Flying Across Red Skies

The Pantheon Cultural Association and author Melissa Hekkers invites you to the book launch of children’s book entitled “Flying Across Red Skies” on Saturday 12th of June 2010, 5pm – 7pm to take place in the Pantheon Gallery.

Flying Across Red Skies
Nereas is a determined little fish who dreams of one thing only: to fly across the open red, silky skies. An enchanting adventure leads him to his dream but also teaches him the importance of friendship and family and most importantly the feeling of returning home.

The book is targeted to Children age 7 to 10.

The Author
As the author explains, the way in which the book was written is “reversed”. Having taken twelve works of art from the collection of Cypriot artist Marlen Karletidou as a stimulus, Melissa Hekkers created a story based on the existent imagery of the paintings. The story that perhaps already existed as an idea and meaning was shaped through the personal view perceived by the writer. Instead of the visual imagination of the writer being put to words, the feelings imposed by the images, the colours and the order in which the author placed the images came to form a final output.

“Flying Across Red Skies” is Melissa Hekkers’ second published children’s book. Her first children’s book entitled “Crocodile” was published in 2008 and won the Cyprus State Illustration award 2008.

“Flying Across Red Skies” is a bilingual publication ( English & Greek).

The Illustration
Marlen Karledidou’s paintings are about human responsibility concerning the protection of nature and surely about the beauty of nature, animals and people, living all together in harmony.

The Launch/ Event
For the presentation of the book, an experimental workshop for children aged 5 to 12 will be carried out in a specifically set up space of the Pantheon Cultural Association, where children will be able to “become part” of the story by taking part in a series of activities, narration, movement and painting.

Within this space a small exhibition of woks done by children of Marlen Karletidou’s Art School will be on display. These works have been inspired by the book and are a result of the self expressed imagination of the children.

Publisher: Pantheon Cultural Association
Author: Melissa Hekkers
Illustration: Marlen Karletidou
Printer: Absolute Paper Ltd
Available from: Pantheon Cultural Association and main bookshops island wide
Sponsors: Pantheon Cultural Association, Ministry of Education and Culture – Cultural Services, Cyprus Youth Board..

Price of Book: 12 Euro

Free entrance.

* Children participating are advised to wear loose and comfortable clothing.