08 May 2011

FAME part 1

Grottaglie is one of many beautiful small towns in Puglia, south of Italy. It has a beautiful old town with narrow streets and a central piazza, and a not so interesting newer residential and commercial area around (where people actually live and work). It is also famous for its ceramics, with one part of old town dedicated to this art.

But one man and a festival changed this town into something unique. After Angelo started the FAME festival, streetart started popping up, both in the old town, the newer town parts, and in the area. Especially interesting was that an old abandoned monastery was taken in use as a site-specific gallery. Each artist have painted a room in this vast maze of a building.

It is truly a joy walking around in town, not knowing which artpiece you might find next. Some of the pieces really have a fantastic way of cooperating with their surroundings. The uniqueness of this "exhibition", the top level of international artists, and the thrill of seeing these walls live, makes this town into a place you just must visit.

Part 1:
In residential areas

Sam3 and Boris Hoppek
Entering Grottaglie from the south, the pieces by Sam3 and Boris Hoppek are the first ones you see.

Word to Mother
Word to Mother

Swoon
A sweet piece by Swoon

JR
A piece by JR mostly faded away now

Nunca
Nunca

Dolk
Dolk

Erica il Cane
Erica il Cane

Erica il Cane
Erica il Cane

The funeral of the rooster - by Erica il Cane
The funeral of the rooster - by Erica il Cane
The first year of Fame Erica il Cane painted a large rooster on a wall. Unfortunately this was painted over, due to not knowing the value of the art. The next year Erica il Cane came back, and painted this long piece on the stadium: the funeral procession of the rooster

Boris Hoppek
Also on the stadium: Boris Hoppek

Escif
on the stadium: Escif

Blu
Blu
The chimneys have a strikingly similarity to the massive industrial area just outside neighbour city Taranto, pouring out pollution to the surroundings.

Blu
Blu
There was a large controversy about a garbage dump close to Grottaglie. This is coming to light in Blu's genial piece.

More pictures in this set:


thanks a lot to A and G!