Doranne Alden is a professional artist and graphic designer. As an artist, her preferred painting medium is ecoline liquid watercolour. Doranne was born in Sliema in 1963, and after completing her education, studied art for a number of years at the School of Art in Malta under the guidance of Joseph L. Mallia (1937 - ). She also followed other Design related courses, including Interior Design, but chose to work as a Graphic Designer and Artist. At the time she frequented a painting group led by Joy Micallef Farndell (1924 - ), an exceptional watercolourist. In Malta Doranne worked as a graphic designer for over fifteen years with several major advertising agencies and eventually as a freelance designer. Over the years she gained experience in several aspects of design, but it was during the years as a freelance designer that Doranne produced her first series of original postcards: ‘Details of Malta’, posters: ‘Glimpses of Malta’ and personalised photographic calendars. Inevitably this led her to launch her own advertising agency: ‘Details Design Ltd’, along with a partner up to 1995. In 1996 she settled in Bavaria, Germany with her family until 2003. While living there she held drawing and watercolour classes for adults. She also became an active member of a group of abstract artists organised by German artist Frau Renate Botzenhardt and participated in joint and collective exhibitions with them. Doranne Alden has had four major exhibitions abroad which were; three solos in Germany and one in Austria: the first at the Gasthaus Zur Post in Wessoburn, Germany, while the second solo was held at the Art Hotel in Vienna, Austria and the third at Volksbank in the area of Passau, Germany also a joint exhibition held at the Town Hall in Tutzing, Bavaria. In 2006 Doranne won first prize in the watercolour section in the Silver Palette Competition organised biannually by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Her third solo was held in December 2008, at a VR-Bank near Passau and most 4th most recent solo was in 2009 at the premises of German Maltese Circle in Valletta, Malta. Bavaria Over the years both foreign and local media have greeted Doranne Alden’s work with positive acclaim –* infact her work has been referred to as ‘little jewels of art’ in the ‘Ammersee Kurier’; also ‘natural without being too realistic’ a phrase by Thomas Wellens in the ‘Weilheim Tablett’; “the mixture of colour and form are the very strength of Doranne Alden” Starnberger Merkur; Marika Azzopardi coined the epithet ‘warmth and mouth-watering mellowness’ for her fruit (pears) in the ‘Weekender’ the culture section of ‘The Times’ a local paper. Doranne Alden’s paintings form part of several private collections in Malta and overseas. One such work holds pride of place in the foyer of the Munich International School, Percha in Bavaria. Among her many prestigious patrons are Volksbank in Germany, Valletta Fund Management, Malta, the Strickland Foundation, Malta. Doranne Alden Caruana is the daughter of well known Maltese watercolourist Albert Caruana and is married to Simon Alden and has 2 children. Artist’s contact info: Email: dorart@hotmail.com - Mobile: 00356 9943 8158 Webpage: www.artbreak.com/dora- also press and critiques: *http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/doranne-alden.html?tab=press
EXHIBITIONS LIST 1990 Malta International Trade Fair Exhibition 1991 Women’s Collective Art Exhibition - Malta Chamber of Commerce 1991 Photographic Exhibition (collective) held at Ta`Cenc Hotel Gozo 1994 Art Exhibition in Victoria, Gozo 1994 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa)- Malta 1995 Cathedral Museum Art Exhibition - Mdina - Malta 1995 Local Council Exhibition - Swieqi - Malta 1996 Art Exhibition - National Heritage Association (Din L`Art Helwa) - Malta 1996 Collective Society of Art and Manufacture Annual Art Exhibition - Malta 1996 Collective Exhibition at Murnau Town hall - Germany 1997 First Solo Exhibition at `Gasthof Zur Post` in Wessoburn - Germany 1998 Joint Exhibition at Town hall in Tutzing - Germany 1999 Agenda 21 - Collective Exhibition at town hall in Tutzing - Germany 1999 Starnberger Town hall Collective Exhibition - Germany 2000 Society of Art and Manufacture Malta 2001 Starnberger Town hall Collective - Germany 2001 Second Solo - Golden Tulip - Art Hotel, Vienna - Austria 2001 Silver Palette - Malta 2001 International Trade Fair - Malta 2001 Heidelberg Scholosswienstube Collective of Maltese Artists - Germany 2001 Collective Art Exhibition of Maltese Artists, Adelaide - Australia 2002 Salesians Collecitive Exhibition - Marsa - Malta 2005 The Mystery of Easter - Salesian Brothers Sliema - Malta 2005 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition 2005 VeeGeeBee Christmas Exhibition 2006 Silver Palette Competition - Valletta - Malta 2006 VeeGeeBee Summer Exhibition 2006 34U June Exhibition 2006 International Trade Fair - Collective Exhibition - Malta 2006 34U Malta Heritage Headquarters - Valletta - Malta 2006 Art Walk Round Mdina Exhibition - Malta 2007 Malta Trade Fair Exhibition 2007 Rotta ta'l Arti Mdina Malta 2008 February - New Faces at Gallery G, Lija, Malta. 2008 - September - First Joint Exhibition in Malta - along with Watercolourist Mr Albert Caruana - at Gallery G - Lija Malta 2008 Dec Solo Exhibition - Passau - Germany 2008 DEC Collective 'the last five years' at Gallery G 2009 Solo Exhibition - March - 'Glimpses' German Circle - Valletta Malta 2009 MAY Joint exhibition - COLLECTIONS - Albert J. Caruana & daughter Doranne Alden at Le Meriden Hotel, Balluta Bay, MALTA 2009 Nov – Filigree – jewellery design exhibition @ Palazzo Castellania, Upper Merchant’s Street, Valletta 2010 - January E9-2-E99 collective exhibition @ The Exhibitions Hall - Gozo 2010 - Collective May - Unity in Diversity - Palazzo De la Salle, Valletta – Malta 2010 – Collective November – Art Academy – Mosta, Malta 2010 – Christmas Exhibition Collective - December – Auberge D’Italie – Valletta Malta 2010 – Jewelled Colours – Solo Exhibition @ Intercontinental Hotel – St. George’s Bay *Her artwork has also appeared on Art programs and has been interviewed on television several times and had her work positively reviewed and published in the media. Designed and produced by Doranne Alden Caruana