In the “Prodigium” exhibition of the Tindari archaeological park, “Le Pietre di Stromboli” are also protagonists. From today, theexhibition set up in the suggestive Roman Villa of Patti Marina will open to the public, leaving the lava stone sculptures created by the artist Salvatore Russo open to visitors until January 11th.
«The Stones of the sacred fire of Stromboli will transform the Roman Villa into a cathartic place. The intersection between the apotropaic strength of the Aeolian Islands and the divinities of the archaic world will relive – is the comment of the Park’s artistic director, Anna Ricciardi – in the auctoritas of Russo’s faces. On the occasion of the inauguration, Cinzia Maccagnano, whose voice best represents the strength of fire and wind, will read some passages from the Dance of the Witches by the anthropologist and researcher Macrina Marilena Maffei, who I define as the Pitrè of the Aeolian Islands. The maestro Francesco Cusa will represent the sounds of time and enchantment. Thanks to Mattia Corrente who will introduce the artist, to Enzo Russo who acted as trade d’union and to the president of the Pro loco di Patti, Nino Milone, for the generous production of the project”.
«Honoured to have been involved in this artistic event – these are the words of the sculptor Salvatore Russo – created within a place that holds great historical importance for our territory, and for which I also thank the director of the Park, Giuseppe Natoli. Unfortunately, nowadays, in our land, art, especially ancient art, is not valued or remembered much. My works represent a bridge between ancient and modern art. I hope that events like this can give depth to these places, underlining the cultural importance they possess.”
Salvatore Russo was born in 1964 in Lipari, but has always lived in Stromboli. Already at an early age he demonstrated an interest in manual work expressed in the profession of master bricklayer, while his interest in art first appeared thanks to photography, through which he portrayed the nature of his Stromboli. In the winter of 2009, walking along the desolate beaches, he realizes that those he sees laid on the beach are no longer simple stones brought there by the sea, but real faces, faces that his sea and his volcano have given him, and which he brings to life by means of hoses with diamond discs, mallet and chisel.
In the meantime, the events of the “Prodigium” Christmas festival are taking place in the various sites of the Tindari archaeological park: the “Story of the Last Cyclops” shows for children have already been held in Terme Vigliatore, Tusa, Mistretta, Gioiosa Marea and Acquedolci. and “Tra Scilla e Cariddi”, curated by the Daf association, with Angelo Campolo, while on Sunday 22 December, in the rooms of the cloister of the convent of S. Maria di Gesù, in San Fratello, the show “Luigi che semper ti Penza” will be held, by and with Gigi Borruso, which seals the new partnership with the Teatro Biondo of Palermo.