SCAGLIOLA, BETWEEN ILLUSION AND REALITY

Elisabetta & Alessandro, scagliola

We will tell you about the history and the state of art of this ancient, and somehow "lost" craft, showing you some secrets and some stylistic and technical aspects. Starting from a "simple mineral dust", with a practical exhibition we will took you back in time, when the ability and skills of the craftsman began with the preparation of the tools, the sketches and the color pigments. The realized artwork remains yours. Finally we will discuss together about the most important existing collection, with the practical support of some antique pieces, dating from the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries, collected with great passion by our family.

PONTASSIEVE, Fi

RAKU FOR EVERYONE!

Cinzia, ceramist

An appreciation day for Raku pottery and nude Raku. The participants will be asked to decorate and glaze three artifacts made and prepared just for them. The objects will then be baked in a special gas fueled oven and completed within the end of the day with the Raku and nude Raku techniques. This is an old Japanese process that creates stunning objects: covered in marked cracks or strong iridescent metallic colors that aren't reproducible. An important part of the course will be a careful analysis of the coats you can use, as to allow every student to learn how to decorate in full autonomy. During the course of the day there will also be the opportunity to observe the workshop, see the process that goes in to making pottery and lastly to see the various finished products. The seminary starts at 10:00 and finishes at 18:00 and breaks briefly for lunch (which is included). The pieces will be left to the students at the end of the day.

SENIGALLIA, An

A DAY AT THE ATELIER

Mara, engraver

An entire day to explore the wonderful world of Japanese printing. We will spend the entire day together: from 10 am until 6 pm (with a break of one hour for lunch) and you will have the opportunity to see all the steps that go into creating your own print. After the initial phase where you will learn about the techniques and see some original prints, you will be allowed cut out your first drawing (or you can take inspiration from one of the various books we have in our studio) and create your own 3 colour print on Japanese paper. This workshop is perfect for people who want to create their own cards or presents. This experience is for beginners and people wishing to improve their techniques: in case you have former experience please contact me in advance so I can prepare myself to accommodate your needs.

AVIGLIANA, To

MAKE YOUR PAIR OF SHOES

Olivia, shoe maker and designer

The beauty of a bespoke pair of shoes lies in its construction. This course offers an alchemic journey from the raw material to the finished shoe, a journey through which you will appreciate and understand the hidden beauty of creation. Thanks to slow and repetitive motions, just like a mantra, you will forget about hectic life and delve into a very special mood. The model of shoes for this hands-on workshop is a traditional unlined lace-up with Norwegian structure, but different kind of personalization are more than welcome. The process will be split in two parts: a stage will be totally directed by me and the other one will be carried out in collaboration with other professionals. This second stage consists in a 25 hours program that can be organized upon your schedule. During the module that we will have together, we will also prepare the necessary tools to work, such as leather covers for the fingers and twine for the handmade binding. I suggest you this experience if you want to dedicate some days to creativity and manual work, and it will also be a perfect occasion to enjoy the beautiful Pesaro and Urbino. I’m more than available for any kind of tips for your accommodation and I’ll be glad to suggest you the most peculiar places around the city. Since we will share the whole week together, everyday I will offer you a very special break with the best tastes that Marche has to offer!

PESARO, Pu

PRINTING AND ENGRAVING

Agnes, ceramist

I also love engravings along with printing techniques on nylon slabs, in my workshop I have a press roller that will allow us to print manually. All you have to bring with you - apart from comfortable clothes and a apron - is a nice photo or a drawing (if you do not have one we will provide one for you). In the first part of this workshop you will engrave what you wish on the nylon sheet with a cold engraving needle. Then we will have a brief rest in the atelier, have a chat and a small vegetarian lunch (glass of wine included). We will then start again and prepare the stencil to be printed: colored or not they will be put to soak. When the paper and your stencils are ready we will print a first copy to check the quality of the engravings: if you are not satisfied with some of the details you will have the opportunity to correct them. After that we will do the final print! You will be able to take home the various copies in a folder along with your stencil. If the copies are still too wet to bring home I will send them to you during the next few days (the sending price to Italy is included in the price of the workshop).

COMO, Co

INSIDE THE LUTHIER LAB

Eugenio Lorenzo, luthier

People that come to visit me in my world find measurements, cuts and sounds. I like to explain my job and tell people why I do it. By spending a couple of hours with me, you'll be able to discover how a guitar is crafted starting from a piece of wood, in a journey through many sensorial experiences: different wood smells, weights, colours or textures. Being a job that's strongly connected to this land, you will see how a joiner's shop works, and during your visit, you will have a chance to see a musician try a brand new instrument, learn how wood is bent or how the guitar neck is sculpted. My job is not made out of secrets, but instead its main ingredient is experienced dexterity. Discover it by yourself!

VIBO VALENTIA, Vv

THE PILGRIM’S NOTEBOOK

Lucia e Hans, bookbinder

The experience involves the creation of a notebook made of paper, leather, and string (of about 8x13cm in size). You may choose your favorite colored leather from the many in the bookbinding workshop. With Hans and Lucia’s guidance, you will be able to follow the different workshop phases, which include a medieval technique in the preparation of the paper sheets, which are sewn and bound directly onto the leather cover. This way, book cover and stitching make a single piece and the notebook will be ready in just a few steps. You may also personalize it with graphic or floral motifs, or with your initials, directly embossing the chosen decoration on the surface. Finally, a leather string around the notebook will help tie it shut.

VITERBO, Vt

YOUR WOODEN INLAYED FLOWER

Renato, inlayer

During this 4-hour workshop I will show you the various wooden inlay techniques: fretwork, "buio", "toppo", the perspective inlay and the boulle technique. In particular, the fretwork technique will be studied in depth with demonstrations of the various processing phases, up to the final polishing. Afterwards, we'll try an easy workshop, where you'll learn the use of the fretworked arch, and I'll show you how to create three small inlays with floral motifs which will also be sandblasted. Three wooden flowers made by your hands, that you'll bring home as a perfect souvenir of this experience and that can be used as a bookmark.

FIRENZE, Fi

THE SECRET COLORS OF LANDS

Elisabetta, sculptress

With this experience I'm offering an evocative journey through the ages. I'll show you the manufacturing of soils and of their colors. I'll tell you and I'll let you try, manually, the fascinating working technique used by the potters of the Roman times. They were considered as great artists, so much that their artworks were valued as gold! I'll guide you through the handmade creation of small jewels and other objects of your choice. You can bring them with you, or better, I'll send them to you once they are fired. Through this workshop you'll find out the connections of our territory with the ancient past. This is in fact characterized by the population of “Stabiae” (the current Castellammare di Stabia), which was the favorite “holiday destination” of patricians. If weather permits, we'll work open air with a panoramic view on the Naples Gulf, with the majestic Vesuvio in front of us.

CASTELLAMMARE DI STABIA, Na