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STATEMENT BY PROF. NANDO MARZO, ASSESSOR FOR TOURISM, CULTURE AND SPORT
GENERAL INFORMATION In the spring of 2003, the Cultural Assessor of the municipality of Castrignano del Capo (province of Lecce – ITALY), acting on the proposal of Prof. Mario Calcagnile, will organise an International Scupture Symposium "in Pietra Leccese". This document is intended to provide general information, in anticipation of a formal invitation which will follow verbal contact. The work atelier will be set up along the waterfront of Santa Maria di Leuca Finibus Terrae. On the promontory above Point Meliso, where a sanctuary stands today, there was, in pagan times, a temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Minerva. Santa Maria di Leuca, situated on an ancient headland at the end of the "boot" of Italy, is renowned both as a tourist venue and mystical place. Every year tens of thousands of people arrive, by land or sea, in this sun-filled town, which is part of the municipality of Castrignano del Capo, in the province of Lecce. It is precisely because of this particular geographical position of Finibus Terrae, that tourists, religious practitioners, pilgrims and people who love the sea come to this special place. The intention of the Cultural Assessor Prof. Ferdinando Marzo, is to enrich this spot with sculptural "presences" which, as well as providing additional enhancement to the locality, will also offer a cultural stimulus to all who have the chance to enjoy them. The quarries from which the so-called ‘pietra leccese’ is extracted are situated not far from the territory of Santa Maria di Leuca. This type of stone, soft and easy to sculpt, has a white, chalky colour when it is freshly quarried; it tends to become harder and turn golden yellow as it oxidizes through exposure to the air. This is a material which is still very much in use today and contributed, in earlier times, to the realisation of the LECCESE BAROQUE, with its unique characteristics.
The symposium of 2003, like the earlier 2001 edition in Cannole (LE), is titled "SEGNI E RI-SEGNI", as the aim of the event is to create a bridge between the presence of ancient "signs" and the realisation of new ones (RI-SEGNI): It is the intention of the Assessor to revive interest in the myth of LEUKOS, and therefore the invited artists are asked to draw their inspiration from the legends connected to this region. Leukos = shining whiteness. There is a legend which dates back to the time of the Messapians (see the article by Bianca Tragni in the Gazzetta Del Mezzogiorno) which recounts... "Where the Ionic and Adriatic seas meet, there reigned as queen a completely white mermaid named Leucasia, beautiful, but a monster; half woman half fish, she sang divinely and attracted all sailors. Once, when her advances to the shepherd Meliso were not reciprocated, she petrified him and his lover, transforming them into the two rocky points which embrace the extreme edge of the sea." Taking into account that this a non-profit event with an exclusively cultural aim, the invited artists will be offered room and board and a symbolic attendence compensation of Euro 500. The municipal administration will provide the stones for sculpting and access to electric power at 220 volts. However, since pietra leccese is friable, it is also easy to work with only manual tools. More comprehensive information will be available at a later date; we thank you for your attention and your possible contribution to the optimum success of the event. Mario Calcagnile Lecce, 22/1/2003
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