4th Annual PAF Festival

The Pelekas Arts Festival (PAF) which features both graffiti artists, musicians and performance artists will take place on 25, 26 and 27 July. This year, for the first time, the proceedings will be broadcast live on Radio PAF.

The line-up has been finalised and the main stage will feature Phace 3, Locomondo, Rodes, One Drop, Scab Level and Micro. The radio stage will play host to over 20 DJs.

This year Graffiti Artists are coming from as far away as Germany, Bulgaria, Holland and Slovenia.

Last year's festival was a great success and it is hoped that this year will attract an even larger audience. As ever, the festival will be happening just after the crossroads below the village.

One of this year's festival sponsors is Pelekas.com!

Pelekas Artist Holds Exhibition

Pelekas artist Warren Curry (above left) held an exhibition of his work at the Municipal Art Gallery in June and July. Warren was born in Australia and in 1971 while on vacation from art school Warren, accompanied by two fellow students, went on a painting trip to Greece. His love of Greece was further enhanced when in 1981 he won a Travel Study Grant and was able to spend three months painting in the village of Liapades in Corfu.

Returning to Corfu in 1998 he spent two months painting in Pelekas. During his stay in Pelekas, Warren finalised arrangements to bring other Australian artists to Corfu. Now in its forth year of operation the Art Tours provide artists with the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic scenery, wonderful villages and colourful traditions of this island paradise. Warren has now bought a house in Pelekas and spends part of every year painting there.

Art Exhibition at Triklino Vineyard

From 14 July until 2 August four artists (two of whom are from Corfu) will be exhibiting paintings, installations and sculpture at Triklino Vineyard.

Alexis Mitropoulos executes special art and architectural constructions; Corfiot artist Nikos Kokalis studied Fine Arts at the University of Thessaloniki and his works can be found in both state and private collections; sculptor Dionisios Zois was born in Lefkada and works and lives in Switzerland; local painter Spyros Alamanos teaches at the Art School in Corfu, is a founder member of Corfu Art Gallery and a member, as artistic advisor, of the editorial committee of the literary magazine "Porfyras".

The exhibition will be open from Tuesday to Saturday between midday and 7.00 pm.

A First Winter in Pelekas

Sophia de Rosa Ortiz came to live in Pelekas in 2007. She has written an account of her first winter on Corfu and it's an interesting read for any summer visitors who have wondered what life is like in Pelekas when the last tourists have gone home. You can read Sophia's article here.

Beach Bus Timetable

From Pelekas to Pelekas Beach:
10.00; 10.45; 14.10; 16.30;
17.30; 19.00; 19.30.

From Pelekas Beach to Pelekas:
10.10; 11.00; 14.15; 16.45;
17.45; 19.15; 19.35.

From Pelekas to Glyfada Beach:
10.15; 13.45; 17.00; 19.45.

From Glyfada Beach to Pelekas:
10.30; 14.00; 17.15; 20.00.

Cookery Corner

This section gives you the opportunity to re-create some of your favourite Corfiot taverna recipes at home. This time, Bourekakia - minced meat stuffed in filo pastry.

Ingredients

A little unsalted butter. 2 whole eggs (beaten). 1 cup grated feta cheese. One pack of filo pastry. 2 tablespoons Marsala. Half a teaspoon of nutmeg. Quarter of a cup of olive oil. 1 medium onion (grated). Salt and pepper. 2 tablespoons tomato paste. 1 lb minced beef. 2 cups water.

Instructions

Place the oil in a saucepan and saute the onion. Add the mince and brown. Mix the tomato paste with about two cups of water and add the marsala, salt and pepper to taste, and cook on a medium heat until the mince is cooked and not much sauce remaining in the pan. Remove from the stove, add the grated feta cheese and beaten eggs, stir and put aside. Remove the filo pastry from the package and roll the pastry sheets on a flat area and cut each into strips of about 4cm (1.5 inches). Cover these strips with a moist tea-towel. Brush each strip with some olive oil. Place one teaspoon of filling at the end of the strip and fold the pastry diagonally over the filling, folding each side alternatively to form a triangular shape. Brush the top of each triangle with melted butter and place on a greased baking tray. Bake in the oven at 200 degrees until golden brown.

Archive

Current Pelekas Weather

Editorial

As you can see from some of the articles in this edition of Pelekas News, summer in Pelekas is now synonymous with a whole host of cultural events.

Despite the cancellation of the Pelekas Streetbeat Festival this year, there is something to suit most musical tastes, from Reggae to Hip-Hop, Rock, Rebetiko, Choral and DJs. In addition there are events encompassing fine art, graffiti and dance. There will even be a radio station with live broadcasts of the PAF festival at the end of July, and of course, on August 23 the annual Pelekas Festival will take place in the main square.

Many of these events could not be staged without the support of the Pelekas Cultural Society which was founded in 1979 and presently has around 100 members. The society is funded by members' annual subscriptions, selling a calendar each year, money collected carol singing and by a subsidy from the local municipality.

All members are eligible to vote every two years for a seven-person committee consisting of a president, treasurer, secretary, vice-president, and three others. The current president is Papa Labis, the village priest..

Besides promoting "cultural awareness" the society maintains and observes "local tradition", organises lectures and coordinates festivals (both religious and secular). The society and its members also participate in festivals that take place in other villages during the year.

The Cultural Society boasts three choirs - Men Women and Children - and the Pelekas dance group has been in existence as long as the Cultural Society. Its members, mostly women, perform traditional Corfiot dances as well as a selection from other parts of Greece. The costumes (which are very expensive to make and which include a lot of gold thread) are owned both by the society and its members. Costumes used in dances from outside Corfu are rented.

So as you enjoy this summer of culture, remember all the hard work put in by the committee and members of the Cultural Society and be sure to support it if you get a chance.

Summer Concerts

A series of concerts are being held in Pelekas this summer.

The first event in June featured Rebetiko music. This will be followed by a Choral Concert, a performance of Corfiot Cantades (choral songs often accompanied by the guitar) and finally an evening of local music and dance.

The concerts have all been organised by the Pelekas Cultural Society and take place at the old primary school.

The Arctic Donkeys
Play Pelekas

On 10 July, Norwegian rock band The Arctic Donkeys played in St Nicholas Square, Pelekas. The event was partly funded by the Pelekas Cultural society and attended by a large and enthusiastic crowd.

Anyone Recognise Them?

This motley crew are some of those who have posted on Pelekas Reunited hoping to find friends from past visits. Have a look in case there is someone you know or add your own details to the list.