The Ladies of Armata - Art About Art

Readers of the posts I've written will be aware that I often make artworks that might be described as Art About Art - here is a related post.  For years I've pondered making a happy, rejoicing and celebratory opposite to Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.

In September 2014 I was holidaying on the Greek island of Spetses and witnessed the islanders celebrating The Festival of Armata.  The night before the climax to the event (a fantastic fireworks show and the burning at sea of a replica Ottoman ship) I watched a dazzling stage performance of Greek dancing... one dance was performed by four women - happy, rejoicing and celebratory it was. I took some photographs during the performance and later wondered why I had... turned out I'd captured the main ingredients I needed for my Ladies of Armata.See the full story + more images

Every year, the glorious Festival of Armata takes place on Spetses Island on the second weekend of September, celebrating Panaghia Armata (Virgin Mary of the “Armata”) and commemorating the great Naval Battle of Spetses (September 8, 1822).

This major victory of the naval forces of Spetses against the Ottoman fleet during the Greek War of Independence of 1821, was accomplished thanks to the act of bravery of the Spetsiote Captain Kosmas Barbatsis, who achieved with his own fire ship to set the Turkish Flagship on fire and blow it up. This act of heroism is re-enacted every year since 1931, with dramatizations of this victory culminating in the burning of a Turkish Flagship replica followed by a spectacular choreographed show of fireworks with music.

The revival of this historical event is the top of the climax of a weekly celebration with many festivities including cultural & athletic events, traditional dances, theater performances, concerts, art exhibitions and various events honoring Laskarina Bouboulina, legendary heroine of the Greek Revolution of 1821. Also, a special mass is held at the chapel Panaghia Armata located at the Old Harbour as well as in Aghios Nikolaos, the Metropolis Church of the island.

The text appears courtesy of: Armata Boutique Hotel - Enoria Agiou Antoniou, Spetses Island, Greece