Legato Paintings at the Teatro Romano, Cassino

These four paintings from the 2012 Legato exhibition were also at the Teatro Romano, Cassino, on the occasion of the world premiere of "The Juniper Passion". 

Paintings placed to guide patrons past the screens to the seating at the Teatro Romano provided a thought-provoking entry and helped set the scene for the evening. The limited palette paintings took on an even more tragic hue as the red lights the colour of the poppies drenched the space and reminded us that the mountainside was drenched with the blood of the wounded and killed on Monte Cassino.

The Juniper Passion

"To see ourselves in the light of what we share, rather than what we hold separate, is the purpose of this work" - John Davies.

Tonight (21 June 2013) was the world premier of a New Zealand opera, The Juniper Passion.

Based on a book by John G. Davies, with music by Michael F. Williams, this dramatic comtemporary opera performed in the Roman amphitheatre on the slopes of Monte Cassino was both universal in theme and wonderfully New Zealand in delivery.

In the booklet outlining the opera John Davies writes:  

As a boy I proudly carried the fact that my father had fought in the two great battles of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force; El Alamein, and Monte Cassino. Of North Africa he spoke of the burning desert by day and the freezing star bright nights. Of Italy he spoke of the mountains, the ruins, the Italians who welcomed them and whom he and his comrades in turn fed, treating the chidlren with chocolate and small gifts. And always he spoke of the men, Snow from Auckland, Joe from Motueka, some of them alive, some having never come home. Even in the last months of his life I would see him turning over in his hands photographs of those long ago faced and places.

Michael Williams and I planned that the ultimate scene of the opera was to be a philosophical interrogation of the Nazi appropriation of Nietzche, Catholic mysticism of the Benedictine kind, and Kiwi self reliance. To interrogate this difference might lead us to an understanding of sameness. To see ourselves in the light of what we share, rather than what we hold separate, is the purpose of this work.

Da ragazzo ero molto orgoglioso del fatto che mio padre avesse combattuto nelle due grandi battaglie della 2° New Zealand Expeditionary Force: El Alemain e Monte Cassino. Parlando del Mord Africa mio padre ricordava il deserto rovente del giorno e le gelide notti stellate. Dell'Italia ricordava le montagne, le macerie, gli italiani e loro calorosa accoglienza e la distribuzione da parte dei neozelandesi di cibo, cioccolata e piccoli regali per i bambini. E sempre parlava degli uomini, Snow da Auckland, Joe da Motueka, di uomini sempre vivi, e di altri che non sono mai più tornati a casa. Persino negli ultimi mesi della sua vita ho visto che prendeva in mano le fotografie di quei volti e di quei luoghi ormai lontani.

Michael Williams ed io abbiamo deciso che la scena centrale dell'opera doveva contenere dei ragionamenti filosofici sull'appropriazione del pensiero nietzchiano da parte dei Nazisti, sul misticismo cattolico di stampo benedettino, e sull'autoreferenzialità dei neozelandesi. Interrogandoci su queste differenze di pensiero avremmo forse compreso meglio anche le similitudini. Mettere in luce gli uomini e ciò che li unisce piuttosto che quello che li divide, questo vuole essere il messaggio dell'opera.

*****

The late Douglas Lyne, my mentor for working internationally for peace through the arts, and founder of the MCFRR group, strongly supported working for commemoration, reconciliation and peace through literature, arts and music. This production would surely have satisfied him, involving script, music, dance and a truly international cast. A moving, sensitive yet powerful performance, the world premier of The Juniper Passion was seen by an appreciative audience at the Teatro Romano on the slopes of Monte Cassino last night.

The Juniper Passion can also be seen in Rome and Nemi, 25 and 26 June. 

Links:

http://thejuniperpassion.webs.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Juniper_Passion

http://www.musiclivenz.com/the-juniper-passion.html

Legato at the Sala Restagno, Comune di Cassino

This year with the Biblioteca Comunale not being available Legato was divided into two venues. This was an interesting exercise for me as curator, as neither venue was designed as an exhibition space. To simplify the task all smaller works were displayed in the Expo space in the Banca Populare del Cassinate, (see previous blog post) giving Legato a main street presence for the first time. 

