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“Giustisia e Fortesa” from Palmanova to Venice
On Saturday, September 26th, 2020, at Forte Marghera (Venezia), Palmanova building, from 7 pm, at the opening of the international collective event “Stendardi”, organized by Officine, Rosso Veneziano, with the contribution of Itinerari 80. Exhibition lasts till October 11th.
Info event on FB page: officinefortemarghera
“Giustisia and Fortesa” – in the Bisiac dialect which is my native language related to the Venetian – are cardinal virtues as well as two figures of the Major Arcana to be practiced as a way towards the never ending human enlightment. The standard personifies both Justice (VIII) and Strenght (XI), in Sheren’s art identity. They are connected respectively to the balance of Libra and to the constellation of Leo that holds the double star of Regulus in the chest, among the four regal ones of the firmament. The painting on canvas is as tall as me and seven times – but in proportion – larger than the Visconti-Sforza cards preserved between New York (Morgan Library) and Bergamo (Colleoni collection). It enters fully into the personal research of Tarotensigns undertaken in 2005 and which now counts almost the complete set of twenty-two, each of which is connected with precise moments of art-life. For the occasion the first “off-site” ensign made in 2005 for Giancarlo Da Lio and the Embassy of Venice, is brought back to the theme of the Tarot as the”Magician” who starts the whole journay.
In “Giustisia e Fortesa” as a performance, the personal visual research is intertwined and retraces from 1 to 11 the musical fragments composed by Dario Della Rossa in the broader parallel and consonant path undertaken together. In succession, the tracks: 01 Magician 00:58 – 02 Popess 01:04 – 03 Empress 00:22 – 04 Emperor 00:18 – 05 Pope 01:39 – 06 Lover 02:38 – 07 Cart 00:19 – 08Justice 00:58 – 09 Hermit 02:36 – 10 Wheel 01:15 – Strenght 00:58).
It happens from Palmanova – the star shaped city near which I live – to the building of the same name in Forte Marghera, on September 26, 2020, to sanction and reaffirm an unprecedented twinning of freedom and strength.
“1st of May 2020”
On the first of May 2020, my thoughts are for the beauty of life and for the necessity of the art in the past, present and future!
“Suite for Dawn”
The Ouverture of the “Suite for Dawn” is meant as a suggestion to prepare all of us for a new beginning after Coronavirus’ quarantine. I composed it with words (and images) according with the Baroque and Renaissance dance. Let’s start with Allemanda in a binary rhythm that refers to my installation of Lucia and Gertrude, as narrated by Manzoni at the time of the plague in Milan. Corrente, a triple metre dance follows, where I remind all my travelling with Dawn – an artist from London – as well as the friendship with Dario, the musician (featured in Sarabanda). The last movement – Giga – reaches the apex of the heavens because Dawn ‘passed away’ on March 2nd but when I look at the painting “Paradiso” left here, I know (s)he is still with me.
Full texts and images in the contribution for Compendio del Tempo Sospeso at https://www.microbo.net/2020/03/laura-cristin-2/
Merry ‘Xmas 2019 and happy New Year 2020
A glimpse of new ‘Xmas decorations from Laura Cristin Sheren
At the end of a very intense/happy 2019, I wish all the best to everybody, offering with this card just a glimpse of my INTERIORity coming from brand new ‘Xmas decorations, recycled and revisited from the past. Among these: a crib made with four statuines recently bought in Naples, set around the invite of mcDONAlds (let us donate!), a nativity scene with the figurines of my childhood hosted this year in a new shelter (roof is made with part of a wooden crate “La Qualità dal 1954” – referring to Sicilian citrus fruit – preserved for years) to end with a ©hristmas tree – made out with an advert of the Aspirine with vitamin C – that was collected outside a chemist shop. Enjoy getting towards the new decennial!
At Lo Stracquo in Ponza, September 2019
“Mare Nostrum che sei nei cieli” it is a pray from Laura Cristin for the many who tried to cross the Mediterranean but did not survive, Ponza, 3 September 2019
There’s a map of Mediterranean, in “Sherena Velella” book made after lo Stracquo 2014, where I drew crosses for the many who found the eternal rest there. This year, having completed a similar journay to Ponza – resulting in the bust of sea and sky of “Sherena Lunata” – I ended with “Flaschenpost from Venedig to Ponza” (video at https://youtu.be/0NLnO_iXPCw ) so I could pray: “Mare Nostrum che sei nei cieli…”
A Wave 4 SFMOMAilart Congress snap+share
On August 3rd 2019, the mail art congress snap+share hosted by The Sticker Dude, John Held and others, will take place at San Francisco MOMA from 1:00 to 5:00 pm local time. On the same day, photos were taken first thing in the morning in the star shaped city of Palmanova (Italy) as a wave of good wish from Laura Cristin Sheren. The original portrait of Joel Cohen, made in 2016 as a memory of a jointed performance in Coney Island in 2012, was installed in the central niche of the square, just below a pennon flagging the Italian flag and on a water well that reminds the Ocean. Since the nine hours of time difference (Europe is farther ahead than California in this field!) the action is meant as a preview. Other correspondances will follow in coincidence with the Congress.
