DURATION: 20.09 – 16.10.2011
AREA:  Greek Culture Foundation of Sofia

The Exhibition «painting at Sacred Places, Mt. Athos - Sinai» presenting the works of the British Architect-painter Doug Patterson that completed its course on August 31st with much success in the galleries of the Mount Athos Center as well as in Constantinople and Imbros, is about to be inaugurated in Sofia this coming September 20th 2011, as part of the city’s celebrations, in the presence of authorities and representatives of the Municipality of Sofia, the Patriarchate of Bulgaria, the Minister of Culture, etc.

The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Greek Culture Foundation, with which the Mount Athos Center has established an ongoing collaboration of joint actions abroad (Saint Petersburg, Berlin, Trieste, Belgrade ).
In this exhibition in Sofia 45 works by Doug Patterson illustrating various Mount Athos Monasteries and also  St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai will be presented along with informational leaflets and collectible copies of the artists works for those interested.

Doug Patterson paints with an exceptional, as well as special way, inspired by the work of the three painter-travelers of the 18th and 19th century, Vasili Gregorovich Barsky (1701-1747), Samuel Davis (1760-1819) and Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1820-1904).
Following their footsteps in Mount Athos, Sinai, India, Bhutan and Tibet, Doug Patterson depicts with his personal unique style places, monuments, worship temples and grounds, their environment and people, enriching in this outstanding way the history of works by touring artists.
The exhibition of Thessaloniki attracted an enormous interest, not only from Greece, but also from abroad as well, from where various art lovers were interested in purchasing either the original works, or their exquisite copies of fine art.

The mayor of Thessaloniki and President of the Board of Directors of the Mount Athos Center in his corresponding message for the Exhibition stresses among others in stating the following:
“I am particularly happy because Thessaloniki and Mount Athos are participating for the second time, through the Mount Athos Center, in the festivity celebrations of the city of Sofia, which has been established to be celebrated, on the 17th of September, a day of celebration of the Saints Sophia, and her daughters Faith, Hope and Love.
Thessaloniki wishes, and acts upon it in many ways, to develop her economic, cultural, scientific and tourism relations with the neighboring countries and the events of Sofia offer us the perfect opportunity to participate with an exhibition of Doug Patterson’s works in cooperation with the ever hospitable Greek Culture Foundation".