Larger works were displayed in the Sala Restagno, courtesy of the Comune di Cassino. Although space was at a premium I was delighted with the end result, displaying 25 larger works in the conference venues. Works were easily seen by the visitors, and lighting was good. Regular visitors to the Sala commented on how well it looked with the exhibition set up there, breathing new life into the space.

These works included familiar works by Susan Edge, Ira Mitchell, and Sarah Scott (works from the first Legato in 2010), newer works by Kay de Lautour, Anna Maria Corsi and Sara Antonini, (first exhibited in 2012) and new works not previously exhibited by Geoff Tune (New Zealand), Dr. Danilo Salvucci, and Prof. Alessandro Nardone (Italy). 

New works by Alessandro Nardone, Caira (Cassino) under a large photograph of Cassino.

Alessandro explains the imagery in his paintings to a delegation of American visitors from the Texas Division of the US Army. Pictured with the artist is Colonel Charles Aris of the 36th Infantry Division, Texas.

When wall space is at a premium, or walls cannot be used for any reason, the curator must also use the floor! While not ideal from a curating point of view, nor for the artist perhaps, those seated near these works were able to study them well during conventions and meetings.

 A window space highlights this mixed media work by Sara Antonini. Barbed wire and torn canvas are in stark contrast with the soft curtains and elegant drapes.

This large mixed media painting by Auckland artist Geoff Tune is also framed by the curtains in a window space.  Nearby is the powerful "Red" by Anna Maria Corsi. This venue allowed the work to be seen also from behind, where the red barbed wire wound around the coat challenges the viewer to think more about the symbolism used and the reality of war. 

Sindaco (Mayor) of Cassino, Avv. Guiseppe Golini Petracone with Curator Kay de Lautour Scott and Pro Loco Cassino (la storia - history) Michele Di Lonardo.

At the closure of the main street Expo venue (Banca Populare del Cassinate) some of the smaller works were added to the exhibition at the Sala Restagno. These included works by Julia Udoratina (Russia/Italy) and Linda Dickens (NZ).

Thanks to Michele Di Lonardo for organising the venue at the Comune, locating the necessary easels, and liaising with Sindaco Petracone and the Assessore della Cultura, Danilo Grossi, on behalf of the Legato exhibitions. 

Legato works in the Banca Popolare del Cassinate, Corso della Repubblica 193-195, Cassino

Visitors to Cassino can see a collection of 30 Legato works in the Expo area of the Banca Popolare del Cassinate, in Corso della Repubblica, Cassino.

These works include new works by Robyn Hughes, New Zealand, and works by Cassino resident, Julia Udoratina from Russia.

Robyn uses layered images to explore and represent aspects of the battles of Cassino.

Julia's works challenge the concept that the world is a better place now, suggesting that the world is still in a mess, and has not gone forward from the chaos and tragedy of wartime at all.

Well recognised works by Merv Appleton remind us about the loss of life in wartime, but also suggest that life can go on with hope for a better future.

Regan Balzer references the Maori battalion in her three paintings which were first shown in Italy in 2011.

Kay de Lautour focuses on the civilians, both then and now, and an interesting work by Susan Edge from the 2010 exhibition asks us to think about the pull that we all face when family and community members are away at war.

Other artists included are Daniele Corsi, Ira Mitchell, Sarah Scott, Stan Blanch, Linda Dickens, Bernadette McCormack, Gail Boyle and Nancy Stevens.

New works by featured artist for 2013 Professor Alessandro Nardone, Cassino resident Dr Danilo Salvucci and New Zealander Geoff Tune will be on display in the main venue, the Sala Restagno in the Comune building, from Saturday morning at 9.30am, along with works by Anna Maria Corsi, Sara Antonini and Kay de Lautour. 

Legato at Monte San Giovanni Campano

An unexpected invitation to display works from Legato at the hilltop town of Monte San Giovanni Compano on the occasion of the dedication of the bronze medal awarded for Merito Civile was particularly satisfying; it shows that the message of Legato is spreading beyond its immediate area. 

Monte San Giovanni Campano was not the scene of fighting as such, but was the victim of occupation, atrocities and later bombing. The records show that 26 civilians were killed, 5 injured, one church completely destroyed, and many houses damaged by bombing. 

