L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano T he Pink Door is one of S e a t t l e ' s m o s t b e l o v e d restaurants, with an indoor cabaret space and a lovely patio o v e r l o o k i n g E l l i o t t B a y . Established in 1981, this popular Italian restaurant closed its doors recently for a major remodel. When it reopened in May, not only did the Pink Door have an expanded dining space and an upgraded kitchen, but another, more subtle, change was made to the bar area: the addition of a five-foot-tall ceramic sculpture in pink tones by Umbrian artist Alessandro Guerriero. The art- w o r k , a c a s c a d i n g s e r i e s o f rounded shapes, was a gift to the Pink Door by the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association for its many years of support. In fact, ceramic sculptures, some 40 of them, are popping up all over town in restaurants, cafés, businesses and arts organi- zations. They're part of a ceram- ic collection called "A Chalice f o r A l v i e r o " ( U n C a l i c e p e r Alviero), donated to the City of Seattle in 2012 by the family of Alviero Moretti, founder of the M o r e t t i C e r a m i c S t u d i o a n d Moretti Foundation in Deruta, outside Perugia. The ties between Seattle and Perugia go back 24 years, when a pact of friendship was signed between the two cities. And as happens with many friendships, one connection often leads to another, and then another. T h e c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e Moretti family, for example, has inspired several joint projects. There's a ceramic artist-in-resi- dency program initiated by a family friend, as well as decora- tive tiles forged in the Moretti studio that will grace Seattle's n e w P i a z z a P e r u g i a w h e n i t opens in October. A l v i e r o M o r e t t i , b o r n i n 1933, was one of the first ceram- ic artists in Deruta to understand the importance of reinterpreting traditional shapes and designs to make ceramic pieces useful for a modern lifestyle. He founded his studio, L' Antica Deruta, in the 1950s. Moretti selected the most rel- evant shapes and patterns from Deruta's golden age (1500 to 1600) and combined them in new ways, using techniques that belonged to local tradition. His p a s s i o n f o r i n n o v a t i o n a n d experimentation was felt by the community, as well, and he was k n o w n f o r h i s s u p p o r t a n d encouragement of local artists. He served on the board of direc- tors of Perugia's Academy of Fine Arts and established the Moretti Foundation in 2000. When Moretti died in 2010, 4 0 c e r a m i c s c u l p t u r e s , e a c h symbolic of an offering or gift of gratitude, were created in the D e r u t a s t u d i o , p r i m a r i l y b y Umbrian artists. An art show curated by Antonio Carlo Ponti and Rolando Giovannini was assembled and exhibited in Italy. I n t i m e , t h e M o r e t t i f a m i l y decided to donate the entire col- lection to the City of Seattle in recognition of the sister-city friendship. Once the gift was accepted, the next challenge was getting it to Seattle, some 5,500 miles away. Several companies helped with the shipping, including The Boeing Company and Umbra Cuscinetti, an Umbrian aircraft parts manufacturer with a facto- ry in Everett, Wash. I n N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 , " A Chalice for Alviero" was exhib- ited in Seattle's City Hall for two months, giving Northwest residents the opportunity to see contemporary ceramics made in the ancient artistic tradition of Umbria. The exhibit then trav- e l e d t o S e a t t l e - T a c o m a International Airport for two years, part of the airport's rotat- ing art program. When an extensive search to find a permanent home for the collection failed, the family agreed that the individual pieces could be used to acknowledge organizations and businesses instrumental in furthering the sister-city relationship. Thus, the P i n k D o o r ' s s c u l p t u r e b y Guerriero. Nurturing ceramic artists is of continuing interest to both sister cities. Recently, Perugia resident Chiara Radi de Poi provided seed money to create an artist exchange program. De Poi is the widow of Alfredo de Poi, former director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia and friend of the M o r e t t i f a m i l y . T h e a w a r d enables a Northwest artist to have a three-week residency at RITA CIPALLA Ceramic art with ties to Umbria comes to the Northwest the Moretti studio in Deruta; the following year, an Italian potter is in residence in Seattle. Pottery Northwest is the local partnering organization for this exchange. Founded in 1966 on the grounds of Seattle Center, the nonprofit arts organization has extensive experience with international artist-in-residence programs and a calendar full of rotating exhibits and artist pre- sentations. T h e d e P o i A w a r d w a s launched in 2016. Seattle artist Myra Kaha, the first recipient, found her three-week residency in Deruta eye-opening. "The c u l t u r e a n d a r c h i t e c t u r e o f Perugia have left a lasting influ- e n c e o n m y w o r k , " s h e s a i d recently. "A s the w orld gets closer because of internet speeds and social media, at the same time, it grows further apart, resulting in less meaningful per- sonal interactions. That is the real value of this exchange." On Oct. 14, 2017, Seattle's Piazza Perugia will be dedicat- e d , w i t h t h e m a y o r s o f b o t h cities in attendance. The dream of a dedicated sister-city park has been in the works for more than a decade, championed by former sister-city association president Mike James. Ceramic tiles incorporating traditional Umbrian designs, such as the Perugino griffon, are a central artistic feature of the new piazza. Tile production was supervised by Giorgio Moretti, director of L' Antica Deruta and son of Alviero. T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n Seattle and Perugia, and the o n g o i n g f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e Moretti family, exemplify the best of the sister-city concept, started in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower believed that cultural and educa- tional exchanges would create bonds between nations and that lifelong friendships forged per- son-to-person would lead to peace, harmony and prosperity. If Seattle and Perugia are any measure, it seems to be working. At a special event at City Hall in 2012, former Seattle mayor Mike McGinn (second from left) accepted a gift of 40 ceramic sculptures donated by the family of Alviero Moretti, represented by son Giorgio (third from right), other family and officials from Perugia SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY Seattle artist Myra Kaha was the first recipient of the de Poi Award, which gives artists in Seattle and Perugia the opportunity to share their work inter- nationally and learn more about local artistic traditions. (Myra Kaha)

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