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On the southeastern
coast of Sicily, the scenic city of Noto holds a unique festival at the
end of May called the Infiorata. Artists work with a special organic soil
to outline a scene on the sidewalk which is filled in with specially prepared
flower petals, along with other organic seeds and dried legumes. The process
is much like making a stained glass window, with the leading being the
small earthen dam and the glass represented by the flowers.
The exhibit consists
of many individual works spread out on Corrado Nicolaci, a street in Noto
lined with palaces. On Friday the artists begin their creations so they
can be admired over the weekend. Then on Monday children are allowed to
run through the flowers, destroying the works. This theme, one of creation
by the older forces and destruction by the young upstarts so that renewal
can take place, is a theme in many traditional festivals in Italy. A similar
occurrence takes place in the Festa della
Madonna Bruna in Matera, Italy.
This year Sicilian artists
came to San Francisco to recreate the Infiorata. For information on the
techniques used and pictures of the process, see the Infiorata
of San Francisco. |
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