, ingeniously crafted in infinite variations, colours, shapes, sizes and price ranges, it is as if each item “speaks” to a chosen recipient and is just waiting for its rightful owner to come along and claim it as his own…

The creative impulse behind Nialaya is pure genius – a winning combination of glamour and spiritual intrigue, the brand’s awesome website gives the option of choosing pieces “by celebrity” or by the “healing power” of the stone… And with designs that manage to be both hip and hippy-ish, Nialaya is a true incarnation of fashion’s 21^st century mind-set.

Add to this the fact that Nialaya is within reach of most wallets, with prices ranging from a few hundred euros to several thousand  – the choice is yours: silver or white gold; white sea pearls or polished wood; Diamonds or Tiger’s Eye, in the Nialaya catalogue a whole universe of attractive options unfold before your eyes, drawing you ever closer to your perfect Nialaya match.

Who Wears Your Nialaya?

Are you more Elle Macpherson or Paris Hilton, David Guetta or Justin Bieber, Olivia Palermo or Katy Perry? Whatever your celebrity poison, there is a Nialaya with your name on it… Perhaps you yourself are the next big celebrity endorsement.

Purchase a bracelet made with Aventurine – which is purported to attract abundance and wealth, and maybe your dreams of superstardom will be well on their way to coming true… For love, try Cherry quartz, also known as the Stone of Love, Coral – is said to strengthen our emotional foundations, while Carnelian is reputed to stimulate passion and boldness. Nailaya necklaces and bracelets are made in a wide variety of high quality gemstones – with hidden powers to add not just beauty but subtle energies to your life.

Buy a diamond Nialaya necklace – for clarity and inner strength, and again, by a leap of faith – or the power of quantum physics – you could find yourself heading up the ranks to the A-list and find your name among the list of celebs endorsing the coveted brand.

And even if the celebrity circuit is not for you, acquiring a Nialaya creation all of your own – and you can buy beads and charms to customize your very own design – you will be buying a truly gorgeous piece of 21^st century jewellery.

Nialaya is available in exclusivity from Gomez&Molina (G&M Casual) in Marina Banus Shopping Center, Puerto Banús.  www.silverbanus.com

In twelve short months the Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga has proved itself to be the jewel in the city’s artistic crown. Featuring some absolute gems of 19^th century art, and showcasing the quintessential flavour of Andalusian culture, Carmen Thyssen’s masterful collection is not to be missed. Report: Louise Cook Edwards.

24^th March 2012 marks the 1^st anniversary of the Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga, an exceptionally rich collection of 19^th century paintings on loan to the city for a period of 15 years.  200,000 visitors have been among the first to view the 232 works of art hanging in the small, but perfectly formed Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga, housed in the charming, centrally-located Palacio de Villalón, a 16^th century palace meticulously restored for the collection.

A visit to this long-awaited museum is a wonderful way to immerse oneself in the world of 19^th century Spanish painting, while the different genres represented go a long way to acquainting the viewer with considerable insight into the history, customs and culture of Spain – Andalusia in particular – at the time, with feria, bullfighting, Semana Santa and the quaint streets of the white villages featuring heavily, and helping to forge the quintessential identity of Spain to the outside world.

Forming part of Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza’s world famous art collection, the works on view in Málaga reflect the Baroness’s personal tastes, and the coherence of the works is greatly appreciated by art connoisseurs, and said to mark a new milestone in the study and appreciation of 19^th century and Andalusian art, while the permanent collection also takes in works of the Old Masters, such as Zurbarán’s Saint Marina, painted in the mid 17^th century. Spanish painting in the 1800s takes in many genres and styles, including romantic landscapes, such as Fritz Bamberger’s Playa de Estepona, 1855, or the dramatic and spontaneous works by Fortuny, such as Corrida de Toros 1867.

In the mid 19^th century many Spanish artists were influenced by the works of the French impressionists, including Joaquín Sorolla who went on to become one of Spain’s most enduring popular artists.

Paradises & Landscapes from Brueghel to Gauguin

For 31 March – 7 October – a temporary exhibition of 43 works will be on view at the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga.  Entitled Paradises and Landscapes in the Carmen Thyssen Collection, the exhibited works will plot the evolution of landscape painting from the 17^th century to the mid-20^th century through many great masters of western painting.

