Posts Tagged ‘Pietrasanta marble carving studio’

Sollai working in La Coopperativa
Sollai working in La Coopperativa

Sollai, our youngest son, arrived in Bagni di Lucca just before Christmas last year after a year in Montreal with his acrobat girlfriend, Danica.  He had spent the year working on log cabins, stone chimneys and gardens up around the lakes and creating his sculpture carving alabaster and marble, in his city studio.  Even though the experience was wonderful, bringing him in contact with an abundant wild life and contributing to the language of his art, trying to make money to live and still do his artwork frustrated him enormously. Then, to his enormous good fortune a lovely collector was encouraged to sponsor him in Italy to carve in one of the most renowned marble carving studios, La Cooperativa, in Pietrasanta for three months over the winter.  Lucky Sollai!  He was given accommodation, studio, stone, allowance and tools in exchange for artwork created there.  More importantly, he was in the mecca of marble carving and had access to the knowledge and advice of some of the most experienced artisans in Pietrasanta – or in the world.

Sollai and Mike discussing tools
Sollai and Mike discussing tools
Piazza of Pietrasanta
Piazza of Pietrasanta
Michaelangelo was here!
Michaelangelo was here!

Michael, at the same time, took the opportunity to be with Sollai and rented a studio space in Studio Shakti in Pietrasanta for a couple of days a week.  They’d meet up for lunch in the Croce Verde where they would devour a huge three course lunch with wine, water and coffee for ten euros each.  After work they’d find a little bar to hang out and relax in, warming up after a long day in the cold.  Mike got some great work done.  I think he was a bit rapturous to be carving in marble again after so many years since the car accident when he was unable to do any heavy work.  He actually forgot in his enthusiasm, the weights of stone.  An average size piece, 90 x 90 cm, weighed about 180 kilos, fully realized when it came time to move it.

Shakti Studio
Shakti Studio
Michael in his studio
Michael in his studio

On one of the days returning to the studios to work after a weekend in Bagni di Lucca, Mike took Sollai up over the mountain pass from Castlenuovo to Pietrasanta.  On the way they detoured up another mountain to buy carving tools from the ancient Milani factory in Pomezzana.  This factory has been in the family for either 900 years or 9 generations – hmmm – our Italian is not that good! Nevertheless it is believed this same factory was making tools when Michaelangelo was in Pietrasanta.  We visited this factory 30 years ago when we first went to Carrarra.  In those days the factory was above the village and it is still there but now it has expanded and its extension is down on the road below the village.  Its a wonderful experience seeing how these tools that have never changed continue to be made, though in slightly better conditions.

Milani Tools from Pomezzana
Milani Tools from Pomezzana

In the meantime, Sollai created a beautiful carving for his collector.  Its size came to about a 100 x 100 x 40 cm in a a beautiful soft dusty pink Portuguese Rose marble.  Sollai’s influences for his art are very organic and natural forms often found on one of his roving walks.  This piece is also organic but is also reminiscent of the Ligurian figure heads and they must have lain dormant in his head because he has seen them on his journeys back and forth to Italy since he was a teenager.

My most loved expression is in the carving of stone. For me it is my prayer. Hours and hours listening to the rhythm of chisel and hammer bring me to a place of no return. The creation of form, the seeking of light within marble, its voice is the spirit of the earth and its poetry is infinite.‘  Sollai

Sollai on top of his marble cases ready to go to Australia for delivery
Sollai on top of his marble cases ready to go to Australia for delivery

 

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Today is the 21st June and the weather is unseasonably cold and wet. People have lost their lives in the floods in Provence. We were just there picking up our youngest son, Sollai, from the airport in Nice. It rained so hard that we were completely drenched in seconds while walking on the Boulevard Des Anglais. Back here in Italy the weather followed us and for a week we are back in winter dreaming again of the sun and light summer clothes.

But still dreams are made. On the way back from France, Sollai ventured forth his dream of working in a marble studio in Pietrasanta or Cararra. We stopped at Pietrasanta enroute to inspect a bronze coming out of the foundry and casually asked the owner if he knew of a good marble carving yard for Sollai to start off in. They gave him their introduction to a carving yard they knew of, ‘Shakti’, situated under beautiful mediterranean pines, with accommodation as well, albeit an aluminium shed. He is so excited. Now he is back in Bagni di Lucca working his tail off so that he can afford the rates for his one month sojourn in Pietrasanta from mid July to mid August. Michael will happily go with him for a week to teach him some pointers on carving and set him on his way, as well as to enjoy some carving of his own. Summer carving in Pietrasanta, home to the great quarries that Michaelangelo discovered, beautiful stone tools, a city romantic and ancient, its walls climbing the hills above its centre, overlooked by great craggy mountains, olive groves, below it on the flats, mad industry and the sea, every day in summer a pushbike ride to the beach – the sculptors life.

Today this sculptor is back in her studio. A week away is sometimes a long time and today was joy itself. Its like coming home. This beautiful space under the old vaulted ceilings, bricks black with age, a cave to indulge in one’s fantasies, surrounding yourself with nothing but yourself. I love it when I come here. I come back to myself. And today I started a new series of horse and riders. I have been going regularly to my friend’s ranch where I have been drawing and touching and loving her beautiful horses. At last I am sculpting – from a Shona perspective – these noble creatures that for me express a freedom and at oneness with life.

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