L’unione fa la forza, is an ancient popular Italian saying that in this instance glorifies teamwork, the force of collaboration that builds community-muscle for bettering the relational with the each, and the other. Either close or afar, to expose and extend our awareness — our consciousness.
It takes a community to raise a child — this African proverb might be an better fit and more appropriate saying to describe the power of collectivity and of the Woman Scream platform. In fact, the theme of this year’s 15th Woman Scream (Grio di Donna) global festival edition, focuses on the theme of child marriage. The title: It's not a Game, is a reminder that child marriage is still a reality. It reminds us that in many parts of the world, the word child describes a hard physical/psychological condition of suffering often forgotten. Children’s rights, their right to freedom, to choice, the right to their bodies, to their well being, to their lives — children’s rights are the basis and pillar of any healthy society.
It is around this theme that the town of Dolcedo, and the constellation of its surrounding villages, have gathered in solidarity with what the feminist writer Bernardine Evaristo refers to as girls, women, other. Community building events are vital for interconnecting new visions of justice and love towards which so much work is still required.
On 30th March, ending women’s month, Anja Steinhauer, Claudi Piripippi, Eva Onnen-Saelens, Eva Raabe-Lindenblatt, Giovanna Lupi, Ivana Lupi, Laura Maineri, MariaLaura Di Persio, Piera Benza, Pierangela Fierro, Rossana Rubino, Silvana Morano and Stefania Bosi exhibited their art. Some inspired because angered by the brutality children are still undergoing, some even creating theme-sensitive new works. A difficult theme this one, deeply touching the emotional, the consciousness of women’s imaginal of all ages.
Portraits of children, thorns and roses, Madonnas and brides of different kinds. All perfectly fitting the space as if the ancient oven was calling them, or viceversa, the artworks were longing the oven, to welcome them as they did for women baking their monthly bread supply back in time.
Watercolour, acrylics, charcoal, collage, papier-mâché, recycling, found objects, fabrics, time-based media, painting and writing, poetry and collage, sculpture and performance, video and installation, this time different genres, techniques, materials and mediums depicted different point of views, sensibilities and interpretations. Yet everybody was present, contributing with something. If not with art then with the creation of delicious home-made food, sweet and savoury: cakes, biscuits, brownies, pizza, focaccia, frittata. Improvised bar women prepared drinks and Spritz. Teenagers, middle agers, seniors, women setting up, decorating, offering a feast banquet.
Not to mention all the beautiful flowers gifted by the local farmers: bouquets of colourful buttercups, of calla lilies, compositions of wild onion and borage flowers with bay leaves and rosemary.
This year even DJ Nilo came with all his gear and equipment making the event even more memorable with music, while photographer Angelo offered his skills as paparazzi, and Franco with Natalino and Giorgio as technicians. Everything was lovingly supervised by Monica Orengo (president of Dolcedo’s cultural association U caso Novu) who gave a beautiful introductory speech, all along making sure every aspect was cared for.
Anticipating
the day, the whole town was plastered with WS promoting flyers that
Michel so generously printed out. Every corner of the valley of Val
Prino displayed one, with restaurant and bars wanting more to support
the event in their own way.
So we started meeting at 3pm, sun and
spring air, the weather and the Earth holding the event with us. The
inside and outside of the ancient communal bread oven of Dolcedo was
livened up by activities, people contributing with something, forming
community, coming to celebrate, to meet, to support, to learn but also
to benefit from the cause.
The afternoon continued with a video
performance (Claudi Piripippi), followed by the reading of a story
narrating a young girl’s heartbreaking child marriage (text written by
Ivana Lupi and artfully read by Giovanna di Bellissimi), then followed
by Rete Interattiva, a participatory installation entailing the weaving
of a poetic net of symbols (Anja Steinhauer and Eva Onnen-Saelens). The
buzz lasted until 7:30 pm.
The exhibition will be extended for another weekend. Thank you Woman Scream for the opportunity.
Claudi Piripippi
Coordinator WS Dolcedo 2025
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Thanks for your support and solidarity, please help us spread the word. :)