A special theme for a special edition. From 3 to 5 May Urbino and the cities of books returns, which will celebrate Paolo Volponi on the centenary of the writer’s birth, coinciding with the tenth year of the festival, promoted by the Practica Association. “It is a small point of arrival, in which, for once, the host city will be Urbino itself – comments Alessio Torino, one of the organizers –. Today an informal committee has been created which I hope will be confirmed in the coming years in the same way I thank the administration for making us work with serenity, as well as giving us patronage and contribution, like the Volponian Celebrations committee”.
The mayor, Maurizio Gambini, also commented on the aspect of collaboration, deeming it “the greatest satisfaction in a city that culturally must collect the past but project itself towards the future. This leads us to believe that this mechanism works”. For the first time, the University Library Sector of Uniurb will participate in the festival, as explained by its manager, Marcella Peruzzi: “We will do this by opening the libraries to the little ones and trying to reconstruct the roots of the book cities in Urbino, with an exhibition on topographical art. The inauguration of the festival will be at 6pm on Friday in the church of San Girolamo, finally accessible, with a taste of the real reopening coming in autumn”.
A series of artistic contributions dedicated to Volponi will be brought by the Liceo Artistico: “First of all we will republish the collection “Cantonate di Urbino“, enriched with engravings designed by Renato Bruscaglia for the first edition – explains the director Lucia Nonni –. Then we will have the meeting- lesson with the editorial graphic designer Maurizio Ceccato and finally an exhibition, under the Volponi arcades, of the works produced by the Scuola del libro on the author”.
There will be two events proposed by the Academy of Fine Arts, the first of which will consist of two exhibitions: “In our Gallery there will be the first taste of a larger exhibition which will concern Volponi, thanks to his daughter Caterina, and the presentation of installation “Where I got lost“, by Davide Giorgini”, explains the director, Luca Cesari. The second will be at the Teatro Sanzio, Friday at 9pm, with Neri Marcorè reading “The Flies of Capital” and the Gagliano String Quartet performing music from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”.
“There are no theatrical texts by Volponi, but this text has the strength of theater – explains Massimo Puliani –. Volponi studied an allegory, Mozart as a creative person and the father as an authoritarian figure: in this we will find signs that the School of Scenography has inserted”. As usual, the Carlo and Marise Bo Foundation will also participate, hosting various events: “For example, a contemporary look at the collection “Le porte dell’Appennino“ or the preview of “Amica nemica figura. A film for Paolo Volponi“ – explains Roberto Danese –. Then there will be a dialogue with the high priest of the Volponian mysteries, Emanuele Zinato”.
Speaking of theatre, on Saturday, at the Sanzio, there will also be a reading of Volponi’s “Memorial” with Valentina Lodovini. This is a first-time edition in which ISIA will launch a day dedicated to publishers: “Bringing them back to interact with students is a great gift that this event has given to our students – explains the director, Giuseppe Biagetti –. ISIA it’s there, it’s available, and we tailor this project to ourselves every year.”
An availability also offered from the point of view of communication, which the Institute has taken care of this time too. A festival within the festival, dedicated to children, will be “Urbino city of the little ones”, set up together with the Fermignano Stacciaminaccia, directed by Alice Toccacieli: “The first initiative will be on Friday, a treasure hunt among the books of San Girolamo set up by the children of the Servizi civil – explains Milena Scaramucci, of the Practica Association –. Then we will move to Lilliput, Saturday and Sunday, with workshops and a meeting with an author”. Finally, space for schools with Parlo a te di te: “The festival will include the first of three events linked to the initiative, the one dedicated to nursery and primary schools, with even a school from Matera in attendance – explains the deputy mayor, Marianna Glasses –. On subsequent dates we will also have some from Cuneo and Bologna”.
All appointments will be free. The exhibition will close with the screening of the documentary “Viva Volponi”, at the Cinema Nuova Luce.
For the complete program: www.urbinocittalibro.it
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