The common thread of June Antoniano 2024 – iconographically inspired by the fresco Antonio confronts the tyrant Ezzelino da Romano (1982) by Pietro Annigoni, kept in the Chapel of the Blessings of the Saint – is “Antonio defender of the weakest”, where the “weak” are understood with various meanings: abused women, victims of feminicides, terrorism or wars, people looking for justice or who “get back up” after an existential fall, or disadvantaged people who need to be given opportunities and dignity, such as people with disabilities. And it is precisely the latter that are the protagonists of the “Opsa in Prato. From imperfection to quality”, organized by the Opera della Provvidenza S. Antonio di Sarmeola, officially presented this morning in the Padua town hall and included in the program of Antonian events.
From Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd June, in the Lobo of Santa Giustina in Prato della Valle, a review within the Antonian review to enhance imperfection and sustainability, as a contrast to the culture of waste and marginalization, combining catering, entertainment and solidarity. An original format that brings together people with disabilities and able-bodied people tackling a delicate topic in an atmosphere of celebration and conviviality.
At “Opsa in Prato” you will find a sustainable gastronomic village, with cooking shows, talks and music open from 6pm to 11pm and on Saturday and Sunday also for lunch from 11am to 3pm. Sustainable because the menus are also created using ingredients donated by who shared and supported the initiative, with typical Venetian dishes, from bigoli al torchio to stewed cuttlefish or Vicenza-style cod. And because some of the cooking shows, the evening ones with chefs Cristina Biollo, Stefania Autuori and Anna Maria Pellegrino, have “recovery” as their common thread, using what remains in the fridge, food processing waste, cooking to save time and power.
The music is also about inclusion. Among the various events, the performance of Andamento Lento Band, one of the artistic groups born from the music therapy workshops that are held regularly at the Opera della Provvidenza S. Antonio (Saturday 22 June at 7pm); of the Cartone Orchestra, an ensemble that was formed in the Opsa music therapy laboratories (Sunday 23 June at 12pm) and the multicultural performance of some Opsa collaborators from other countries (also Sunday but at 7pm): traditional songs in Swahili and the Bharatanatyam Dance with a group of nuns from the Congregation of the Franciscan Poor Clares of Kerala (India).
On Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June (at 8pm) fourteen local personalities will take turns in “imperfect interviews” to talk about their relationship with imperfection in an unconventional talk hosted by the journalist Micaela Faggiani and the stand up comedian Triana Cattin: politicians ( the social councilor of the Municipality of Padua Margherita Colonnello and the vice-president of the Province Daniele Canella), Olympians (Rossano Galtarossa and Manuela Levorato), representatives of the economic categories (the president Appe Federica Luni, the president of the Chamber of Commerce of Padua and Unioncamere Veneto Antonio Santocono, the president of Maap Mario Liccardo, the president of Confindustria Veneto Est Leopoldo Destro), artists, singers and artisans (Giorgio Bellingardo, Chiara Luppi and Daniela Soravia of the Lopup social tailoring) and representatives of the main civil and religious institutions of the City (the prefect of Padua Francesco Messina, the rector of the University Daniela Mapelli, the episcopal vicar for relations with the institutions and the territory Don Luca Facco).
In Prato at the Opsa gazebo, with a small donation to the structure, you will be able to receive a SorPrendimi bag, a real “surprise solidarity shopping” with food and non-food products donated by some partners of the event.
