Saint’s Sculptures between the XIX and the XX century / Casa Vestita, Grottaglie, Taranto, Italy
March 29 – April 15, 2012
Opening reception: Thursday, March 29th, 18.30 pm.
For the first time ever, there will be exhibited over 95 votive terracotta figurines representing some of the saints venerated in Puglia, a tangible sign of the widespread devotion to Southern home.
Fifteen photos by photographer Ciro Quaranta will open the exhibition, who in the last thirty years has been conducting a thorough research on the popular faith in Puglia, managing to put together a file that describes moments of faith and devotion that are cyclically repeated during the centuries.
The exhibition “Sacralità domestica”, maintained by the archaeologist Simone Mirto and ceramist Mimmo Vestita will open in Via Crispi 63/A on the 29th of March, and runs until 15 April, enriching the range of cultural offerings in regional during the Easter season when many tourists reach the Salento to enjoy the balmy spring temperatures or to attend the renowned Holy Week Rites in Taranto.
The votive statues accompanied by the photographs tell the intimate relationship between man and the sacred, an extraordinary exhibition which takes visitors through different eras of environments, all enclosed in the picturesque setting of Casa Vestita in the heart of the “City of ceramics”. Grottaglie is thus prepared to the first exhibition that puts a spotlight on an aspect of popular devotion, at a specific time such as Easter, in which the mystery of faith is particularly felt by the community.
“A recious and rare exhibition” – Simone Mirto, curator of the exhibition. Sacralità domestica is the first exhibition in Italy that traces the lower production of votive terracotta figurines made in Grottaglie.
Intimately linked to the family, the statues of saints in terracotta were part of an ongoing dialogue in everyday life between man and the sacred, often placed in niches carved into the walls of the home, on the kitchen corner cupboards, drawers or on the bureau of the bedrooms – where decorated with flowers and placed under glass bells. Entirely handmade and cold painted by Grottaglie potters, the statuettes do not exceed 15-20 cm in height.
The extraordinary miniature reproduction of the works reflect the characteristics of life-size statues found in churches in the area. The details are very bright and colorful, and the images of the sacred lying “cold” are characteristics of minor productions Grottaglie.
Gallery Hours: Monday to Friday, 17-22 pm. Easter Monday (April 16th), 10 am – 22 pm.
CONTACT
Simone Mirto
Tel. 0039 329 147 3614
simonemirto@gmail.com
Casa Vestita
Via Crispi 63 / A
Quartiere delle Ceramiche
Grottaglie (TA)
Italy
www.is.gd/casavestita
Above: San Cataldo a Taranto, Photo by Ciro Quaranta.
