Lecce, Italy boasts multi-faceted points of fame. Known for its agricultural exports, the capitol metropolis is also renowned for its limestone. As a result, Lecce features an astonishing amount of Baroque sculpture and architecture, “marked by heavy building speculation that began in the 1970s,” for which it is commonly referred to as “the Florence of the South.” Last month, Lecce built upon this artistic tradition, and “returned its soul to its most authentic vocation” with the first edition of Casalbate Street Summer Festival. The event took place July 24-28th, and was organized by 167B Street.
Casalbate Street Summer Festival saw the creation of “27 new high-visual wall murals,” as stated by 167B Street. A press release provided by staff member Anna Kitlas explains that “here, the urban territory of the seaside of Casalabate was crossed by the intervention of nationally and internationally renowned artists, who created majestic works of art on the external walls of different buildings. The intention to create a real creative and artistic district with the acronym CAD – Casalabate Art District, has created an open-air creative workshop on the streets of the town.”
With this event, 167B Street envisions transforming this seaside section of the town. In their efforts to achieve this goal, the festival employed a knockout roster of guest artists including “L7Matrix (Brazil), Dimitris Taxis (Greece), Franko Dinaj (Albania), Kler and SoFreeSo (Switzerland), Majilina (Austria), Eleman, Toni Spinar, TMX (Spain).From Italy arrived: Ivan Tresoldi (street poet), Bros, Mr Blob, Stencilnoire, Piger, Elkemi, Carlitops, Mr Fijodor, Rizek, Mino di Suma, Red Stencil, Davide Curci, Antonio Poe. Local artists were: Chekos’art (one of the organizers), Davide DPA, Frank Lucignolo, Crash, Fran, Miguel Rodrigez, Au Osce.”
Their results comprise a lively, varied collection of new works. Many are figurative, and the organization’s press release says a number of “murals were dedicated to popular music singers such as Nicola Arigliano (known jazz singer, born in Squinzano), Renzo Arbore, Uccio Aloisi (the father of pizzica), Lucio Battisti, Albano and Romina.” Others, like Taxis, Tresoldi, and Majilina, focused on more natural scenes to portray the seaside city’s ambience.
This impressive body of work was “curated and directed by the Cultural Association 167/B Street.” The organization is native to the city, and calls itself “one of the best Italian artistic [forces] with international experience in the field of urban street art and realization of participatory workshops.” This premier iteration of the street art festival took place “in collaboration with Casalabate Music Festival (famous reggae festival which has been held for years in Casalabate) together with other associations, a reality in the area and with the sponsorship of the Municipalities of Squinzano and Trepuzzi.”
167B Street thanked those who helped facilitate the successful first edition, stating, “the event would not have been possible without the sponsor of Caparol colors, one of the brands with the widest assortment of technological solutions for facades, paints and paints.” The event was also sponsored by RI Group, Cacciatore House of Taviano, Colorificio 2M of Trepuzzi & Adriatica Metalli, Loop – Astrofat. With the help of these organizations, it will be exciting to see what new additions this festival will bring to the historic city in years to come.
Images by Giorgio Coen Cagli
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