Students at the Institute for the Creative Arts at MCAST have created two street art installations as part of the 14th edition of the Malta International Arts Festival (MIAF), produced by Festivals Malta. Uċuħ (Faces) is on show in Marsaxlokk and Sculptural Performance is on display in Mellieha.

The MIAF 2019 will be showcasing an exciting array of local and international talent at different venues across Malta between 28 June and 14 July. Since its first edition in 2005, the MIAF has been central to the arts scene in Malta and the nurturing of local artistic talent. This year, MIAF's collaboration with budding artists at MCAST aims to reach out to new audiences through the installation of public art projects.

With the support of the Marsaxlokk and Mellieħa local councils, the students have created site-specific street art that promotes the MIAF as well as create a dialogue between the aesthetic attributes of the installation and the surroundings.

The initiative was integrated into the BA (Hons) in Fine Art second-year curriculum and has provided the students with the opportunity to experience the local arts scene away from the classroom. "Students presented their concept proposals based on a brief and budget from the MIAF," explains Ruth Ancilleri, lecturer at MCAST. "The MIAF selected two pitches and the students as a class then refined the ideas and selected the right materials for actualising the installations."

Set on the beautiful promenade in Marsaxlokk, Uċuħ is the mixed-media brainchild of Rachel Bowman, who created her exhibition with fellow students Sabrine Borg, Natalia Camilleri, Mark Micallef and Kimberly Vella.

"We explored masks of different styles and from different periods," says Bowman. "As a process, we created clay moulds for some masks, which we then filled with wax. And, at the same time, we fashioned other masks using chicken wire, sacking and plaster."

The second installation is Sculptural Performance by Sherese Frendo. "I wanted to show that water is the basis of everything - that is why we're using the fountains in Mellieha," explains Frendo. "I combined water with a broader notion of the arts since 'water' is an important theme in this year's edition of the MIAF. I created wire sculptures showing dance, music and so on, placed them in resin spheres and set them in the middle of the flowing water of the fountains."

Frendo created her street art with Sara Barz, Ella Bonnici Peresso, Ian Camilleri, Matthew Tanti, Jade Zammit, Matthew Thomas Micallef and Matthew Theuma Fontebrera.

Marsaxlokk mayor, Horace Gauci is thrilled that the locality is forming part of MIAF 2019 by hosting Uċuħ. "To use open spaces, such as the Marsaxlokk promenade, for exhibitions that promote the culture of art is a beautiful thing and it enhances the multidimensional identity of Malta," he says.

This sentiment is shared by John Buttigieg, mayor of Mellieha, who is delighted to have had the opportunity to collaborate on the production of Sculptural Performance. "On behalf of Mellieha, I would like to thank the MIAF and the talented MCAST students for this beautiful piece of artwork that they have so successfully brought to fruition."

The Malta International Arts Festival is being held between 28 June and 14 July.  To view the full programme of events and to buy tickets, please visit www.festivals.mt/miaf