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JOYFUL EXPLORATION I PAROS

Paros Creative Pulse inspiring experience many are eager creators – writers, poets, musicians, illustrated the destruction of traditional

to return to.
countries’ fishing customs. It was
and even scientists – we have an
Our monthly Open Studios event is historians, curators, translators, trawlers and was inspired by these
Exclusive insights into Dimitra Skandali’s passion and Cycladic a big day for us all. Residents and exhibition space, my grandparents' titled “Salparame – Zarpamos” and
visitors can explore the studios and renovated house. The program of backed by The Paros Festival and
Arts center, key parts of her mission to support diverse creative get to know the artists, their pieces contemporary art exhibitions allows Etxepare Euskal Institutua of Bilbao.
collaborations from the heartwarming embrace of Paros. and ideas. Our guests learn about the island's residents and visitors The second exhibition was “What We
Learn from Land and Sea”, curated
to experience a dialogue between
Greek customs and get a taste of
by Jurriaan Benchop. It was an ode
to the Cycladic landscape, light, and
architecture, which balances constraint
and the need for advancement. The
writings of the scholar and thinker
Zissimos Lorenzatos inspired it. It
featured three Northern and Central
European artists and two Greeks.
The exhibitions are easy to visit every
day during the gallery’s opening times.
Everyone can talk to the respective
artists and visit their studios with
their permission.
Another opportunity to visit is the
aforementioned monthly celebration.
Such occasions are wonderful for
my family and me. The house of my
grandparents, Kapetan Konstantis
and Moschou Skandalis, was built
in 1927 and was always a gathering
place despite those years’ hardships.
12 children were born, each with their
own story. More children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren came. They
still gather with their friends in the
same house and yard. Hearing them
tell stories about the olden days is
deeply touching.
Documentaries and movies make
Dimitra Skandali, an award-winning a shared kitchen, laundry facilities, Paros residents and our tunes – traditional, rebetiko, and Greek and international artists. up another social event. It started
artist from Paros, founded the Cycladic tools, and cleaning products. The visitors alike are other genres – from local musicians. Our first exhibition in 2022 hosted in 2023 with three environmental
Arts Residency Program for creatives village and island are beautiful as is welcome in the old house Everyone comes together to revel in artist friends from Greece, and other films, supported by the Cyclades
of Dimitra Skandali’s
from all over the world. The center the reception from restaurants and grandparents, now the creativity and Greek hospitality. Seeing countries. I’d met them during my Preservation Fund and the Hellenic
fosters artistic exchange, especially locals, who often become friends with center's most important people’s reactions is heart-warming studies at the Athens School of Fine Initiative in collaboration with Cinedoc
dialogues regarding the environment, the artists. Other points of interest are exhibition space. The and moving. They hunger for new Arts and in San Francisco Art Institute, and Anemon productions. The screening
family’s hospitality is a
humanity, and personal identity. coastal and mountain hikes, visits to longstanding tradition. experiences and perspectives. Artists where I did my postgraduate degree of old Greek films, too, was a delight
Describe in a few words how artists Antiparos, Despotiko, Delos, and the Opposite, the family home need this connection, and they’re in New Genres and lived there for for children and adults alike.
experience your center. beaches of Alyki, the Archaeological in the 1950s. generous with their time and work. almost nine years. The exhibition was All the above are announced on our
Our center has only been open for a Museum of Paros, the Folklore Museum Do you allow non-artists to browse called “[is]land of dreams” and was website, social profiles, and posters.
year, after a trial summer period in 2022. of Benetos Skiadas in Alyki, ancient your space and see samples of your curated by Dr. Kostas Prapoglou. What has your relationship with art
Our artists are often in love with the quarries, traditional workshops, guests' work? In 2023, we hosted two exhibitions. on this island taught you?
place when they leave. Everyone has delicious food, and exploring olive Yes, of course! This is the program's The first invited artists from Spain’s Growing up in Alyki and overcoming
their own room and studio alongside mills and souma distilleries. A rich, goal. To share. Besides hosting various Bilbao and Greece, whose work many obstacles to find my art form, I

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