Artista
experience and
travel. In brief, would you like to say
something about yourself and the path which led you to choose art as a
profession?
«From
my early childhood, I loved to create and play with color.
My
nature was curious and therefore, I needed to discover and to be challenged
with learning. I liked to
experiment with different substances,
being herbs for cooking, vinegar, dirt, leaves from trees, paper, water and
mixing them to invent new creations.
I
liked being with people, seeing them
laugh, bringing them together and
helping in times of need.
My
mother was a gifted pianist (but for economic and family reasons, could not
continue) and my father was born as an artist\engineer and applied these
talents working as a Pattern Maker (in wood and steel) for the aerospace
industry, water systems and even the US government. Our house was always filled with music,
literature and discussions about architecture, design and the arts.
Everyone
in my family were good cooks and valued quality food and nutrition; I spent most of my weekends in the kitchen
helping my grandmother cook and experimenting to create my own recipes.
During my high school years, I decided that I wanted
to become a commercial artist, and my projects would need to communicate a spiritual message. I enjoyed courses in science and
psychology, as well as spiritual
literature – both Asian and Western.
By the age of 17, several of my works were exhibited
in major museums Los Angeles County Museum, I
had won numerous prizes and competitions from prestigious organizations,
including from the US Postal
Services, Bank
of America. I was accepted at Art
Center College of Design, one of the top 3 designs schools in the US.
Being from parents of Italian Catholic background, who
believed that an artist has to suffer to survive, the “proper” education would
be in an “intellectual” subject, taught by Jesuit priests. Not having financial or emotional family support
to attend Art Center, I enrolled at Loyola
Marymount University, majoring in Psychology and Fine
Arts. During University I worked to
manage an art gallery, which included doing the picture framing and interior
design with clients works of art.
I also attended one year of University in Rome, where a new world opened. Through my studies
and travels, my perspective on life and
people opened which marked an important
turning point in my life.
Needing
to support myself, and for family reasons, I decided to use my degree in
Psychology and began working as an “International
Management Consultant” with leading public and private multinational
organizations throughout Europe and South East Asia.
Working
and meeting people from different countries, being nurtured and stimulated by
the richness of ancient cultures, traditions, the arts and history I learned
that in order to really understand and value other people, one needs to fully
understand their backgrounds.
Already
at the age of 6, I had a desire to live and work in both Asia and Europe, maybe
I already understood this concept at that age.
After I worked for 5 years as a professional
international management consultant, I decided to return to further my studies
and obtained a Master’s Degree in International
Organization Behavior at the University
of Southern California. During and upon completion of my Mater’s degree, I
continued working, although on even more influential projects, associated with
University Professors expert in the field of “International Change Management” in both Europe and South East
Asia.
My personal spiritual
mission as a consultant was to help people discover, for
themselves, their own happiness. I believed
that if people were happy and doing what they felt passionate about, they
would, in turn be productive and
profitable for organizations and society.
Throughout my 23 years as a management consultant, I
maintained my interests in the arts by collecting, and buying and selling
pieces throughout my travels, as well as exchanging creative ideas with other
artists and architects.
Finally, given the change in the economy and work
place values in the mid 90’s, (which no longer coincided with my own, at this
time I was living in Italy), and my strong need to express my artistic side, I
found the courage and strength to leave my rewarding and successful career as a management. Before I left
consultancy, I accepted a 2 year contract in Hong Kong with a major English
consulting firm to create new consulting services throughout South East Asia. Over
midway through this assignment, my values and work ethics were challenged even
more so, enough to give me the strength to go back to Italy and follow my
childhood dream.
I
relocated to Veneto, where I had wanted
to live since the age of 13 to learn the ceramic techniques at Bassano del
Grappa and to be near Venice.
In
Veneto, I returned to working in ceramics.
During
my eight years in living and working in Veneto,
I was privileged to meet and develop wonderful relationships with some
of Italy’s renowned artists such as: Gianmaria Potenza, Alberto
Gianquinto, Vittorio
Basaglia, Angelo
Zennaro, Pino
Castagna and Carmelo Zotti. Months after I began working in the arts, I
had numerous commissions and invitations for exhibitions and collaborations
throughout Italy and abroad with prestigious organizations which included: the United
Nations in Vienna, Peggy
Guggenheim – Venezia, Kunst
Meran – Merano, Ubaldo
Grazia – Deruta.
