Stia, a municipality in the province of Arezzo (Tuscany), about 40 km east of Florence, casts a magic spell; it is shrouded in the luxuriant forests of the Casentino park.
Like an alchemist, he transforms metal into glass and ceramics, fusing perfect geometric modules with mathematical precision- E. V. Borg
In autumn the vegetation bursts into colour and saturates the slopes of the hills and the Falterona mountain that dominate this medieval town either enveloped in mist or rising solemnly against the skyline like a citadel challenging rivals.
This relatively small community of about 3,000 has a great vision. A group of volunteers organise the European Biennial of wrought iron art. The tradition, which started in 1976, has reached its 19th edition and artists from 12 countries were involved.
I was invited to form part of an international jury, which was chaired by the celebrated French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The other members of the panel were Martin Ziegler (Germany), Peat Oberon (UK) and Karel Bures (Czech Republic).
The competition was held over four days – from August 31 to September 4. About 50,000 people visited the exhibition, which is complemented by other events organised by the municipality. This year these included an art exhibition by the well-known artist Luciano Schifano, an exhibition of coins and armoury lent by the Museo Stibbert of Florence, and an educational visit to the historical Lanificio, a vast industrial building that housed the wool production that has made Stia famous for its panno Casentino.
In Piazza Mazzini individuals and groups of blacksmiths compete for the most coveted prize by working on an anvil for up to three hours at a stretch. This demonstration of skill and creativity is a crowd-puller. The first prize this year was awarded to the British group for Stone Age to Iron Age, that interpreted the theme of evolution splendidly yet so simply: vertical flat bars of iron and a stone slab in front.
Massimiliano Benvenuti, an Italian, won the prize for individual (male) effort as a forger with Mother – the Beginning of the Road, a telling piece in metal of a modern expression of two figures: a mother and child.
For individual (female) effort Michelle Parker of UK won first place with Eve, a dinosaur reading a book, a witty and humorous work.
The prize for best stand in Piazza Tanucci was awarded to Mario Converio of Schio (Vicenza) for the traditional section, while Claudio Bottero of Piombino Dese (Padova) won the section for innovation.
The latter is well-known in Italy for his innovative metal design and he usually works in collaboration with the Steniko brothers (Jadran and Martino) of Ardea (province of Rome).
Converio is a great artist who shapes metal a martello and whose stand projected life-size nude classical figures of great lyrical beauty. But Giovanni Rotondo of Rosolini (Syracuse) had wonderful works too.
Like an alchemist, he transforms metal into glass and ceramics, fusing perfect geometric modules with mathematical precision. His works are museum pieces that leave one speechless. For pure design the Pier Luigi della Bordella prize was awarded to Enrico Civico of Aosta for his dynamic Swallows in Flight.
The exhibition by Luciano Schifano (b. 1943), who exhibited in Malta in 1998, was held part of the Lanificio, which is a vast concrete tunnel vault hall built in 1901 with shafts of light filtering through narrow slits into a floating space.
The exhibition title, I Pennelli del Magico Divino – L’Equilibrio: l’uomo e la sua icon, reveals a philosophical approach to art as mystery, magic and enigma, a dream of spiritual significance.
An outstanding work of his is an enormous triptych on cherrywood with one main subject and a large number of vignettes in minature narrating the story of mankind.
In the same complex of buildings of 1898 is the Museo dell’Arte della Lanam, an educational exhibition about the industrial process in the weaving of wool. The building has great potential as an industrial edifice of great beauty recently restored, though its renovation is yet incomplete.
In the Palagio Fiorentino, an exhibition of coins and medals and a small model or maquette for a suit of armour lent for the occasion by the Museo Stibbert of Florence were on show for the duration of the Biennale (August 6 to September 4).
The model was intended as a decoration, though it is a real working suit of armour in miniature for reproduction by an armourer as a tailor-made suit to fit his client perfectly. The coin collection included a 16th century wax model of a medal commemorating the reign of Pope St Pius V (1566-72), who contributed towards the building of Valletta.