WORKSHOP October 26/27, 2024
Canticle of the Creatures
Creative workshop proposed and directed by Guido Dettoni della Grazia
in the church Santa Maria delle Rose in Assisi.
On the occasion of the centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures, written by Francis of Assisi tra 1224 and 1225 at the church of San Damiano, where almost blind he finished it, shortly before his death in 1226, dictating the last part to an amanuensis.
WORKSHOP
This workshop took place in Santa Maria delle Rose, church which is hosting Guido Dettoni della Grazia's permanent exhibition of sacred art in Assisi since 2000.
all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle
eight people
participated
in the workshop
ANEZKA NOVOMETSKA (Czech Republic)
BARBARA GREGORAT (Italy)
FRANCISCA MONTILLA (Spain)
LORELLA FALASCHI (Italy)
MARTA VIZCAINO (Spain)
PACIFIKA JUSKOVA (Slovakia)
ROSANNA ANTONIONO (Italy)
SARA SANTOPAOLO (Italy)
THE EXPERIENCE
Day One
This workshop proposes a “pause in the journey” to experience the Canticle of the Creatures beyond the intellect, with hands and in blindness.
4 HANDS
In order to feel that they were part of a whole and make full contact with the matter, the participants molded wax in pairs, facing each other blindfolded.
2 HANDS
The wax modeled in 4 HANDS was recycled for use during the 2 HANDS individual creative process, inspired by the Canticle of the Creatures (pdf languages) recited by Francesco Carnelutti:
Then, the hands move in the wax to create the form that witnesses the lived experience.
THE TACTILE CANTICLE
Finally, to harden them, the forms are immersed in cold water, almost baptized, to preserve and take pictures from different angles.
The forms become the tactile link between the author and the memory of what he or she has experienced.
TESTIMONIALS
Day two
The participants gathered to share their experience and leave their testimony.
Listening to the full playback that follows, we feel that the “pause” led them to a spiritual and emotional experience to which the created form bears witness. Once revealed what inspired it, the form, when contained again in the hands, becomes its nexus of union.
They were welcomed as observers, having been unable to attend the day before, Silvia Orciari and Simona Fratti.
THE VISUAL CANTICLE
While the tactile forms are the nexus of union with what is experienced and therefore recorded in the "memory" of each author, the images of the forms can depict the Canticle, being "presence" for everybody. The figures that appear in the Canticle and in the visual narrative are: Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Sisters Stars, Brother Wind, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Mother Earth and Sister Death.
Guido Dettoni della Grazia digitally transmutes the forms, once they are turned to images, into the plates depicting the figures of the Canticle.
Brother SUN
Transmutation of the image of the form by Lorella Falaschi.
Sister MOON
Transmutation of the image of the form of Pacifika Juskova.
Sisters STARS
Sisters Transmutation of the Image of the Form by Barbara Gregorat.
Brother WIND
Transmutation of the image of the form of Anezka Novomestska.
Sister WATER
Transmutation of the image of the form of Francisca Moltilla.
Brother FIRE
Transmutation of the images of the forms by Lorella Falschi and Francisca Montilla.
Mother EARTH
Transmutation of the images of the forms by Lorella Falschi, Pacifika Juskova, Barbara Gregorat, Anezka Novomestska, Francisca Montilla, Rossana Antoniono, Sara Santopaolo and Marta Vizcaino.
Sister DEATH
Transmutation of the images of the forms by Marta Vizcaino, Francisca Montilla and Barbara Gregorat.
THE SOUND CANTICLE
Silvia Orciari discovers the sounds of the eight tables of the Visual Canticle, interprets them with her voice, also revealing the acoustic connection between them and the C major scale.
The sound version becomes presence, leaving the words of the Song in everyone’s intimate memory.