Landscape is seen as a medium of poetic expression, frequently from a recreated or idealized point of view. Plants and trees are a thread running through the exhibition, at times in a tamed, domesticated or rustic world, with humans at work or leisure.  Traveling through the works of 17^th century artists such as Brueghel, via 18^th century Rococo, American romanticism of the 19^th century painters, and the realists of the Barbizon school, we can view how painters took their easels outside to closely replicate the atmospheric conditions. The exhibition includes some of the great masters of modern art including Pissarro, Renoir and Gauguin – and from Baroque to Impressionism gives the viewer different visions of Arcadia and Eden, or paradise lost.

The Museum is located in the Palacio de Villalón, C/. Compañía,10, Malaga. Open Tuesdays to Sundays 10am-8pm. Closed Mondays. Entry ticket 6€.

www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org

Marbella’s young musicians forming the Pequeña Orquesta Mediterráneo get the support of the Mayor. Marbellas.com reports.

Marbella’s young musical talent in the form of the Pequeña Orquesta Mediterránea, has been given a boost by the formal recognition and support of the city’s illustrious Mayor Mayor, Mª Angeles Muñoz who attended a rehearsal of the Pequeña Orquesta Mediterránea on 15th February. In a huge show of support for the young talent, the Mayor publically declared institutional support and sponsorship for the fledgling youth orchestra in order to help it to grow and prosper. The young musicians played a rendition of Handel’s Water Music much to the delight of the Mayor and the assembled audience.

Supporting Young Talent

The Pequeña Orquesta Mediterránea was created in 2008 and has been directed by Alison Harling since its formation.  The orchestra is comprised of promising young music students between the ages of 7 -14.
Meeting weekly to practice and perfect their musical skills, they perform varied musical works from Baroque up to contemporary music, as well as a popular repertoire. They
recently gave a recital of Christmas Carols to a large audience in front of the chapel at La Virginia Christmas Fair.

This orchestra has the renowned conductor, Daniel Barenboim as its Honorary President along with the institutional support and sponsorship of the Municipal Culture Delegation of Marbella, which allows its development and consolidation.

The orchestra’s three most important goals are trifold, with the aim of improving the social, and musical and learning skills of the young musicians, the pride and joy of all its members, their families and the city of Marbella.

For further details about the youth orchestra contact Maria Testa of www.musicaconencanto.org on Tel: 689000944.

For the last few years Johnny  has been working in and around Marbella photographing for magazines and taking his chances ‘papping’ the various celebrities who are in town. Always on the move, if you have been to a cocktail party recently, chances are you have run into Mr. Gates.

Never without his trusty Nikon, Johnny was even taking photographs at his own exhibition although the photographs here are taken by friend and colleague, photographer Gary Edwards. Coming and going throughout the night, guests numbered about four hundred and included, PJ Lopez, Percy Roland, Johnny’s partner Anne-Sofie,  Patricio Moreno, Martin Kucera and the family Lewe van Aduard. (All pictured above).

On and off the wall

The images are a mixture of Johnny’s library classics and some newly taken shots. One wall in the gallery has a collection of 16 of the same image, a poppy field, individually framed and butted together to made one attractive art piece.

(Pictured above, guests include Laura Stanbridge, Fenton Collins, sisters Ginger and Justine, photographer Mike Naylor Inga and Peter Lotze, Caroline Bowley, Gillian McClafferty and art loving friends)

Other works included in the exhibition are a red 50′s truck, a speeding stallion from the Hipodromo in Mijas and a pair of cute baby sparrows in the snow. The entrance of the the gallery has a large print taken in Tokyo from one of Johnny’s travels. The photographs are all printed on a special art paper which helps give the photographs a very vivid appeal enhancing the colours.

(Pictured above, Stephanie Miller, Nacho Martinez, Patricia Hafer, Helena and Patricio, Flor Blasco and partner Carlos with Carla and Maria)

Crackers

In order to create a buzz it is always good to do something a little different or quirky. Johnny managed this by simply putting a price ticket of 100,000 euros on his one off photograph of a girl with a bowl of rice crackers. It has not be sold as yet, but we suggest you get down to the Kasser Rassu Gallery fast to put down your deposit…

www.kasserrassu.com

As Europe imposes laws to encourage companies to appoint more women as top executives in business, women in Spain are seizing the day when it comes to opportunities, equality and facing head on issues that affect the modern woman.

