Marco Bravura, a famous mosaicist from Ravenna, launches a fundraising campaign to “more adequately” illuminate one of his best-known works, the ‘Ardea Purpurea’ fountain which turns twenty and is located in Piazza della Resistenza. ‘A new vision of Ardea Purpurea’, this is the name that the artist wanted to give to the initiative, has the aim of creating a lighting system that can enhance the mosaic fountain in the way it deserves and also intervene on the level grassy surrounding it. “The mosaic that covers the sculpture – writes Marco Bravura on his Facebook profile – has been cleaned several times from the limestone that periodically attacks it, but there is no adequate lighting and over time the regulations have changed. The Land Shapes Studio took part in my called, proposing solutions that the Municipality of Ravenna will carry out. I reassure you that tree cutting is not planned but a simple and harmonious landscape enhancement project. Confident in the understanding and, I hope, in the generosity of the many citizens of Ravenna and others who have shown appreciation. I am launching a fundraiser that will contribute to these changes and improvements to the area around the fountain.”
The artist decided to participate in this fundraiser personally by donating fifty drawings on paper, sepia charcoal technique, measuring 50 x 35 centimetres, depicting the fountain. The works can be purchased for 100 euros each. Bravura also offers fifty books published by Skira, 2019 edition, dedicated to Ardea Purpurea, with texts by Philippe Daverio, Michele Tosi, Linda Kniffitz, Luca Maggio, for the price of 20 euros. “The funds raised will go entirely to subsidize the works. To join the fundraiser you can send an email to: [email protected] The reply email will indicate where to collect the drawings and how to contribute. “My thanks – concludes Bravura – they go to Studio Land Shapes and the Municipality of Ravenna. A huge thank you to those who will contribute to the New Vision of Ardea Purpurea”.
A few hours after the publication of the appeal by the mosaic artist from Ravenna, the offers did not take long to arrive. Bravura himself says it. Many immediately joined, not giving up the possibility of contributing to the valorisation of one of the most loved contemporary mosaic works in the city. Ardea Purpurea is located in Piazza della Resistenza, in the place where tourists arriving in Ravenna by bus stop and that wonderful mosaic sculpture is the first evidence of mosaic that they see as soon as they set foot in the city, before embarking on the journey along the walls that will lead them to the center and to the Byzantine basilicas.
