Author: Tiziana Manzetti

by

Too long a pause

We beg your pardon for our looooong absence from our Journal.

Working on thatsArte.com development has absorbed more time than we ever thought possible!

Now, we definitely need to find a better formula to manage our time. It’s just Manuela and I, though. And since it’s not in our plans to hire someone or to copy and paste articles from other Internet sites, I guess we’ll have to cope with writing less regularly while keeping up with the quality job we’ve tried to do so far.

We do hope in your understanding and, why not, in your help!
If you have in mind a special subject related to Italian pottery you’d like read about in our Journal or a story, an experience, an article you’d like to share with us, please, send us a message at info@thatsarte.com or a comment on the Journal.

One thing will never change, though: we’ll always be happy to share with our readers our passion!

by

The Sudden Joy of a Close Encounter with Vietri Pottery Art

A week ago. Amalfi at night. Rough weather. Yet, the place was crowded for a media award. In the attempt to escape the pressure of the onlookers we sneaked into a narrow side street.

In the middle of the path I noticed a shop sign:  La Caravella – Enoteca & Ceramiche.  I had decided to forget about finding some special pottery piece in the area. I’d had enough of souvenir shops or ultra expensive art galleries. However I was stirred by the combination of wine and pottery and decided to give it a try.

Italian Ceramics - La Caravella, Winery and Pottery Art Gallery - Photo credits: La CaravellaA few seconds and my heart leaped with joy. I was surrounded by art pottery pieces, whose style was entirely new to me. It was my first meeting with Vietri Art Ceramic.

After a long inspection at the content of the gallery – I did not pay too much attention to the wine, although I love it … – I engaged the shop assistant in a feverish talk about who the artists were and where they were from and whose idea it was to combine art & wine.

Continue reading →

by

O’dino – Traces of Contemporary Design

June 27 – July 27, 2009
Spoleto – Italy

O'dino exhibition - Credits: ADIFifty years ago there was no notion of designer goods, nor was the Italian Style such a big deal.

Then Dino Gavina, a cultural visionary and brilliant entrepreneur, put into mass production the designs for furniture made by Marcel Breuer, a member of the Bauhaus. For the first time the wider public had the chance to bring into their homes pieces that had been the exclusive privilege of a few people who could afford to purchase a unique handmade item, prized for the cachet of its designer’s name.

Continue reading →

by

Riccardo Biavati – Art in the Garden 2009

Until October 30, 2009
Elba Island – Italy

Italian Ceramics - Horse with knight by Riccardo Biavati - Photo credits: Gulliver Art Gallery - Isola d'ElbaThe solo exhibition of Riccardo Biavati’s works will celebrate the 5th edition of Art in the Garden, a very original art event, indeed.

Biavati is one of the most poetic of Italian ceramic artists and the Elba Island is an ideal setting for his works. The natural and historical elements which are profusely to be found all over the island, the local tales and unique traditions are Biavati’s source of inspiration. His sculptures take from them their archaic symbols and speak the simple language of folks’ poems.

Continue reading →

by

Novecento – Italian Ceramics. Volume 3: last decades

Italian Ceramics - Emanuela Gaudenzi book coverThe title of this book – 1900. Key artists and works of the 20th century. Vol.3: last decades –  says all we needed to spring to our feet and rush to the nearest bookshop, longing to own it.

Mind you: this is not an objective book review. How can it be? We LOVE books AND we have a PASSION for Italian pottery. And this is an excellent, though opinionated (impossible to do differently!), collection of the most interesting works made between the Eighties and the end of the century, thus offering a good perspective on the status of the art and a concise interpretation of its development.

Continue reading →

by

Casteldurante Pottery – Summer Classes

Italian Ceramics - Bucchero vase by Orazio Bindelli - Photo Credits: www.culturaceramica.itThis year the Ceramic Art Classes in Urbania are particularly good, thanks to the variety of interesting subjects and the potters and artists who will share their experiences with the attendees.

The Summer Programs are organized by the coop Casteldurante Cultura Ceramica, with the help of the Associazione Amici della Ceramica di Urbania.
Focusing on pottery as a form of visual art, the classes will cover a number of topics, from the bucchero technique to raku, from basic pottery making to elaborate drawing techniques.

Continue reading →

by

Art through Fire – Luca Schiavon in Todi

April 4 – Mid June, 2009
Todi – Italy

Italian Ceramics - Work by Luca Schiavon - Photo Credits: www.exibart.comNo words need to be spent on the beauty of Todi, an old town nested on a steep hill not far from Perugia,  in Umbria. These days, however, there is one more reason to plan a visit to Todi: a fascinating combination of art and good food, meant to provide enjoyment to all the senses.

The main characters of the experiment are a restaurant, hosting the exhibition “Art through Fire”, an art gallery organizing the event and the outstanding ceramic works by Luca Schiavon.

Continue reading →

by

Wishing hope and peace!

To all of our readers who celebrate Easter,
we wish you a truly wonderful break.Italian Pottery - Ceramics doves by Giacomo Alessi - Sicily

We also wish to send a message of hope and love
to all the people who are mourning their dearest one
and who lost their homes and belongings
in the recent earthquake in Abruzzo.
Our heart is there with them.

Manuela and Tiziana

by

We went to Della Robbia exhibition!


Tiziana getting in the right mood for the exhibtion...

We made it. It’s always complicated to get organized with husbands and children to go to art events. They are not in the least interested but … Manuela and I have a secret weapon: GOOD FOOD!

We discovered a couple of years ago a nice wine bar in Arezzo, with excellent food, home made local dishes with fresh ingredient from the area. You know, ribollita, white beans, finocchiona, pecorino … Suddenly no one had any objection to a Sunday off and we met in Arezzo, under a cloudy sky, excited to see so many Della Robbia works in a single place. Continue reading →

by

Ceramic Easter Eggs in Nove

April 5-19, 2009
Nove – Italy

Each year the Museum of Ceramics in Nove celebrates Easter with an exhibition of Ceramic Eggs made by Italian pottery artists.
There is no limit to the freedom of the artist in creating their egg-shaped works, and the results are often beyond expectations, as you can see from our short selection of pieces on display last year.

Italian Pottery - Ceramic egg by Mario Toli - Nove (VI) - Photo Credits: http://www.noveterradiceramica.ittalian Pottery - Ceramic eggs by Gianni Tosin - Bassano del Grappa (VI) - Photo Credits: http://www.noveterradiceramica.itItalian Pottery - Ceramic eggs by Giuseppe Facchinello - Nove (VI) - Photo Credits: http://www.noveterradiceramica.itItalian Pottery - Ceramic eggs by Beniamino Pigato - Nove (VI) - Photo Credits: http://www.noveterradiceramica.it
The exhibition will start next Sunday, in the Sala Fabris of the Museum and it’ll be open Sat/Sun and on holidays 10 am – 12.30 pm and 3.30 – 7.00 pm.

The egg is a worldwide symbol of the start of new life, rebirth and new beginnings.

Continue reading →