Living
near Venice my creativity was stimulated
to the extent that I could not paint as quickly as ideas where coming to me.
My
decision to “become” an artist was not conscious; it was subconscious, there was a little voice inside of me
that gave and continues to give me the
strength and courage to work in this direction.
I have recently come to recognize how my upbringing
and professional background and life experiences have contributed and enriched my art.
I hope that my vast life experience enables my art to
be shared and resonate with a great number of individuals and societies of
people from different cultures and backgrounds».
You work with different materials, ceramic, textiles,
canvas, etc.
What
do you prefer to work with and why?
«There are several reasons why I like using different
materials and media.
Using different media and materials enables me to
express different emotions, sensations and thoughts. Depending what I am feeling and wanting to
express, determines the media that I select.
I like challenges, learning and finding solutions; working with different materials and media
satisfies these needs. Also, it is due
to my education\the school curriculum.
I prefer working with ceramics.
There are many reasons why I like to work with clay: Clay
is alive, always moving, (technically speaking) as it is a flexible material which
allows sensations and emotions slowly unfold until they take a shape. The
characteristic of clay brings forth messages hidden in the subconscious or the
super conscious to a conscious level in a gentle way; clay has dimension, it
stimulates the senses of touch, sight and even smell, so, in my opinion, it
seems more “real”; working with clay has
a calming and relaxing effect,
which has been scientifically
proven; ceramic objects can be both artistic as well as functional\utilitarian,
so these objects become easier to incorporate in ones day to day life; I enjoy
creating new recipes and all types of
cuisine, as well as interest in nutrition, and
color. Therefore I can “apply” and integrate my creations with my
interests; and finally and maybe most importantly, it is “destiny” or a natural
instinct».
Would you give
us your personal definition of an “artist”?
«In general an artist
is anyone who creates through painting, sculpting, drawing, music, theater,
writing, etc.
The definition of an artist as it relates to my art is
someone, who expresses messages, sensations, emotions that are in their heart
and soul that reflect moments and experiences from their own and those felt of others past, present and, at times,
even the future».
In our “Liquid World”, as defined by Bauman, certainty is lacking, and culture is often considered as a
“tail-light, ” whereas on the contrary,
culture is the “headlight” to escape from this vicious circle.
Art, Culture,
Beauty were always the guiding spirit to
transform moments in crisis into
extraordinary opportunities by turning the cards on the table, as they arrive
from the mind and spirit and thus,
people are not left to fall empty either in horror or insecurity.
In your opinion,
what role should Art play in today’s world?
«I agree with this statement.
I believe that Art in today’s current situation should be considered as
an invaluable catalyst for change.
If we accept and value Art to foster
collaboration between societies\countries and to bring communities together,
Art has an extremely powerful role to
bring about change that politics, traditional medicine etc cannot
address.
Given the premise that Art has and is been
considered as a:
·
“Product” of culture which reflects how people see
themselves and the world around them;
·
“Form” of documentation of our present\history, illustrating
cultural values, thinking and emotions;
·
“Means” to depict
both beauty and suffering;
·
“Instrument”
to assist people to explore their emotions and thoughts, both those
known and those hidden in their subconscious;
·
“Model” in risk taking and invention. An artist’s
takes risks, develops new ways at looking at things – combining creativity and
invention. Therefore, there is no doubt that Artists and Art are leaders for the process of change.
To
create the most effective change,
artists need to create from their hearts and soul – the place of
purity, truth and love. Art needs to challenge one to really see and feel what is inside themselves and others. Art and
people’s experiences of it need to be shared.
With
our current worldwide and individual difficulties, it is challenging not only
for all individuals in society today but also for a sensitive artist to go
beyond the pain and suffering.
Although
an artist has the gift to go beyond what is happening in the outer world by
touching, interpreting and expressing
messages from his\her soul and heart.
Artist’s need to not let the current
reduced spending and increased fear and insecurity in today’s world stop
him\her but to feel challenged and driven to take on greater risks, inventing and creating in search for
discovering that what is new and even better.
An
artist needs to share his\her art and to be given opportunities within
communities to do so. Artist, in this
role, serve as a great catalyst for creating and inspiring individuals and
societies to positive change.
