Tonight’s meeting:
As I only mentioned this briefly in my post last night – I thought I’d post the information I got on this.
Pietrasanta 25th of February 2010
Dear artists, artisans and citizens of Pietrasanta, Citta d’arte:
On the 5th of March at 17.00, you are invited to an open meeting in S. Agostino
Sala dell’Annunziata, Pietrasanta, Lu Italy
Pietrasanta and the Versilia area is by now world renowned for the exquisite craftsmanship of its artisans in mosaic, clay, metal, bronze, plaster and marble sculpture and ornament for centuries.
Today the artists and artisans are concerned that the future of Pietrasanta as a thriving centre for artists and artisans is at risk.
In 1979 Pietrasanta boasted 120 marble studios; today there remains less than 20. Young people seeking to apprentice the trade of marble carving are few, in part due to the labour-intensive work with stone and in part because of the current social stigma of earning a living working with their hands.
The artists, since the 1960’s had found Pietrasanta and its citizens open to embracing the young sculptors flocking here, having followed in the footsteps of some of the most celebrated sculptors in the world. Housing was inexpensive and many found lodgings in single rooms let by the citizens. Today because of the evolution of the town and surrounding area the cost of housing is prohibitive for young artists.
The cultural legacy of the Versilia and of Pietrasanta in particular is not only a local but also a national treasure. Given the current direction, Pietrasanta will soon become a museum city, losing its capacity to produce works of art; hence, losing the artists, clients and the tourist trade so vital to keep alive this “City of Art”.
Many businesses in Pietrasanta and in Versilia owe a large part of their income to the presence of the artists and their clients, as well as a huge number of tourists who flock to the area year round to see the marble workshops and the fascinating array of international sculptors working in Pietrasanta.
This meeting serves to create an open forum to discuss the current status of the city and its future; to listen to observations, ideas and possible solutions from all those interested in the preservation of a unique town and its magical draw to so many.
We need your participation and ideas.
All are welcome on the 5th of March at 17.00!!
Talk to your friends and pass this email on to your contacts. And invite them all to come too. We need to solve this together.
On behalf of Comitato Artisti Artigiani,
Julia Vance
Contact: [email protected]
