An edition dedicated to the memory of Marcello Colasurdo: all together, as the people of Mamma Schiavona, waiting for the light.
Faith and folklore, tambourines and prayers, long chants, civil rights, art and culture: every February 2nd a unique anniversary is celebrated that in Campania opens the Marian cycle, a contemporary celebration, a fluid event, capable of holding both the liturgy and the shared popular event. A religious celebration, but at the same time also a cultural and political process, Candelora over the years has become the symbolic date of the claims of the LGBTQI+ community: it has been so since the 70s, but it was consolidated in 2002, the year in which the devoted femminielli were expelled from the Sanctuary.
Thus the program of this edition holds together all the passions and dynamics that give strength to the celebration of the meeting, as Don Vitaliano Della Sala, parish priest of Mercogliano, recalls: "This is a centuries-old rite for Montevergine that must necessarily find space in our contemporary world. After all, the ancient name of Candelora is Ypapanti, which means meeting, and I believe that this year's program manages to underline tradition in the best possible way, also including current events, creating moments of reflection on diversity, through debates, shows, presentations, screenings, and insights. It will certainly be a moment of collective enrichment."
For the creative director Massimo Saveriano the entire program – which takes place over six days – is above all a political and social manifesto: "It is very important for us to remember Marcello Colasurdo with an exhibition and a concert, singer and son of Mamma Schiavona, an authentic exponent of popular tradition. The afternoon with the Caravan of breast prevention will also be fundamental, which includes screenings aimed at transgender people, together with the Hermes and Komen Italia associations. And then we will open the program with the installation by Piergiuseppe Pesce, the Last Crusade, continuing with two other exhibitions, the photographic one by Alessandro Gattuso dedicated to Candelora and the pictorial one by Mr Francesce. They will be engaging moments, of reflection but also of fun. Special guests will be the most famous drag queens in Italy, the Karma B. Three screenings and as many meetings with the authors are planned, starting with "Summer Within", a documentary that won the Spazio Campania Award at the Laceno d'Oro International Film Festival, moving on to "Il Rosa Nudo" directed by Jo Coda and ending with "Il delitto di Giarre" together with Francesco Lepore. We will also have two theatrical performances, the first “Nostra Signora degli Schiavi” by the Nous company and “Na faccia senza faccia”, the diary story of the activist Pasquale Ferro in dialogue with Loredana Rossi, vice president of ATN. There will also be talks dedicated to anthropology, such as the one with Marzia Mauriello on the history of the femminelle between past and present. In short, they will be intense, widespread days, which will also see the reopening of places generally closed, such as the Monumental Church of the Annunziata Vecchia and the historic Bar Leo, which for the occasion will become a temporary art space".
And for Candelora the municipality of Mercogliano is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors, pilgrims and devotees: “With the pandemic over, the month of February will once again be a month full of events for the Partenio – underlines the Mayor Vittorio D'Alessio – starting right from Candelora. We are not alone in this journey, we have the support of the associations, of the Proloco, of the Youth Forum, the entire city will be in turmoil and the territory is preparing to welcome everyone, to show the value of our traditions and the beauties that surround us”.
THE PROGRAM
29/01/2024
- 17:00 Urban Trekking
Street art tour in Capocastello
by the Irpinia Avventura association.
Gate of the Saints, Capocastello - 18:00 Exhibition opening
“The Last Crusade” by Piergiuseppe Pesce. Meeting with the artist and
Don Vitaliano della Sala.
Introducing Enrico Mascilli Migliorini. – Aperitif with Dolciarte and Gallo winery
Old Church of the Annunciation, Mercogliano - 19:00 History of light
“The candle from the Middle Ages to the documents of the Abbey of Montevergine”
Storytelling by Carlo Preziosi (Anthropologist)
Ancient music by Anna Cefalo (Harp and voice)
Theatrical suggestions by Ilaria Di Gaeta (Seeker of meaning)
Church of San Francesco, Capocastello – Mercogliano
30/01/2024
- 18:00 Chronicles from the Sanctuary
Candlemas in the bulletin of the Abbey of Montevergine, edited by
Charles Precious.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano. - 19pm Screening and debate “Summer within”
Winner of Spazio Campania award at the international film festival
Laceno d'oro. Speakers include Summer Minerva, Maria Vittoria Pellecchia,
artistic director of Laceno d'oro, and the Youth Forum of Mercogliano.
By the Mercogliano Youth Forum.
