L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Continued from page 4 Every statue has been made of cedarwood coming from already-felled trees, with only Baby Jesus being made in linden wood. The struc- ture hosting all statues has been made with 24 cubic meters of Friuli larch wood, sourced from local garden centers. As mentioned, the statues are made of cedar, a t r e e t h a t w a s c o m m o n l y grown in Carnia one century a g o . A s i g n i f i c a n t d e t a i l bears witness to the atten- tion the project dedicates to nature and the Alps: Baby Jesus' crib, sculpted by Ste- fano Comelli and Martha M u s e r , h a s b e e n m a d e using old beams from a sta- ble and the root of a fir felled by the Vaia storm, which hit the Dolomiti in 2018, with powerful winds never before seen in the area. 14 million trees hit the ground because of it, as if they were nothing m o r e t h a n t o o t h p i c k s , swiped away by the hand of an angry giant. The Grotto has been real- i z e d u s i n g m o d e r n t e c h - niques: it's 7 meters high and it protects the Nativity. An angel leads the viewer's a t t e n t i o n t o B a b y J e s u s , swaddled and placed in a manger. Renato Puntel, who went to Val Gardena's sculpture school, worked in the US, and was even part of Ermanno Olmi's movie The Secret of the Old Woods, g a v e t h e C h i l d a s e r e n e , blissful expression, a true image of what the He repre- sents. Father Gianni Bor- din, who's been a Capuchin since 1985, shaped the Vir- gin Mary: she is kneeling, her head covered with her mantle, and her harms open showing the Savior. Father Bordin also made a child who, curious and innocent at the same time, looks into the Grotto while leaning on the comet's tail. Saint Joseph stands on the Child's right, with one hand on his chest and holding in the other a small lantern, a symbol of light and hope, with which he illuminates Jesus. Joseph has been created by Corra- do Clerici, whose workshop is located deep into Friuli's D o l o m i t e s : h e r e , h e a l s o makes sculptures with snow and ice. A very realistic ox lies down beside Joseph, while a small donkey is beside Mary. Andrea Caisutti, who start- ed carving wood when he was only 10, is the author. Many characters of this presepe are directly associat- ed with the territory it comes from: the carpenter, above all, a direct reference to the craftsmen who, in the Alpi Carniche, made wood their life vocation. Then, Corrado C l e r i c i ' s m a r a n g o n , p o r - trayed while he is busy plan- ing wood, a symbol of Sutrio itself. We also find a weaver, a nod to a job that, tradition- ally, many women from Car- nia practiced, and still prac- tice today. The weaver was made by Caisutti, and looks at the Nativity while sitting behind a weaving loom. Another figure, that of the "cramar," is very representa- tive of the Alpi Carniche and Sutrio: the ancient figure of a trader who would leave his village on foot with a large wooden box on his shoulders, to show and sells his commu- nity's products and creations. D u r i n g h i s l o n g t r i p s , h e would often be hosted by peo- p l e a n d f a m i l i e s i n t h e i r homes; they bought from him sometimes but they would more often barter objects and tools with him. The "cramar" was carved by Isaia Moro who learned the ropes, when he was a child, in the work- shop of Gaudenzio Straulino "Teno," in the very years he was working on his presepe. Then we find a kneeling shepherdess, with a basket on one side and a sheep on the other, a traditional figure of the presepe. A figure with strong connections with the mountains, but also with the idea of nature that nurtures and protects. This statue has b e e n m a d e b y A r i a n n a Gasperina, who also por- trayed, in the same fiery figu- rative style, a young girl, symbol of hope for the future. Next is a sculptural group formed by three figures, a man, a woman and a child, holding one another in front o f t h e N a t i v i t y : i t i s Ermannno Plozzer's fami- ly. Plozzer is known for his participation in a "land-art" p r o j e c t , a n e x p e r i e n t i a l - touristic itinerary created with natural materials sal- vaged after the Vaia storm. G o r i z i a ' s p a i n t e r a n d sculptor Paolo Figar is the "father" of the Three Wise Kings who, carrying their worldly riches, bring respect to the Savior Child. F i n a l l y , " S o l i d a r i t y , " a sculptural group of two men, one helping the other stand- ing up to continue his walk to the Grotto. A very evocative theme, especially considering the times we are living in: there are many people who, if not helped, supported and saved, may not make it. "Soli- darity" has been created by artistic director Comelli, who was born in Trieste in 1968. Comelli, among others, was also awarded the Unesco Cities Art Prize. The Presepe di Sutrio, will r e m a i n i n S a i n t P e t e r ' s Square until the 6th of Janu- ary and will then find its per- manent home back in Sutrio. The work truly mirrors the inspiration of every artist. Each of them used her or his sensitivity to recreate the mystery of the Holy Nativity and to metaphorically protect the uniqueness of each com- munity. Their work reflects key feelings and emotions like humanity, fraternity, sol- i d a r i t y a n d i n c l u s i o n , a c h o r a l t h e m e t h a t , e v e r y year, is proposed in the pre- sepe di Piazza San Pietro, which has been taking center stage in the square for the 40th year - last year, we had the Nativity of the Chopcca Indios from Huancavelica, Peru, while next year, in the occasion of the 800 years of Saint Francis' presepe, it will be Greccio's turn. Each statue has been cre- ated with traditional wood carving techniques, which involve using electric saws for the roughing out, and hand tools for the carving and sculpting. Overall, the crib weighs 16.8 tons. The extension of the Grotto, under its 6.65 m e t e r s - h i g h d o m e , i s 4 1 square meters. The surface area of the stage is a further 75 square meters. The floor- i n g i n f r o n t o f t h e c r i b i s made with stones from Friuli Venezia-Giulia: from Carso to Carnia, from Cividale to the Friulian Dolomites, all the way to the Pordenone area. It is a scenographic and polychrome inlay dedicated to Peace, created by marble workers Giuliano and Mas- simo Borchi. It's time to let the beauty of these sculptures, never mind if we are there in the silence of night or surround- ed by the noise of daily traf- fic, guide us. This Nativity that feels like the mountains, and is made with wholesome a n d h u m b l e m a t e r i a l s , imbued with the scents of traditional craftsmanship, helps us rediscover the true m e a n i n g o f C h r i s t m a s . I t cleanses us from the super- fluous we surround ourselves with. Simple and familiar, t h e p r e s e p e d i S u t r i o reminds us of a Christmas very different from the con- sumeristic and commercial one we are used to, made of presents and shopping. It reminds us of the importance of going back to basics and listening, of being quiet for a moment and making space in our lives for what's really important: love, solidarity and the beauty and fragility of a newborn who blissfully sleeps, despite it all. The "Presepe di Sutrio" truly mirrors the inspiration of every artist. Each of them used their own sensitivity to recreate the mystery of the Holy Nativity. Their work reflects key feelings and emotions like fraternity, solidarity and inclusion The grotto, with the Holy Family, at night (Photo: Arc Fvg)

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