Sailing Art in Spetses!

Acrylic on canvas 40 x 60 by Eva Bratopoulou

From 13th to 16th June, the island of Spetses celebrates the third “Spetses Classic Yacht Race”. The international event is organised jointly by the Yacht Club of Greece and the Poseidonion Grand Hotel (also the  Hospitality Organiser of the race). In last year’s event, 60 yachts took part, with nearly 400 crew members. The small island in the Argo-Saronic Gulf was filled with sailing enthusiasts from all over the world, who have embraced the event and made it a must-do fixture in their calendar. The same support is expected for this year’s race.by Eva Bratopoulou

Among the events taking place during the three-day celebration of all things maritime, is an exhibition of paintings at the Poseidonion Grand Hotel.

Waiting for the Wind 50×60 Acrylic on canvas by Eva Bratopoulou

The Spetses Art Workshop, run by local artists Alexandros Tsironis and Demi Tasiouli, presents paintings inspired by the Spetses Regatta, in the magnificent surroundings of the oldest hotel in the Greek islands.

The exhibition is entitled: “Colours of the Wind” and will run from 12th to 18th of June. The five members of the workshop, whose work comprises the exhibition, are 14 year-old schoolgirl Dimitra Kiousi, high-school teacher Katerina Michalaki, bank employee Evangelia Bratopoulou, event organiser Christina Cowan-Mytilinaiou and languages teacher Theodora Kriemadi. All five are permanent local residents, who have been studying art in the Workshop for a number of years.

The works on show are all scenes from last year’s regatta, which took place in the stretch of water locals call the Bogazi, joining Spetses to the Peloponnese mainland. The race begins in front of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel and takes in much of the beautiful shoreline of Spetses and its picturesque, traditional town.

Buoy 60x 80 Acrylic on canvas from Tina Cowan Mytilinaiou

There are images of sailing boats anchored, some with the enchanting Poseidonion as their backdrop, and others at rest in the island’s well-known in the Old Harbour. There are depictions of classic sailboats and traditional fishing boats vying for the trophy. The varied styles used to portray the colourful events all have a different, thought-provoking perspective to offer.

The artworks in the exhibition are acrylics on canvas, acrylics on paper and charcoal on paper, and range from 35 x 50cm, to 60 x 80cm in size.

Night view of the Old Harbor 50×70, oil on canvas by Eva Bratopoulou