City Lit centenary
City Lit in London celebrates its centenary this year and I am honoured to have my story – related to Midsummer term 1976-77– hosted in the blog at https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/city-lit-stories-laura-cristin?fbclid=IwAR0tnnjBSGaYzb8AWcr3YTB0t8WQKEnLlFI6Gt87dmKla7jHO_775tQwwqU
My story was added around the solstice of June, while I was in Berlin for the performance at the Brandenburger Tor, that was a success for the inter-action with people, history and the site. Here are some photos, full report was made in the fb album A MARE in Berlin for the 30 years from the Fall of the Wall. Shortly I will post a specific project in this website.
A MARE in Berlin, participatory performance of Laura Cristin at Brandenburger Tor, 22 June 2019
A MARE in Berlin
Laura Cristin at the opening of Biennale di Venezia #58, May 11th 2019, upper left : detail of “Muro di Berlino” oil and collage behind glass, cm 62 x 88, 1990.
Sweet Overseas Shipwreck
On the 3rd and /or 5th May, Sheren will be in Milan, for a impromptu in Piazza Duomo and/or in a shared garden of Isola, for a wave of good luck at the marriage of Kika and Antonello.
Saturday, May 11th , in Venice, on the occasion of the Biennale # 58 opening, at 1:00 pm Sheren will be with Peter Kuestermann along the Adria-side in front of Giardini, to re-create an a-mare to which to entrust our hopes and fears, and those of the refugees who have eventfully crossed the Mediterranean. From 16:00, the action will move to the 7th sestiere of Mestre, in via Cavallotti 83/B for “Checkpoint”, a parallel event of the Venice Biennale curated by Giancarlo and Giulia Da Lio.
The performances of Laura Cristin Sheren are also part of London Biennale 2019.
Life and love are multi-faceted diamonds where good and evil and a thousand other shades form a single pearl. The world of the Sirens, with its aquatic and earthly contradictions, bears witness to this. Sheren, who from a long time practiced that imaginary, with the arms and baggage of the art/life, in 2019 is particularly inspired, 200 years after its writing, by “e il naufragar m’è dolce in questo mare”, which concludes, with admirable and fluctuating opening, “L’Infinito” by Giacomo Leopardi.
That verse seems all right to be re-lived with engaging waves embracing memories, dreams and fears, personal and collective.
Full text/proposal. The first performance on the theme will be in MILAN, on the 3rd and/or 5th May (piazza Duomo and/or shared garden of Isola) for the marriage of Kika and Antonello, with the unfolding of an auspicious free wave that will flag and wrap without forcing.
The following Saturday, which is May 11th and coincides with the Biennale #58 opening, Sheren will decline Leopardi’s verse in VENICE: at 13:00, along the Adria-side in front of Giardini. Then the action will move to “Checkpoint”, parallel event of 7° sestiere, care of Giancarlo and Giulia Da Lio, in Mestre, via Cavallotti 83/B, from 16:00. Together with Peter Kuestermann and the (mail) artists or passers by wishing to participate, a bridge will be created , with the hopes and fears of those who eventfully have crossed the Mediterranean. It will give the chance to recite a ‘de profundis’ of the value of the Western civilization (?) buried in the sea-cemetery together with the castaways who did not make it, but also a small attempt to restore a bit of humanity in consciences.
Peter Kuestermann will bring the messages-in-the-bottles entrusted to him by refugees in Germany who have managed to save (at least physically) their lives and now wishing to leave their thoughts to the big sea of love that has not swallowed them.
In the re-created waves, everyone can immerse themselves, reflect and deliver to the sea, even only a yearning for hope. For those who prefer the ancient art of writing, Sheren will provide ‘blank messages’ to be completed and put into bottles collected around the world, which will be returned in the five continents.
P.S. The performance of Laura Cristin Sheren are also part of London Biennale 2019.
