Dec. 15, 2008 – Feb. 28, 2009
Firenze – Italy
An adorable clay sculpture of the Madonna with Child recently attributed to Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) will be on exhibit for the first time through Feb. 28th, 2009 in the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence.
The terracotta bust portraits a young woman with downcast eyes, deep in thought. She gently holds her baby, who leans on her shoulder with profound trust and intimacy, interlocking his legs with her arms.
Caltagirone was 
founded as early as the 2nd century B.C. on a steep hill made of clay. The abundance and the good quality of the raw material encouraged the making of pottery and its trade.
First the Romans, then the Greeks, the Arabs, the Spanish and the Normans dominated the city, bringing in their traditional designs and techniques which merged into a unique ceramic production and one of the most distinctive Sicilian pottery traditions.
The Nativity figures were certainly part of the local production already during the Middle Age, as reported in many documents, although no actual example has ever been found due to the terrible earthquake that destroyed the city in 1693.
However, it can be argued that no proper artistic production took place before the 18th century. At this time the more talented potters started to make hand modeled freestanding figures that represented not only the key characters in the Nativity crib, but also the local characters in their daily tasks: the cheese maker, the hunter, the shepherd and so on.
The Real world became part of the Sacred world, carrying into the Nativity Scene the ever changing social scenario, the attitude of people, their everyday clothes and even their common gestures.
January
Palazzo Ducale, Urbania
“Traditions and contaminations”
is a multi sensory event that will combine the Art of Pottery Making, Food and Music in Urbania.
Better known among Italian pottery lovers as Casteldurante, the town was one of the most important production areas of the “istoriato” ceramics during the Renaissance, together with Gubbio, Pesaro and Urbino. The majolicas made in Casteldurante in the 16th century still are among the most treasured preys to pottery collectors’ and museums’.
The event challenges the technical and aesthetic tradition of the local potters and mix and matches it with creative stimuli originating from Japanese pottery techniques, food tasting and good music.
Oct. 25, 2008 – February 28, 2009
Gualdo Tadino, Italy
Alfredo Santarelli
is one of the most important Italian Ceramic Artists of the 20th century. His talent in drawing and his mastery in the tin glazing technique (lusterware) won him a large number of golden medals in International and Italian ceramic exhibitions. His excellent portraits and classic subjects are prized collectors’ items but he also interpreted Islamic, Liberty and Art Deco designs and shapes with great originality.
The curators of the exhibition, Prof. Enzo Storelli and Prof. Mario Becchetti, have selected for this very special event the best works made by Santarelli, ranging from his “historical” pottery to the modern 20th century pieces.
Santarelli was very much intrigued by the Visual Arts of the Past. The pieces he owes his fame to were inspired by Egyptian, Etruscan, Classic, Gothic, Hispano-Moresque, Renaissance, Neoclassic and Pre-Raphaelite models. They stand out in the modern Ceramic Art for their remarkably elegant execution and creativity, their philological exactitude and the sumptuous iridescence of their ruby and golden lustre.
In the second half of the 20’s his art evolved in line with the contemporary trends. His Art Deco and Liberty pieces are a tribute to Santarelli’s talented versatility.
October 19, 2008 – January 4, 2009
Deruta – Regional Museum of Ceramics
Every Sunday at 3.30pm, the Museum of Ceramics will offer guided thematic trails designed to provide the visitor with an overview of the scope and richness of Deruta ceramic traditions and the city historical heritage.
On November 23 a special tour will celebrate the patron saint of Deruta potters: Saint Catherine.
Already 
famous for his colorful glassworks, Silvio Vigliaturo has recently made his début in clay shaping with a solo exhibition at the Castellamonte Ceramic Festival.
His collection of large sized sculptures – up to 2.5 meters – had a highly emotional content.
As written by Vittorio Sacco in his presentation of the event, Vigliaturo has taken on him the task of developing a contemporary language for one of the oldest traditions in the history of the human civilization.
An objective to be proud of. The Italian ceramic artistic tradition, so rich and rooted in our heritage, badly needs to be revitalized and re-launched both in Italy and abroad.
All the pictures published in this article are kindly provided by the Museum of Contemporary Art “Silvio Vigliaturo”, in Acri – Calabria.
Sept. 6, 2008 – January 11, 2009
Gubbio, Italy
Alan
Caiger-Smith ranks among the most important British ceramicists of the past half-century, definitely the most important living artist specializing in lustre pottery. His work is known in a number of museums, in Europe, USA and Australia.
Gubbio is the home of the Italian lustreware thanks to the undisputed fame of Mastro Giorgio Andreoli, who settled here in 1498 and elaborated a lustre technique that was to become the Italian standard of excellence for Renaissance pottery and the times to come.
Gubbio and Alan Caiger-Smith’s paths crossed for the first time in 2005 when the British artist was invited to an international conference.
As reported by Ettore Sannipoli, the curator of the exhibition about to start, Caiger-Smith had a positive sharing of experiences with the local potters. Giampietro Rampini, one of the best Gubbio potters, invited him to his workshop and the two of them worked together on some lusterware techniques.
The exhibition “Gubbio honors Alan Caiger-Smith” will feature 25 works from his last kiln firing in 2006 and some 30 pieces representing his artistic evolution. Continue reading
Sept. 5 – Oct 5, 2008
Castellamonte – Italy
Welcome to the presentation of a highly fueled edition of Castellamonte Festival of Ceramics #48, a must for the lovers of Italian ceramics!
The event, organized by Vittorio Amedeo Sacco, will include an amazing number of exhibitions: more than 1000 art works by renowned Italian and International ceramic artists will be featured in the streets and historical buildings of this charming town, not far from Turin (Piemonte).
Before going through the rich Festival official program, let’s briefly have a look at the history of Castellamonte, where pottery making has been one of the most important resources for 6000 years.
In the past Castellamonte residents were simply called “pignaté” (pottery makers) by their neighbors since most of the functional pottery used in the region was made here. Continue reading
Sept 5th – 21st, 2008
Palazzo Venezia, Rome
Palazzo Venezia in 
Rome is about to open its doors to a usual and exciting event: an exhibition of experimental ceramic art and a ceramic workshop open to pottery lovers experienced potters and absolute beginners.
The event will complement the Agostino Tassi exhibition, currently on in the same building.
Tassi (1578 1644) was a very talented Italian painter, whose reputation was equally influenced by the beauty of his landscapes and seascapes and the rape of Artemisia Gentileschi.
Close-ups of Tassi’s works will be the subject of the workshop on majolica painting held by the School of Ceramic Art Romano Ranieri from Deruta. The participants will discover the secrets that make Italian ceramics famous worldwide. For the workshop details, please read below.
The exhibition of experimental ceramic art will feature the works of David Roberts, Nino Caruso, Nicola Boccini, Marino Ficola, Malgosia Turlo, Giuseppe Agamennone and Pierluigi Pompei, a group of artists belonging to the CLS – Ceramica Libera Sperimentale (Free Experimental Ceramics). Continue reading
July 4 – August 4, 2008
Spoleto – Italy
ADI – Industrial Design Association – has chosen a very intriguing subject to celebrate the opening of a new branch in Umbria: Food Design.
Important designers, a famous chef and a group of Deruta potters joined their creative skills to set up an exhibition that shows how simple and natural ingredients can be turned into creative, tasty food and how tasty food can be arranged into unique plates for a multi-sensory experience.
The key characters of the event are local food (km0) and Deruta ceramic plates, all created by the International School of Ceramic Art “Romano Ranieri” and hand painted by the School artists and other potters.