For the first time this coming March, women in Marbella will be able to take part in Marbella Women’s Week, an exciting forum which, coinciding with International Women’s Day, will serve as a forum for thought-provoking discussion and debate about women today, thanks to the participation of many exceptional and accomplished women in business,  and public office.

It’s Official

The initiative is an off-shoot of Madrid Woman’s Week, which has the full backing of Spain’s national government, the Community of Madrid,  the Madrid City Hall  and their Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Asturias. Every aspect of life affecting women will come under the microscope at this dynamic encounter, with four main areas under scrutiny:

Doing Business in Marbella – which will take a look at women’s situation in the workplace, feminine leadership, globalization, etc. Women’s Psychology – health, well-being, the different phases of a woman’s life. Marketing & Communication including the use of social media. Female Creativity – in art, design, fashion and decor.

Over the course of the two days, various prizes will be awarded to leading women in Marbella whose talent, dedication and ingenuity have taken them far, and become amazing role models to be followed and admired.

A Woman’s World

The whole event will be backed up with a lively trade show paying homage to the New Woman, with fashion shows, music, make-up demos, art and sculpture, health & beauty, cookery demos with a female chef… There will even be space devoted to cars and cocktails for women.

For further details of the event, contact Samar Abou-Farah, the Ambassador for Madrid Woman’s Week on the Costa del Sol.

Tel: 606 570971.

www.madrid-womans-week.com

With Spring just around the corner, Fashionvilla, Marbella’s very own house of glamour, showcases the styles that will turn  heads as the temperature on the resorts social life starts to soar… marbellas.com reports. Photography Gary Edwards

Fashionvilla, Marbella’s enduringly popular, personalized multibrand boutique is currently celebrating 7 long years of successfully dressing some of the most glamorous women in town.  Julia Rep, the lovely face of the brand decided to mark the anniversary with a series of gorgeous fashion shows in different locations, including Nueva Kaskada, one of the trendiest restaurants in town.

Top Restaurant

On a bright and breezy Sunday afternoon, Fashionvilla fans from far and wide packed into Nueva Kaskada to enjoy a preview of the colourful and sassy new Spring collections from a series of Julia’s favourite brands including Airfield and Lefate .  Fashionvilla treated everyone present to a glass of champagne on the spacious terrace before guests were seated inside the restaurant to savour a selection of delicious dishes by celebrated chef Ewald Fichthaler whose creative cuisine is becoming a legend among Marbella’s demanding gourmets.  With a background in 5-star establishments around the globe, Fichthaler’s signature cuisine is a subtle blend of aromas and textures – and his exquisitely presented dishes are nothing less than a visual feast.

Style and Wearability

Fashionvilla’s followers – among them many famous Marbella faces  – were delighted to see an irresistible selection of day, cocktail and evening wear sashayed around the room by a clutch of stunning models.  Starting with a safari vibe, with relaxed neutrals dressed up with classy animal print and panama style hats, this is a trend that can keep you looking cool even on the hottest of days.  Shorts and casual separates gave way to romantic dresses in striking prints, with clever tailoring, floaty sleeves and feminine shapes.  Some outfits  harked back to the eternal glamour of the 50s, while others had an air of the 80s new romanticism.  Fashionvilla manages to combine style with wearability chosing fabrics that cling,hug and flow in all the right places, while effortlessly keeping their shape when the heat is on.

Turning up the volume on the glamour scale, the show climaxed with a number of dreamy cocktail and evening dresses, in jewel colours, bold prints, bright whites and creams, all with vertiginous heels and stunning accessories.

Fashionvilla’s Spring collections will be debuting soon at www.fashionvillamarbella.com.

marbellas.com fully recommends a visit to Fashionvilla if you have not been there already. The ambience of the beautiful spacious andalucia villa makes you feel relaxed and is so much more welcoming than the cold boutiques on the main street. Only a few hundred meters from the n-340 from the Elviria turn (near the Hotel Don Carlos). For details of Fashionvilla’s collections, personal styling advice and events contact Julia Rep on Tel:  952850501.

Inauguration of “The Artists Carnival” Wednesday 15th Feb 2012 at the first Art Gallery in El Cortes Inglés in Andalucía

Launched just eights weeks ago, The Red Penguin Art Gallery in Marbella is already gaining a fan base among lovers of innovative international contemporary art. Red Penguin Art Gallery is the First Art Gallery within El Corte Inglés décor store, and a platform for talent, creative 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.

