My last few weeks have been full of cultural events in the local area, and a subtitle like “my amazing Saturday nights” could be appropriate. Thanks to friends that introduced myself in the environment, for some years now, and they let me to meet many other interesting people. Hooray! 🙂

Just on Saturday following the occasions of which I told you in my previous post #wingsandblue, that is about 10 days ago, was held in Cherasco the vernissage of Chants and Enchantments, organized by the art gallery Evvivanoé of Sara Merlino, at the wine shop Palazzo Mentone made available by Fabrizio Stecca. All this, with the sponsorship of the city hall.

The preparation and organization by Sara and Fabrizio, together with the staff of the wine shop, offered to the artists, and to guests attending, a pleasant evening, giving to the first ones the opportunity to express something not easy to see nor hear every day, and to the second ones to enjoy an event even more unique than it might infer from the poster, that was attractive in itself.

But first things first.
The exhibition we are talking about is of the artist Martha Nieuwenhuijs, of whom you can catch a glimpse of some works in the pictures of this post.
In particular, the canvas in the opening illustration, that I appreciate more every time I return on it, was chosen to illustrate the cover of the catalog, available in the halls of the wine shop.

And it’s in the catalog, very well made, that we discover the meaning of the title of the exhibition: the Chants are indeed the poems composed by Franco Canavesio and inspired by the paintings of Martha Nieuwenhuijs, the Enchantments exactly. For each Enchantment it corresponds a Chant.
And while the poet, with impeccable and captivating style, was reading his verses, it was with amused curiosity that more of a spectator next to me, and I myself, we browsed the pages of the catalog, to find the Enchantment from which that particular Chant was inspired.

The reading of the poems was accompanied by tunes that Sara Terzano performed with his Celtic harp, in some moments in a solo, and give you an idea of the wealth made of words and sounds, as well as images, that the event was able to offer, is not possible except through a movie. I don’t have one, and therefore I will only bring you back, from the text of the poster, the “playlist” of the evening: music of Breton, Scottish, Gaelic and Irish tradition, and then songs by Haendel, Naderman, Nino Rota and Ennio Morricone, along to other tunes compounds by Sara herself, and still tangos and habaneras. Each song performed not only with skill, but with an open smile, of a person who sincerely loves what she is doing, and is pleased to be able to share her art.

Well, the peculiar magic of the evening was born in this way: admire the works of Martha listening to the verses that them have inspired to Franco, and the tunes performed by Sara, partly chosen and partly composed by herself, inspired, in turn, by the poems of Franco and by the paintings of Martha.
Don’t you think you too, that it was a wonderful idea, this harmonious and multicultural ensemble created by three artists who know each other, appreciate and draw inspiration from each other?
I know you were not there, then you can’t answer with certainty.
But try to imagine it, and I think that you could have an idea 🙂

After the presentation there was the occasion for a tribute to the gallery owner and organizer of the event, Sara Merlino, that in 2015 will close its more than decennial experience in Cherasco to transfer the Evvivanoè gallery to Turin. So I take this opportunity to thank Sara for wonderful exhibitions that she has been able to offer, right on their doorstep, and for all the remarkable artists that allowed me to discover and appreciate, and I wish her all the best for this new adventure; that is not a new start, but an evolution of what she believes in and loves to share, and I am sure that she and his colleagues will make me feel me at home also in this new location.

The evening then continued in the halls of the wine shop, between pleasant conversation, fine wines and a rich sweet and salty buffet. And since, in addition to painting, poetry and music, the wine and the food are art and culture, for completeness I’m pleased to present here below a flyer of the food and wine proposals that you can find in this pleasant place:

WineShopPalazzoMentone.pdf

 

Now, I can only invite you to visit the exhibition, which will remain open until January 6, 2016, and remembered that, with the Christmas ever closer (but not only for this reason), any time it’s the right time to do or to make yourself a gift, of particular significance and value, it is a painting, a book of poetry or a basket of specialty foods and wines. Or maybe all three, why not?
So, trust my advice, and enjoy a walk in Cherasco: I’m sure you will thank me 😉

Stay tuned!