The Cilento Pac art park continues to take shape in the inland villages. The next stop is in Agropoli, for the inauguration ceremony of the work “I Continentali” by maestro Alessandro Grazi, which will remain permanently in the spaces of “La Fornace” at the Museum of Industrial Archaeology.
From Saturday 15 June, at 18:30, another piece will be added to the construction of the contemporary art itineraries, in the map of the first open-air museum that involves famous artists and their creations offered as a gift by the Matteo and Claudina de Stefano Foundation and made by Tesi with cutting-edge materials.
“When, two years ago, the Union of Municipalities Paestum Alto Cilento won the title of finalist in the selection process for the Italian Capital of Culture 2024, our slogan was “The culture of the Union”. Here, the PAC project tells both of the importance of teaming up with a view to growth and valorization of a large territory, and of the importance of teaming up and therefore creating a union also through culture” – explains Franco Alfieri, president of the Province of Salerno and the Union of Municipalities of Paestum Alto Cilento.
Eighteen works to enrich the twelve towns of the Union of Municipalities Paestum Alto Cilento, in an itinerary extended into the uncontaminated nature up to the most panoramic areas of the Cilento Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, together with Albanella, Capaccio Paestum, Cicerale, Laureana Cilento, Castelnuovo Cilento, Perdifumo and Omignano, after Ogliastro Cilento, Prignano Cilento, Rutino and Torchiara, Agropoli is now added.
“The Fornace gardens are enriched by a work of great significance to enhance a former brick factory transformed into a container of culture. A ring-a-ring that wants to be a symbol of unity and peace, which today more than ever are indispensable and necessary to put an end to scenarios of war, destruction and suffering” – underlines Roberto Mutalipassi, mayor of Agropoli who hosts the sculpture.
The beauty of permanent installations is a reality that marks the territory and repays the efforts of those who have invested time and soul in the project designed in the smallest details from beginning to end.
Angela Riccio, creator of the Pac for the foundation, which has always been attentive to the promotion of the artistic and cultural heritage and tourist destination of Cilento, can't contain herself: "With Agropoli we inaugurate the sixteenth work of the Cilento Pac, there are still two missing, in Prignano and Omignano, then we consider the first phase of this project begun in 2019 concluded, thanks to the strength of those who love and defend their territory. The new phase in which the foundation will commit itself is the facilitation and reception of tourist flows towards this itinerary because this will mean giving a concrete contribution to the promotion of the internal villages, triggering a virtuous process of all-round valorization".
With the municipal administration of Agropoli, the Province of Salerno, the Union of Municipalities, the Ministry of Culture and the Campania Region, they allowed and took action to ensure that this installation also came to fruition.
"Today is the synthesis of a path that began some time ago and has seen important synergies between the region and the territory. A new travel itinerary is starting that connects culture, art, landscape, food and wine, but above all 'the communities' as bearers of values and identities" – says Rosanna Romano, general director of Cultural Policies and Tourism of the Campania Region.
Tuscan artist, painter and sculptor from Siena, Alessandro Grazi is the author of the sculpture in carved, shaped and painted sheet metal that was specifically designed to define the itinerary. Now “The Continentals” and the six stylised human figures representing the six continents, Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Oceania and Antarctica, are united in a circle and in peace and support a blue perforated cylinder that represents the sky. The work can also be enjoyed by entering inside and looking up. Spectators will have a sort of telescope that focuses on a portion of the celestial vault of Agropoli. Through the coloured figures and the symbols cut out on them, glimpses of the landscape and park that surround the place where the sculpture is placed can be seen, in a sort of external/internal interaction. Finally, another element that will influence will be the wind that, passing through the weather vane symbols, above, will make the metal of the work resonate. “The material «construction» of my dream is realised.
The hope is that “I Continentali” will be the symbol of peace between “the peoples” who, united, can truly defeat the conflicts and war that have afflicted these years” - says Grazi.
The artistic direction of Cilento Pac is curated by Elio Rumma, who has selected the works in different artistic contexts, not only in Italy: “Grazi's way of painting struck me among many for the clear references to the great schools of the 900th century, but with an absolutely original style and personality. I would add the link with the Sienese School of the Middle Ages which, undoubtedly, is evident in the choice of colors and figures that peep out in the general abstraction”. Conceived only four years ago, with the Cilento Pac a great rerecognition of the foundation, its goals and dedication to the community.
“I am particularly proud to inaugurate this work in Agropoli where we have been present as a foundation for many years with the Listening Desk to provide assistance to people in difficulty. This work now represents a further tangible sign of our operational presence in this country and in the surrounding area” – concludes Barbara Riccio de Stefano, president of the de Stefano Foundation.
Article published on 12 June 2024 - 11:30
