ARTIST RESIDENCY 2019
Curated by Rafal Milach and Ania Nalecka
Curated by Rafal Milach and Ania Nalecka
Where
Lessinia, Bosco Chiesanuova (Verona)
Lessinia, Bosco Chiesanuova (Verona)
What is Lessinia?
Lessinia is a geographic region located in the Prealpi Venete, most of which is part of the province of Verona whereas the remaining smaller part remains under of the provinces of Vicenza and Trento. A slice of this territory constitutes the Regional Natural Park of Lessinia – a vast plateau of forests and grazing land, where nature and traditions of ancient populations blend in together. It is a land of spectacular karst phenomena and traditional districts with stone rooftops, it is rich in fossil deposits unique in the world that serve as proof of its origins.The natural park, instituted in 1990, occupies 10’000 hectares rich in history, archaeology, unique natural and geological phenomena; as well as priceless ethnographical, architectural and linguistic aspects. Bosco Chiesanuova, with a population of 3’000 inhabitants, is one of the most important districts of Lessinia and it is located 30 km from Verona.
What’s SAM?
SAM is a triennial project based on the visual exploration of Lessinia. SAM operates in collaboration with the Lessinia Film Festival which includes many cultural events revolving around the theme of the mountain, taking place in the rooms of the gallery Fonderia 20.9 in Verona. The artist residency is now at its second edition and also includes a workshop in Bosco Chiesanuova. SÅM is a project curated by Ana Blagojevic, Chiara Bandino and Francesco Biasi.
Artist Residency 2019
Photographer Rafal Milach and book-designer Ania Nalecka will be the curators of this year’s artist residency.The curators, together with SÅM staff, will select three artists who will be invited to work on the Lessinia territory.A fourth artist will be chosen in collaboration with Sputnik Photos collective in order to participate in the Mentoring programme hosted by this Polish collective. The selected artists will have 20 days, divided into two phases, in order to produce a body of work, which will be shown at the end of August as part of the 25th edition of the Lessinia Film Festival as well as at Fonderia 20.9 during Spring 2020.
Exploration and research. During the preliminary phase, we will provide all the tools and means (bibliography, maps, guides etc.) needed to carry out the exploration of Lessinia. SÅM staff will be staying on site and will be available throughout the period. There will be a series of events involving experts in various fields such as geology, history, nature and locals that can help in the individuation of the final theme of the projects. Site-specific field trips will be organised for the artists that will request them. On Friday 22nd March 2019 there will be the first tutorial with the curators via Skype.
II period – Monday 13rd – Sunday 26th May 2019
The second phase will last two weeks and it is ought to be the most productive part of the residency. During this phase (21-26 May) the two curators, Rafal Milach and Ania Nalecka, will be on site in order to tutor the artists in the editing, the development and the progress of the project and the planning of the final exhibition.
The artists will be provided with:
A bibliography related to various themes regarding Lessinia
Free access to the public library
Archival material
Van
Scanner
A set of studio light with backdrop
A4 printer
Fine-art printing studio for the test prints (upon request)
A black and white darkroom (upon request)
As well as the possibility of staying in the provided apartment, both the curators and SÅM staff will be available even beyond the time frame of the two residency phases. E-mails and Skype calls will be planned in order to keep the curator on the loop with the work in progress.
The artists will be provided with:
A bibliography related to various themes regarding Lessinia
Free access to the public library
Archival material
Van
Scanner
A set of studio light with backdrop
A4 printer
Fine-art printing studio for the test prints (upon request)
A black and white darkroom (upon request)
As well as the possibility of staying in the provided apartment, both the curators and SÅM staff will be available even beyond the time frame of the two residency phases. E-mails and Skype calls will be planned in order to keep the curator on the loop with the work in progress.
Final exhibition – Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August 2019
The exhibition will take place in the Centro Culturale of Bosco Chiesanuova during the Lessinia Film Festival Opening Weekend. Moreover, the participating artists will have the chance to hold a presentation open to the public during which they can talk about their working process and the project they carried out on Lessinia.
The exhibition will take place in the Centro Culturale of Bosco Chiesanuova during the Lessinia Film Festival Opening Weekend. Moreover, the participating artists will have the chance to hold a presentation open to the public during which they can talk about their working process and the project they carried out on Lessinia.
Practical aspects and expenses
The selected artists will be provided with an apartment in the centre of Bosco Chiesanuova constituted of – two bedroom with single beds, bathroom, living room/kitchen, one extra (and bigger) room. Moreover, they will have access to a studio space situated in the Centro Culturale of Bosco Chiesanuova with all the material need (the studio is located two minutes walking distance from the apartment).
Event informations
Sam is a cimbrian word that means seed. Sam is a tool of visual exploration of the Lessinia mountains, the pre-alpine region surrounding Verona, Vicenza and Trento. Sam is a dialogue between cinema and photography. The Film Festival della Lessinia and Fonderia 20.9 will be the promoters of artistic residencies, workshops with world-wide famous experts and cultural events about mountains through visual research. Sam will invite artists that work with pitctures to better understand, promote and reinvent a place rich in history, traditions and unique geographical features. Sam is a three-year path that will lead to annual exhibitions hosted by the FIlm Festival della Lessinia in Bosco Chiesanuova.