Ftit jiem qabel il-Milied tal-2024, ir-restawratriċi Semira Bugeja rritornat lura mir-restawr l-ewwel nofs tal-istazzjonijiet tal-Via Sagra fil-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Kalkara wara li sar fuqhom xogħol estensiv u tant bżonnjuż ta’ restaw kemm fuq it-tila u l-pittura nnifisa kif ukoll ġie rrifreskat mill-ġdid id-deheb fuq il-bsaten tal-bordura. Flimkien ma’ membri mill-Kumitat tal-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara, bl-għajnuna tas-Sur Joseph Darmanin, dawn reġgħu twaħħlu lura fil-kwadri tal-irħam tagħhom. Sadanittant, in-nofs l-ieħor tal-pitturi li għadhom mhux restawrati tniżżlu wkoll minn posthom u ttieħdu ġewwa l-bottega ta’ Restawr Arti għall-intervent tagħhom.

Dan ix-xogħol kollu qed isir b’attenzjoni kbira taħt is-superviżjoni tar-restawratriċi Semira Bugeja. Il-proċess jinkludi t-tindif tal-wiċċ tal-pittura biex jitneħħa t-trab u l-ħmieġ li akkumula matul is-snin. Qed isir ukoll il-konsolidament tas-saffi kollha fejn kien essenzjali biex tiġi żgurata l-istabbiltà tal-pitturi. Barra minn hekk, qed isiru ukoll it-tiswijiet u l-irqajja neċċessarji biex jerġgħu jissewwew partijiet li kienu imħassra jew anki neqsin. It-tila tal-pitturi qed tiġi rilinjata biex tiġi evitata aktar ħsara. Fl-aħħar, qed isir l-irtokk biex jiġu rrestawrati l-kuluri oriġinali u l-estetika tal-pittura.

Dan il-proġett qed isir mill-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara b’kollaborazzjoni mall-Parroċċa San Ġużepp tal-Kalkara u huwa kofinanzjat minn fondi tal-Unjoni Ewropea taħt il-programm LEADER 2014 – 2020.

Half of the Stations of the Cross at the Kalkara Parish Church back in their place

 A few days before Christmas 2024, the restorer Semira Bugeja returned the first half of the Stations of the Cross to the Kalkara Parish Church after extensive and much-needed restoration work was carried out on both the canvas and the painting itself, as well as the gold on the border frame being refreshed. Together with members of the Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara, with the help of Mr. Joseph Darmanin, the paintings were reinstalled in their marble frames. Meanwhile, the other half of the paintings that have not yet been restored were also taken down from their place and taken to the Restawr Arti workshop for their intervention.

This work is being performed with great care under the supervision of restorer Semira Bugeja. The process includes cleaning the surface of the paintings to remove dust and dirt accumulated over the years. The consolidation of all layers was also done where it was essential to ensure the stability of the paintings. Necessary repairs and inlays were made to restore parts that were damaged or missing. The canvas of the paintings was also relined to prevent further damage. Finally, retouching is being done to restore the original colors and aesthetics of the paintings.

This project is being carried out by Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara in collaboration with the Kalkara Parish of Saint Joseph and is co-financed by European Union funds under the LEADER 2014 – 2020 program.