Following on from the success of Identity, the gallery’s groundbreaking inaugural collective show, Carnival of The Artists is the next exciting exhibition to be staged at the dynamic gallery from 15 February -21 March. Taking inspiration from the Venice Carnival, the exhibition is nothing less than a visual feast focused loosely on the themes of Carnival, circus, parties and Venice is a celebration of the artists and their works.  A series of exceptional international artists and photographers are featured, including a selection of guest artists from the FIAM (Festival Internacional de Arte Marbella) with affordable art.

Among the exciting talent to be showcased in the latest Red Penguin Art Gallery exhibition are the following artists: Cats and Withoos, (Holland) an outstanding duo of photographers with an extensive background in fashion with a wide international following. Their ethereal shots of stylized mannequins in Venice are nothing short of iconic.

Alfredo Palmero, (Spain) is the third generation of a line of Spanish artists, who shaped his love of painting.  Palmero’s Harlequins, a homage to the Picasso avant-garde, and a reinvention of Velázquez’s, have helped to make his name. His characters’ haunting looks, and the blend of classicism and contemporary in his painting make Palmero a modern great.

Fernando Bayona, (Spain) another highly sought-after artist, splits his time between Spain and Italy where he studied fine arts. His work has an almost theatrical composition, and the artist manages to create an ambience which sits somewhere between the classical pictorial tradition and kitsch pop art. Bayona’s work hangs in many museums and important private collections. In 2011 his work was exhibited along with that of Erwin Olaf, who is widely considered to be the number one Dutch artist.

Gary Edwards (UK) is exhibiting a series of poetic new photographic works taken recently in Italy. With limited edition commissions in the collections of private banks and 5-star hotels, Edwards has featured in several collective and individual exhibitions.

Tos Kostermans (Holland) has an impressive 35 year career in magic realism, with a brushstroke of impressionism. Inspired by many Dutch painters, including Van Gogh, and Kees van Dongen, Kostermans has exhibited all over the world. With studios in various locations, including Marbella, Atlanta and Amsterdam, Kostermans is constantly seeking out inspiration for his powerful compositions.  In his latest work, Kostermans has taken inspiration from Amy Winehouse.

Red Penguin Art Gallery is also delighted to be introducing new works by rising new talent, Joseph Klibansky (Holland) whose works formed part of the gallery’s inaugural collective. Klibansky’s personal brand of ethereal realism purveyed in large, colourful pieces is sky rocketing in value, with a recent adquisition going to Sothebys for £35,000.  Klibansky has recently been commissioned by the Abu Dhabi royal family.

Also featuring in the Carnival of the Artists are several Marbella-based artists, including Red Penguin gallerist, Joris Marjot (Holland), a respected decorative painter in his own right. He will be bringing the subject to life with a stunning mural on the Venice Carnival.  Also taking part is painter Felix Muyo (Spain), whose fascinating and varied works have been featured in many collective and individual exhibitions.

Peter Gabiolo Belasco’s work has progressed from classical techniques such as handmade oil painting to his current job as a digital painter. Thanks to his work as a graphic designer, Gabiola has extensive knowledge of new technologies which has enabled him to create a whole new pictorial language.

And as special guests of the Red Penguin Art Gallery, artists contributing to the FIAM (Festival Inernational de Arte Marbella) the largest and most popular street-art festival in southern Spain, now in its 4^th edition, will be displaying a selection works by some of the most accomplished FIAM artists, including Andy Bonomo, Michéle Lehmann, Nimrod Messeg.  Several more upcoming exhibitions at the Red Penguin Art Gallery will feature FIAM artists, giving talents from countries as diverse as Georgia, Sweden and Morocco exposure to a new public.

You will find the Red Penguin Art Gallery at El Capricho Decoracion on the 2nd floor of El Corte Inglés in Marbella (opposite the Palacio de Congresos) showcasing a wealth of quality art from upcoming and acclaimed Spanish and International artists. The first professional art gallery to ever have a presence within  an El Corte Inglés department 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.

Inaugural cocktail party on 15 February from 6.30-9pm

www.redpenguinartgallery.com

Red Penguin Art Gallery, first floor, next to Lepanto, El Corte Inglés, El Capricho Home & Decoration,  Bvd. Alfonso Von Hohenlohe, 2, 29600 Marbella. Tel: +34 664340107  +34 639616300.