Press Release
Viva Leone
Cafe Gallery
Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery,
St. Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH, 01622 602838
Wednesday 30 May 2018 – Sunday 24 June 2018
FREE
“Viva Leone” is a photography exhibit featuring sets and locations used in Sergio Leone’s classic spaghetti westerns. Once graced by cinematic legends - Leone, Eastwood, Van Cleef, Kinski, Ford and Bronson - many of these sights are remote, difficult to find and have fallen into disrepair; some may no longer exist, since very little effort went into preserving these historic sites. Their fading majesty is captured in traditional 35mm colour and black and white photographs. The photos have not been digitally altered in any way; they appear as they should.
Located around the Tabernas Desert (Almeria, Andalusia, Spain), the exhibition includes shots of the interior of a dilapidated church that inspired Federico Garcia Lorca’s “Blood Wedding” and 35mm shots of Almeria. Each photo is accompanied with information and stills from the films, so fans can compare the “then and now” and get a clear idea where many classic scenes were filmed. With westerns making a significant comeback, via TV and film, the exhibit is indeed timely.
Sales of photos will be donated to the photographer’s “Ben Nevis Challenge 2018”, in which he is taking on the highest mountain in the UK to raise funds for the National Autistic Society. Donations - of any amount - will also be greatly appreciated. For more information please see:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cameron-straughan
For information on the venue, please see:
https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/whats-on/events/viva-leone/
Please feel free to express your interest here:
We hope you will join us to celebrate a classic era in cinema while contributing to a worthwhile cause.