PRESS RELEASE
Athens, 10/05/2010
Donovan: Sapphographs
at the Hellenic American Union
The Hellenic American Union is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition,
Donovan: Sapphographs opening on June 1st, 2010 at the Hellenic American Union
galleries, in Athens Greece. This exhibition is organized in collaboration with Harvard
University’s Center for Hellenic Studies and Govinda Gallery in Washington, D.C.,
curated by Govinda’s Christopher Murray. An online catalogue is being published for
this Donovan’s first exhibition in Greece. Adamson Atelier, master printers, have
produced the large format works on paper.
The exhibition features twelve monumental works on paper from the Sapphographs
series. Inspired by the lyric poetry of Sappho (7th century B.C.), Donovan captures in
visual form the mythic beauty of an ancient artistic tradition. Donovan recently said
that he ″wishes to encourage the youth of the world to compose poetry again.″ He
wants to ″stand with the young Greek poets and be part of returning poetry to the
popular culture where it belongs.″
Exhibition curator Christopher Murray writes: “Donovan: Sapphographs evoke the
aesthetic sensuality of nature and the power of its rituals to inspire artistic creation.
Sappho has been represented and reinterpreted through many artistic mediums
since her own time, over 2,500 years ago, up to today. Depicted by some of the
greatest painters in museums through the world, in illuminated manuscripts, by
playwrights, in novels, in fashion, in ballet, and in popular music, Sappho has been
updated in different times in different ways.”
In conjunction with the exhibition, the California based art team Revolver will unveil a
multimedia installation as a tribute to Donovan: Sapphographs. This installation will
allow spectators to experience the Sapphographs in three dimensions.
A compelling series of poetry readings, music and dance performances, symposiums
entitled SapphoFest is organized around Donovan’s exhibition.
Donovan has also composed the melody Be Mine for some of Sappho’s fragments
which is available on www.amazon.com as a download and a cd and will perform
the song at the opening of the exhibition.
Opening of exhibition
Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 21:00
Hellenic American Union Galleries (Massalias 22, Kolonaki)
Duration of exhibition
1 – 30 June, 2010
Exhibition hours
Monday - Friday: 12:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 10:30 – 14:30, closed on Sunday
Admission
Admission is free
For information
Yorgos Baniokos (210 3680071), Lila Manioti (210 3680047)
www.hau.gr/culture
Donovan www.donovan.ie
SAPPHOFEST
Tuesday,
June 1st, 2010
EVENTS PROGRAM
19:00: Opening lecture by Professor Gregory Nagy, Harvard
University, and Director of Centre for Hellenic Studies entitled
"Sappho the Musical Diva"
Hellenic American Union Theater
20:00: "Sappho: Fragments" Performance of theatrical piece
directed by Kornilia Vasileiadou and Camila Bauer Bronstrup, with
Anthi Efstratiadou, Iris Nikolaou and Klea Samanta.
Hellenic American Union Theater
21:00: Opening reception for
"Donovan: Sapphographs", featuring a brief talk by Donovan
and a performance of his song "Be Mine"
Hellenic American Union Galleries
Wednesday,
June 2nd, 2010
19:00: Lecture by Professor Timothy Powers, Rutgers
University, entitled "Sappho and the Citharodes"
Hellenic American Union Theater
20:00: Poetry Reading by Professor Olga Broumas, Brandeis
University entitled "What One Loves"
Hellenic American Union Theater
21:00: Lecture/Performance by Professor John Franklin,
University of Vermont and Professor Stylianos Psaroudakis,
Faculty of Music Studies, University of Athens entitled
"Ancient Music"
Hellenic American Union Theater
The lectures will be delivered in English.
Admission is free to the public.
Short Bios
Donovan is a prolific songwriter, poet and musician who is
recognized as one of the most popular and innovative recording
artists of our time. By incorporating elements of folk, jazz,
classical, Caribbean and Indian music, he became one of the
central figures in the extraordinary musical and cultural revolution
of the 1960s. He continues to influence and inspire musical artists
today. Donovan’s recordings have received universal critical
acclaim and he continues to perform throughout the world. His
autobiography, Donovan: The Hurdy Gurdy Man was published in
2005.
Donovan
Christopher Murray is the founder and director of Govinda
Gallery in Washington, D.C. Since 1975 Murray has organized
over 200 exhibitions of many of the leading artists of our time,
including Andy Warhol in the 1970s and photographer Annie
Liebovitzt’s first exhibition in 1984. Since that time, Govinda has
established itself as one of the most innovative contemporary
galleries in the United States. Murray has been the author or
editor of over a dozen books and catalogues including Soul Rebel:
An Intimate Portrait of Bob Marley, 2009, John and Yoko: A New
York Love Story, 2008, and Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis,
2006.