Moderated by Rosaria Carifano.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano. - 21pm Theatrical show
“Our Lady of the Slaves” by the Nous Company.
With Sara Esposito (Ares Kent) and Antonio Barberio (Dr. Nautilus).
By Apple Pie.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano.
31/01/2024
- 10:30 How equal are we?
Politics, culture and human issues.
Speakers:
Vittorio d'Alessio, mayor of Mercogliano,
Luigi Marciano, mayor of Ospedaletto d'Alpinolo,
Elena Pagano, Councilor Delegate for Equal Opportunities,
and Domenica Marianna Lomazzo, Councilor for Equality for the Campania Region.
Council Chamber of the Municipality of Mercogliano - 18:00 Vernissage of the photographic exhibition
“La Candelora a Montevergine” by Alessandro Gattuso. Meeting with the artist and
Ileana Capurro, president of ATN.
Funicular Foyer - 19:00 Dissonant Bodies
“The females between past and present”, with the anthropologist Marzia
Mauriello.
By Apple Pie.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano.
20:00pm Diary story
“A Face Without a Face” with Pasquale Ferro and Loredana Rossi,
ATN vice president. Moderated by Maria Fioretti. The exhibition of the project “Beyond the wall”, works from the Poggioreale prison, will be open to visitors.
Project conceived by Antonello Sannino for Arci Gay.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano. - 21pm Screening and debate
“Il Rosa Nudo” film produced by the cultural association Labor. Inspired
to the life of Pierre Seel and supported by the Sardinia Film Commission Foundation.
Director Jo Coda will speak, moderated by Gianni di Nardo, director of the 99-seat theatre.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano.
01/02/2024
- 18:00 Exhibition opening
“Personal” by Mr Francese.
Meeting with the artist and Ilaria Scarano. Curated by Apple Pie.
Castrum Pub, Mercogliano - 18pm Book Presentation
“The Crime of Giarre” (Rizzoli publisher) by Francesco Lepore and screening
of the documentary of the same name, based on the book for History Channel and Sky Crime.
Readings by Francesca Battista, presented by Leonardo Festa.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano.
20:00 Exhibition opening
“The Timeless Tammorra, Story of an Infinite Love”
Exhibition dedicated to Marcello Colasurdo, curated by Rossella Orsi. Coordination by Vincenzo Ciccarelli and in collaboration with Fotodiego Event recognized by FIAF Italian Federation of Photographic Associations – Circolo Fotografico Avellino PHOTO.
Love Café Bar, Viale San Modestino – Mercogliano - 21pm Waiting for the light
Concert in memory of Marcello Colasurdo
Funicular Square
02/02/2024
- 8am Welcome
(Parthenius herbal tea, spontaneous performance station, braziers) Stand
awareness campaign for mountain protection by Legambiente
and Partenio Regional Park
Funicular Square, Mercogliano - 9:00 Seven minutes
Tales in the cable car
edited by Ilaria Scarano and Eleonora Balaceanu
Funicular Carriages, Mercogliano - 10:00 Installation Tammorra sounds and tradition… between earth and sky In memory of Marcello Colasurdo.
Funicular Square, Mercogliano - 10:30 Karma B special guest
Funicular Square, Mercogliano - 15:00 Prevention Caravan
Breast screening in transgender population
By Komen Italia, in collaboration with the Hermes Mercogliano association
odv and ATN.
Funicular Square, Mercogliano - 19:00 Verses in different
Music and lyrics by Massimo Saveriano, with Stefano Benassi, Laura Romano,
Nunzia Di Somma and Carmine Ciccarone
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano. - 21:00 Start official party “Mirror reflection”
With IamSoStella – Avellino is that city djset and the show of the duo Karma B.
Addo Italia (bar Leo), Temporary art space for Candelora
Viale S. Modestino, Mercogliano. - 23:30 Time event of Monteforte Irpino
To be continued official party “Mirror reflection”
03/02/2024
- 8 In the footsteps of Saint William
The Pilgrims' Journey by the Irpinia Avventura Association
Funicular Square, Mercogliano
“Il cammino di San Guglielmo” is a project funded within the “Single program of cultural, naturalistic, and food and wine tourist itineraries of national and international scope. Period of implementation June 2023 – May 2024” using the POC Campania 2014-2020 funds, strategic line “Urban regeneration, tourism policies and culture”
Article published on 22 January 2024 - 17:42
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