It feels like it was only yesterday when I was on the island of Tinos working out details of our upcoming journeys and had the fortune to receive an invitation from my friends in Falatathos to join a parea for some raki, and dinner after at a local taverna. I readily accepted—not only for the prospect of good company, home-made raki, savory hortokeftethes and plenty of locally produced potamissio wine (a type of Savatiano)—but also because I love finding myself at dusk in Falatathos. As the night falls in this most beautiful of villages from Epano Meri, something magical happens as each star makes its appearance, seemingly an arm's length away. It is at dusk, in one of its many villages away from the hustle and bustle of the Hora that one really feels the "other worldliness," the metaphysics that make Tinos...well, Tinos! Folklore has it that Angelouthes (the Naiads or Dryads of mythology) used to dance away their nights at the shady intersection of two creeks at the bottom of the fertile plateau on which Falatathos is located. Tiniots must have treated them right—as they treat all visitors—since their usual hurtfullness has not been felt by the locals.

Until recently Falatathos was known for its imposing views, noteworthy architecture – especially its Agios Yiannis Theologos church – abundant trees, livestock farms, and as an excellent place to have a traditional Tiniot dinner. But now Falatathos has become a place to experience and enjoy contemporary art. Late last summer, The Exhibition House (To Spiti ton Ektheseon), opened its doors to locals and visitors alike, with an exhibit of works by Ion Neokoridis entitled "Portraits of Illusions."

Originally, The Exhibition House was built as a family home with its own patitiri (wine press) in the early 19th century, at the shady junction of the two creeks where the Angelouthes used to dance...while tending to the needs of Ermes, Dionysos and other lesser gods. Lore has it that they also inspired mere mortals with prophetic powers. It must have been such a moment that inspired Marianna Dendrinou and Yiorgos Kollaros to transform their family home into The Exhibition House, a house that has a history of having had its doors open to all who came by. Now, this same house has opened its doors to the Muses—with the blessings, of course, of the Angelouthes––of contemporary arts. The house at the entrance of the village now celebrates the art of the moment from Tinos, Greece and beyond. It is a place of vibrant synergy among art, artists, and art lovers, becoming a place that various "tendencies and hyper-tendencies" (taseis ke hypertaseis) of contemporary art are discussed and exchanged.
For the summer of 2001 The Exhibition House has mounted a whimsical collaborative exhibit titled "A Minor Conjectural Comment" ("Mikro Eikastiko Sholio"), with works by Katie Symeonithou and Kostas Tsoklis. It will run from July 18 until September 30, 2001. Katie Symeonidou is a self-taught Tiniot artist who has been painting landscapes of the island, paying heed not to a learned tradition but only to the pleasure that creation of art brings. For his part, Tsoklis has agreed to take a break from the expectations (and burdens) of his position in the hierarchy of "learned art" to comment both visually and conjecturally (eikastika) on the works of his long time friend Katie Symeonithou. This has been an occasion not to be missed by the lovers of contemporary Greek visual arts.

We are pleased and proud to announce to the friends of the ArtExchange that next September (2002) marks the beginning of many collaborations to come, where we and The House of Exhibits will co-organize exhibits of work by Canadian artists. Our first collaborative effort will showcase the work of Phil Darrah, one of Western Canada's pioneer abstract painters in an exhibit entitled "Putting it Together." If you wonder, "why Western Canada, why abstraction?" stay tuned for future Dispatches! Regardless of the context—the bigger picture, so to speak—Phil Darrah's recent paintings are haltingly beautiful and deceptively simple images, images that represent a look back and taking stock of where he has been artistically. As you can see from the painting to the left, these works require a second and third look, and a patient viewer before they reveal their complexity and beauty. Stay tuned for more details, or mark your calendar to join us next September in Falatathos. Who knows...you too might reach for the stars!!


"Aegean Palimpsests: a photographic journey to Tinos" join the islanders to celebrate their biggest holiday of the year in a special winter getaway just for photographers (January 25 to February 4, 2002) "Greece..an artful escape" our popular fall destination and marble carving/sculpting studio, written up in travel sections from The Sunday Oregonian to the St. Petersburg Times, and selected by the Editor of GoNOMAD Alternative Travel Guide as one of its "top picks" for European travel (September 25 to October 10, 2002) "In the Footsteps of Dionysos"...this time around we search for the elusive and fun-loving god in the autumn plains of Attica, and the stunningly beautiful Cycladic islands of Naxos and Santorini – the best of Greek wines, Epicurean feasts, cooking classes...and much more! (Oct. 23 to Nov. 4, 2002)


By popular demand, we are organizing a first-ever summer journey for our hot-blooded ceramic types—they love Greece in the summer and a good, fiery kiln (for July 2002)

"Aegean Palimpsests: a photographic journey to Skyros" you won't want to miss the centuries old pre-Lenten carnival on this tiny Sporadic island (for March of 2003)

A printmaking studio journey for April of 2003...on a another stunning Greek island
Stay in touch...