The making of art is often a solitary process. Unless you accept an invitation to an artists’ symposium, which is an inspiring mash-up  of summer camp (silly fun), running a marathon (endurance) and attending a harrowing design critique at art school (humbling, but necessary for onward progress). Oh…and add excellent Italian food and wine for good measure!

Fratello Luna e Fratello L’Asino, diptych

Just returned from 8 days in the Lombardy region of Italy, attending  “L’Asino e la Luna” contemporary art symposium, curated by Marisa Cortese of S.I.V.I.E.R.A, and generously hosted by the Fondazione Emilia Bosis, and its president, Pier Giacomo Luccini.

18 international artists, and a team of support staff spent a week together in a shared atelier producing art, ‘contaminating’ each other with our ideas and process, and exploring the region in horse drawn carriages…..

I fully immersed myself in the artistic experience, filling up my sketchbook with impressions of the week. Here are a few examples….

A little coffee for the sky tone

Sketchbook 1

Sketchbook 2

Sketchbook 4

Sketchbook 3

Massimo portrait

Placemat sketches

The symposium theme is inspired by the “L’Asino e la Luna” song by Agostino Celti, whose lyrics  invoke a donkey looking up at the moon, reflecting on their relative position in the universe.

Agostino Celti performing in the painted music room of the Palazzo Barbo

It is almost impossible to describe the charm, and audacity of the location: Cascina Germaglio in Verdello, Bergamo. It is many things:  a residential psychiatric facility for patients diverted from the criminal justice system; a working horse stables and farm (with a Noah’s ark-like collection of animals); and a community space for the town of Verdello.

Most intriguing of all – it contains the Teatro Stalla – a  huge barn-like performance space with a sand-covered floor, theatre lighting & sound systems, and a grand piano. Professional actors and resident patients perform together with animals, in spectacles which are collectively conceived. It is not a circus, it is art, it is therapy, and it is astonishing. A sample video of the upcoming production, “Nel Signo de Caino” can be found here.

Much gratitude my talented fellow artists, sponsors, staff and residents of the Cascina Germaglio, and everyone else who had a hand in making this Bergamo symposium an unforgettable experience.

Bergamo Stemma

Symposium Artists at Soncino fortress

Four carriages, with outrider on mountain bike.

Travelling by horse drawn carriage

Pier Giacomo Luccini, Foundation President

Quiet moment

Palazzo Barbo, our excursion destination

Sketching with an observant Marco Esteban

Dinner in the Loggia

Regional newspaper describes the symposium

Chuck shared this magnificent experience with me.

Artists touring Soncino

In the atelier – finishing touches

Variations on the Bergamo Stemma, spray paint and stencil.

Entrance to the Teatro Stalla exhibition

At the vernissage

with Marisa Cortes and her work, artist and curator

Journalist Cristina Rossi amd Curator Marisa Cortese

One of many magnificent horses

Francesco and Alessio sign my catalogue.

Many fine meals at the Hosteria prepared and served by Luigina