The ‘Secrets of Summer’ exhibition of works by Meinke Flesseman opens at the Museum of Portimão on September 8th at 6.00pm.

One of the Algarve's top tier artists, with a host of international clients and commissions, Meinke Flesseman’s impressive artistic career saw her first studying Fine Arts at the Lorenzo di Medici Academy in Florence, Italy, and then at the Volkov-Moscow Academy of Fine Arts, and finally, at the Ruud Wachers Academie in Amsterdam.

It is from May to the end of August, a more active time for the cork growth, that the cork harvesting is done. Cork is a raw material with unique characteristics that, to be extracted, needs great expertise of the cork harvester.

Being an old art and very present in the interior of the Algarve, Mar d'Estórias went to understand the knowledge and the ability needed to harvest the cork from the tree. We went to Reguengo, near Rogil, where we spoke with the specialist António Campos, known as António da Espantadiça, who welcomed us with the calm and sympathy that characterises him.

One of the oldest types of fishing in the Algarve continues to persist on the beach of Meia Praia by the only master of the Xávega art (traditional trawl fishing) who is still licensed in Lagos - José Glória, known as Mestre Zé Bala – the skipper.
The xávega is an artisanal fishery made by trawling from the beach, carried out by human force, with the use of a yoke, or, more recently, by tractors. Around here, the art continues almost the same as it was performed more than 100 years ago, with the human strength of a minimum of 16 people to pull the "calas" (cables used to draw out the nets).

In the plains of the Alentejo, more precisely in the village of Alcáçovas, in Viana do Alentejo, one can still hear the distinct sound of the cattle bells that wander the pastures. The melodious music that is rooted in the identity culture of Alentejo since the 18th century, when the masters of making cattle bells began to emerge, in the region.

It's August already! And our latest free online newsletter is here, for you to enjoy some of our latest work. -  CLICK HERE to read it free online.

Summer is definitely here now in the Algarve and we have our latest newsletter all ready for you to enjoy. With our best wishes, from Dave and Alyson Sheldrake -  CLICK HERE to read it free online.

It is in the subtleness of the Portuguese people cultural preservation that Ângela Subtil (subtle) visits the Serra de Aire, more specifically, Minde. It is at the Local Association of Minde that a Portuguese manual loom works the natural wool to make the original patterns of Subtil's products.

Welcome to summer and the brand new edition of our free art magazine.  As always we have a wide range of art and artists featured for you to enjoy, and lots of articles and information about upcoming exhibitions and events. We have a new feature 'Behind the Doors' which visits an art gallery here in Monchique for you, and we have our regular 'Pick up a Paintbrush' art lesson too!