The five-day event will be held from 2 to 10 May. It was organized by the History and Art Research Center
MONDAY, April 22, 2024 – Five days to delve deeper into the events that occurred in Bitonto, Bari and the entire Puglia region in the first half of the 20th century, a century defined as “short”, but which, in many respects, continues today, with its suggestions or its waste.
This is the objective of the national study conference “Bitonto and Puglia in the first half of the twentieth century”, which will be held in Bitonto from 2 to 10 May. A conference presented on Monday 22 April in Bari, in the headquarters of the Metropolitan City, and organized by the History and Art Research Center. For the occasion, renowned experts from all over Italy will intervene to analyze the most disparate areas of research, including history, art, architecture, literature, music, cinema and fashion.
«An initiative that is part of the long tradition of the association, aimed at research in the historical and artistic fields and at the dissemination of knowledge. The conference will give the opportunity to outline the physiognomy of a city, but also of a region, that of Puglia, among the most important in southern Italy, setting itself the objective of tackling research on the main areas of study. It will help shed new light on a historical period full of events and transformations, marked by hopes of peace and prosperity, but also by the devastating consequences of the two world wars” announces Marino Pagano, president of the Research Center.
«For us it is a pleasure to sponsor an event which is an opportunity to rediscover the history of the city of the Metropolitan Area of Bari and enhance its artists» is the comment of Francesca Pietroforte, metropolitan councilor delegated for Culture, who draws attention on the in-depth analysis of Francesco Speranza: «As of now I sign the willingness to organize exhibitions and events, in agreement with the city of Bitonto, to rediscover this extraordinary artist who is still too little known».
«We are honored to have such an important moment in our territory for the diffusion of culture, knowledge, important elements for the growth of a community» adds councilor Silvia Altamura, representing the Municipality of Bitonto.
It begins on May 2nd, in the Hall of Mirrors of Palazzo Gentile, with the session “Territory and politics”, which will place emphasis first on the analysis of the Apulian territory, with the important geological modifications and the profound technical-cultural transformations and innovations . Political movements will be investigated, with insights into the twenty years of fascism and the ideologies that changed everyday life, touching on the scholastic and sporting context.
On May 3, in the Traetta Theatre, an appointment with “Personality and Places”, that is, the people who have marked the political, social and cultural life of Southern Italy by building the identity of places: from Giovanni Modugno to Giuseppe Caiati, Tito Spinelli, Gaetano Salvemini . Among the personalities, the unprecedented figure of Francesco Campione, from Bitonto, founder of the University of Bari, of the main Bitonto and Apulian men of letters, will be explored.
On May 4th, again in the Teatro Traetta, a concert by the “Davide Delle Cese” Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro Vito Vittorio Desantis, a dutiful act of homage to the great musicians to whom the city gave birth, starting from orchestra masters Vincenzo Bellezza and Pasquale La Rotella, internationally renowned Bitonnians, whose story will focus on the tradition of the city bands.
The conference will start again on May 9th, in the National Gallery of Puglia “G. and R. Devanna” with the session “Grazia e Colore”, with the unprecedented analysis of the public image of women in the arts, of drawing schools, precious places of training for artists and artisans. The grace and color of the exponents of Bari art such as Nicola Colonna, advocate of the renewal of the Umbertina area of Bari, illustrious of Bari and Puglia art nouveau such as the Prayer brothers, and Bitontini of national scope such as Francesco Speranza and Gaetano Spinelli.
On the last day, May 10th, again in the Devanna Gallery, we will talk about “Stone and Light”, to analyze the building renewal and the fervor that affected the early 20th century for the construction of new identities, among all that of Bari , third capital of the south. The “Light” is that of the spotlights of the theaters with the music and drama companies, and of the worldliness linked to French high fashion in the Apulian collections, but above all of the cinema projectors, the new “theaters of the poor” with the arrival of the early silent films and film sets. In addition to the reports, documentaries from the Istituto Luce testifying to the traveling cinematographers in Puglia, and the silent film “Idillio Infranto” will be screened.
Thanks to the collaboration with the University and Polytechnic of Bari, the Order of Architects of the Province of Bari and the Order of Journalists of Puglia, training credits will be available for the respective reference categories.
For further information and to consult the program visit the appropriate website (www.centroricerchebitonto.com/convegno900/index.html). You can register at the link https://bitly.ws/3hzvZ.
iThe conference is sponsored by the Puglia Region, the Metropolitan City of Bari, the Municipality of Bitonto, the Banco di Napoli Foundation, the Puglia Regional Museums Directorate, the National Gallery of Puglia “G. and R. Devanna”, University of Bari, Polytechnic of Bari, Order of Journalists of Puglia, Order of Architects, “Niccolò Piccinni” Conservatory of Music – Bari, Society of Homeland History for Puglia, Puglia Institute for the history of ‘Anti-fascism and Contemporary Italy, Institute for the History of the Italian Risorgimento – Provincial Committee of Bari
