ART AL VENT

JUNE - JULY -  GATA DE GORGOS

Currently ART AL VENT is the most important outdoor exhibition of textile art creation in Spain, it is also the most international exhibition that is held in the Valencian Community.

The popular tradition of hanging quilts on the balconies at the pass of a procession, has been, until a few decades ago, deeply rooted in our region of Marina Alta. Exceptionally, this ancient tradition has been kept very alive in the town of Gata de Gorgos.

Aware of this fact, the School of Experimental Plastics A. Vives depending of the city council of Gata, reflected on the possibility of joint contemporary textile creation with the existing tradition, from this idea came ART AL VENT.

The works are therefore the same size as traditional quilts, nothing can disturb the free flow of wind-driven works, textile creations are prioritized and rigid or heavy elements are excluded. To insist on the idea of a tradition, the tour of the exhibition goes from the street Duquesa de Almodóvar along la Bassa street, to La Plaza de España, where the shops of handicraft objects are located and that has earned the reputation of centre of commerce. In some parts of this street, as well as in the Church Square, the traditional quilts hang on the procession days.

In past editions, made part of the event, works by authors from 25 different countries, from the 5 continents.
This event, which attracts hundreds of visitors every year, adds to the artisan tradition of Gata and the variety of shops and gastronomic establishments as tourist attraction of the town.

In addition, during the exhibition, the councillorship of culture organizes concerts, conferences, recitals... in the same itinerary of the exhibition which animate the nights of August and invite neighbours and visitors to enjoy the exhibition and the streets of the village when the sun hides.