Art Exhibit

"Mimmo Rotella - Artypo 1966-1975" is an exhibit currently being shown in Molfetta's Hospital of the Crusaders. As interesting as Rotella's work may be, I can't help but feel that the building itself outshines any exhibit held in it.

The "hospital" was built next to the Basilica of the Madonna dei Martiri in 1095 and is not thought to have actually been a hospital, but a sort of guest house for pilgrims returning from the crusades to the Holy Land. A place where they could rest and recover, both physically and mentally.

Abbracci - The Exhibit

The centerpiece of the art exhibit by Gaetano Grillo was the title sculpture, "Abbracci." The shell of two human forms is painted gold on one side...

...and covered with various signs and symbols on the other side. The use of only beige on beige writing with white outlines is somewhat new for Grillo, who has often used bright primary or pastel colors.

Art Exhibits

There are two art exhibits on in Molfetta's old town at the moment. The first is a collection of handmade nativity scenes. They are made from a wide variety of materials and in a wide variety of styles. Some are made by professionals, others by amatuers and some by children. The scene above is made in clay.

The other exhibit is called "Black Box: Look in the Hole." Its concept is of a world "enclosed in a box that is the container of all the behaviours, habits, values, excesses and relationships that life offers in relationship to the environment... The artists observe the contents of this box through a hole." Etcetera etcetera... Very dark, very disturbing.

I recommend the nativity scenes...