On September 14th at 7:00 PM, the traveling collective sound performance of participatory art, Terre sonanti – Il Mammut, will begin at the 16th-century Castle. The project, conceived and organized by Silvia Di Gregorio of Libera Pupazzeria, is part of the fourth edition of “Performative,” the international festival of performance art, dance, music, and theater organized by MAXXI L’Aquila in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila.
The project, inspired by one of the region’s defining symbols, promotes synergies between individuals, organizations, associations, artists, students, and communities to highlight the vitality of the region’s cultural heritage and its potential, thus making the Mammut a “sounding land” inviting visitors to embark on a journey.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the accidental discovery of the Mammuthus meridionalis in the clay quarry of the Fornace Santarelli in Scoppito, symbolically bringing it back to life, a participatory work of art was created. This reproduction of the 1.3-million-year-old fossil skeleton housed in the eastern bastion of the 16th-century castle was also created through numerous community workshops conducted since July in the workshop of Ferdinando Tacconi, former stage designer and former chief stagehand at the Teatro Stabile d’Abruzzo, assisted by Fausto Antonetti. On the supporting structure of the mammoth made of fir wood, which they created, artist Massimo Piunti coordinated the modeling, decoration, and aesthetic interpretation of the papier-mâché giant and oversaw the project’s graphics. Reflecting the community’s broad participation, approximately sixty people also took part in the construction of the physical and sound performance.
The mammoth will parade through the historic center of L’Aquila, ending in Piazza Duomo, where various shows and artistic performances will take place.
Then the mammoth will begin a journey through the 13 municipalities in the L’Aquila area involved in the partnership, which also includes the National Museum of Abruzzo. The Municipality of Scoppito is the lead partner, with the municipalities of Acciano, Barisciano, Campotosto, Fagnano Alto, Fontecchio, Fossa, Ocre, Poggio Picenze, San Demetrio Ne’ Vestini, Sant’Eusanio Forconese, Tione Degli Abruzzi, and Villa Sant’Angelo as partners. The project will include meetings and educational workshops in local schools.
Visitors are advised that, for organizational reasons, on September 13th, the Castle’s eastern bastion, during its evening opening hours to the public from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, will have its last entry brought forward from 10:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
The project is a collaboration between Univaq, MAXXI L’Aquila, Teatro Stabile D’Abruzzo, the National Museum of Abruzzo, the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila, the Sirente Velino Park Authority, the “24 Luglio Community,” the Punto Luce socio-educational center of L’Aquila, the Fulvio Muzi Art School, the comprehensive schools of San Demetrio and Rocca di Mezzo, Navelli and Scoppito, the associations Libera Pupazzeria Ets, La Kap – casa di arte e natura, Appstart società cooperativa Onlus, the L’Aquila stage design company Scena di Cavalletto d’Ocre, and the Catering 24 Luglio company. It is included in the “Aria Theatre Festival” of the University of L’Aquila and enjoys the patronage of the Special Office for the reconstruction of the Municipalities of the 2009 earthquake crater (USRC).