Piccolo centro, occupato dall'esercito tedesco, partecipò con generoso slancio alla lotta di Liberazione. La popolazione, sotto posta a disagi e sofferenze subi furti, saccheggi e bombardamenti che provocarono vittime civili e danni al patrimonio abitavo. 

Nobile esempio di spirito di sacrificio ed amor patrio. 

1243-1944 Monte S Giovanni Campano (FR) 

 The selection of the works exhibited was governed by logistics, with one car for transport, ten easels at the venue, and the permanent seating of a picture theatre to work with.

 Photographs taken by New Zealand soldiers took the attention of the older visitors.

The stage became an impromptu, eye-level display space with make-shift supports.

 A distinguished visitor signs the book in recognition of the part the exhibition played on this day of dedication and remembrance.

 It is a wet morning, but the rain doesn't ruin the ceremony.                                        

 Claudio Paolucci, L'assessore alla cultura, addresses the crowd.

The standards of neighbouring towns are on display outside the exhibition during the ceremony.

The bronze medal for valour awarded to the town in recognition of the bravery of the civilians is attached to the town standard.

A solemn moment of remembrance. 

As the standard bearers leave, the sun shines again.

(Thanks to Chrissy Brook for her invaluable help in mounting this exhibition - Kay).

Peace Focus for Ira's New Works

New Zealand artist Ira Mitchell-Kirk, whose painting Hold on To Peace heads this blog, has contributed three smaller works this year with a focus on peace.

Love is a Time Traveller

Day Dreaming of Peace. 

Coming Together for Peace

These works, along with other smaller works, will be exhibited on the display shelves of the exhibition space used in Corso Della Republica, Cassino. 

Mixed Media Works Use Repeated Motifs

These works are part of an extensive body of exploratory works by New Zealand artist Robyn Hughes.

Robyn Hughes 

Artists Statement

Legato exhibition

Cassino, Italy 2013

My father was a Major in the 19th  Armoured Regiment, part of the 2nd New Zealand Corps that served in Cassino, Italy during WW2. He was one of the lucky ones to return home. He rarely mentioned his wartime experiences. Instead he celebrated family life and together with my mother built up a business in Auckland, New Zealand.

My generation grew up in peacetime and it is almost impossible to imagine what my father’s generation had been through in the war. Regrettably I never asked him that question. He died in 1968 when I was 18 years old.

This series of work is the outcome of my own recent research into the story of Cassino and why it had such significance in the Italian campaign of WW2. I have looked at official accounts of military history and have read poignant personal stories from people who were present at the time - from both sides. I have visited Cassino on numerous occasions, taken site photographs and have studied historical photographs and maps.

Throughout all accounts, the geographical terrain of the Cassino area has been described as ‘ treacherous’ in a war time situation. The Benedictine Abbey perched high on Monastery Hill, the surrounding steep mountains and ravines, the myriad of rivers and the harsh winter conditions of 1944 made life a misery for everyone who was there. The huge loss of life of civilians, military personnel of all nations and the pack animals that supplied the troops on their dangerous night time mountain treks is traumatic reading.

In the series of large paintings that I am presently developing I have used the notion of ‘terrain’ to present a psychological state of mind of trauma and chaos. I have depicted the terrain as surface that is torn, pierced, stained and threatening. I have manipulated the viscosity of the paint to create running, molten effects and to evoke a mood where visibility is limited, confusion is paramount and danger ever present. 

In the smaller mixed media works that I am presenting at Legato 2013 I have used a combination of my own photographs and drawings juxtaposed with historical source material.  I have selected, overlaid and manipulated these layers of information using both digital means and paint.

 From my position of artist - researcher, who was not present at that time my goal has been to try to understand the complicated mosaic of events that took place and to bring visual form to the Cassino story in a way that is both poignant, informative and respectful. 

I have referenced particular motifs and have repeated them throughout the work eg. The white marker tapes laid on the ground as an attempt to guide the soldiers with a safe path through the minefields, the poppies as a symbol of sacrifice and the’ sea of graves’ in the many graveyards that we now see situated throughout Cassino.

I have also chosen to include text in some of the works to bring to the fore the ‘soldiers voice’ as the prime narrator.  In this way I hope to place authorship of the work back into the hands of those who fought and died in the battles of Cassino and to acknowledge and honor the enormous sacrifice that was made by people from so many nations.