Edward Pirotta: Sculptor (1939-1968) – Lecture at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity

The National Museum of Fine Arts and St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity proudly present?Edward Pirotta: Sculptor (1939-1968), a lecture by Professor Joseph Paul Cassar.

This lecture will focus on the research findings and analysis studied for the last twelve years by Prof. Joseph P. Cassar which is now ready for publication awaiting? sponsorship. The focus remains on the prolific sculptural output of prodigy Edward Pirotta. Reference will be made to various works executed in Malta, Rome and the United Kingdom within the historical background of the time.? The lecture will provide a chronology of the artist?s short productive life as well as to his rise to fame with the famous pair of blackamoors that perplexed antique experts and made news in The Sunday Times Magazine, London in August 14, 1966. The lecture is richly illustrated with several images.? Prof. Cassar will also take a few questions from the audience.

Joseph Paul Cassar is a practicing artist, art historian, art critic, curator and educator. He contributed various art reviews as a free-lance critic for the Daily News (1978-1981) and the Times of Malta (1998-2001), and has written numerous articles for exhibition catalogues and curated various exhibitions. He served as a board member of St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity (2000-2003) where he was responsible for developing the Visual Arts Programme and an Artist-in-Residence Programme. In 2002 he was artist-in-residence at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa and in 2003 received a fellowship from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Virginia (USA).

Joseph Paul Cassar is the author of several books that focus on the pioneers of modernism in Malta.? He is currently engaged in designing art history courses for the New York Times Knowledge Network as well as for the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.. and for Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.? He has lectured at the Hirshhorn Museum Washington D.C. as well as York College in Pennsylvania, Community College Baltimore Country, Towson University, Columbia Art Center and Gallery, Carroll Community College among others. Joseph Paul Cassar is Professor of Fine Arts and Art History at the University of Maryland University College. He is also consultant for modern art to the National Museum of Fine Arts.

This lecture will take place at The Music Room within St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity on Friday, 20 July at 7.00 p.m.