A
recent example is of how art has impacted the world in a positive way, but
through a devastating situation, is with the situation of the numerous loses of
the Charlie Hebdo
cartoonists in France. The act to
silence their art has created strong
international unity to fight against
terrorist and to defend freedom of speech.
An artist, when he\she is working from the
messages coming from his\her soul and heart
is provided with the gift of promoting love, abundance, hope, joy, and
life.
Although with the case of Charlie Hebdo,
with great pain and suffering for some».
The creative process, from formulating an idea to the
actual execution of the work is fascinating and a personal “sign or mark” of
each artist. Where does your inspiration
come from and how does your creative process work?
«This is a profound and excellent question, and it is
not easy or simple to answer. The answer
merits a long response and for the purpose of this interview, I will give a
brief answer.
My inspirations to create come from various
sources:
1) external stimuli - people, places, experiences, and
my thoughts, emotions and sensations connected with each;
2) intuitive messages (internal stimuli) that come
unexpectedly;
3) a desire to transform a message to “teach or
enlighten” others in a fun or indirect manner;
4) a drive to experiment with materials and then I
allow the materials lead me to create the form and select the color.
I
find that the most successful or effective process is to be spontaneous\free in
selecting materials, colors, medium and the form that represents what I would
like to create».
You are able to touch the soul of people, move their
hearts and minds opening the door to emotionality, thanks to your artistic
creations, what do your clients say, what is your secret?
«When my art
has this affect upon its viewers, I feel I am fulfilling my
life’s-purpose. Many people tell me that my art does this, they say it is full
of light and inspires. Although, not
everyone does nor can resonate with my art.
There is no real secret, it is something that is
inside of me.
I have not tried to analyze this, it just happens».
You represent a crosscurrent phenomenon. Statistics this year have shown that the total amount of
Italian emigration has surpassed that of foreign immigration coming to
Italy. , Going back two centuries, Italians were those with the “
cardboard suitcases”, demonstrating the lack of faith and hope in our
country.
You, on the contrary, from the United States came to
Italy, where you live and work with great success; you are a privileged witness who can observe
our country with a less pessimistic eye.
How do you ” live” our Italy?
Coming
from an Italian background, and being raised within an Italian immigrant
community until I was 8 years old, my formative values were and remain
Italian.
I was always the “exception to the rule” when I was given psychological
testing in school, as my results classified my values and behavior typical of
Southern Mediterranean countries.
Since
the first time I came to Italy at the age of 13, I felt at home.
Although
I never consciously planned on “immigrating” to Italy even though I have had
dual citizenship, due to my Italian heritage.
Maybe
it was my destiny that I am living here.
I had
the chance to study one year in Rome, and after graduation and from thereafter
I kept receiving important international
career opportunities related to Cross
Cultural Organization Behavior working with leading public and private
organizations and individuals in Italy.
I
have also worked throughout Europe, Asia and some in the US; although the working relationships that have
been the most fulfilling and natural for me have been in Italy.
I
always appreciated that Italians know
how to work hard but also take time to appreciate and enjoy life, something
that I did not see in the United States.
Sometimes today I get frustrated that many Italians do
not appreciate and respect the multitude of richness there is in Italy.
Looking around the world, many countries are facing challenges, in one
way or the other.
I
believe that things will turn for the better.
Being an artist, Italy is one of the most important
place one could live».
What are the
bright points beyond the dark that should be developed or enhanced to create a
future different from our present?
To appreciate, respect, value and be proud of living
in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, rich with history,
culture, natural beauty and, at the heart of everyone - a strong sense of being
humanitarian.
To
transform the individualist characteristic to be used in positive way for example not letting the negativity of others and
situations surrounding them effect but find and fight to look for solutions and
to act upon these.
I am grateful and admire many individuals who, even
with limited resources and numerous obstacles, provide positive support and
projects to improve the situation.
I
have met many individuals and groups in Italy who have been dedicated and
generous in supporting the arts.
In
your area, Biella, I have had the
opportunities to meet and be associated with several important people,
including: Mariella
Biollino – Sindaco Candelo, ex-Provincial Cultural
Assessor; journalists with both national
and local media, Il Biellese, La Stampa, etc;
numerous artists and craftsman working in the Cantine at Ricetto
di Candelo; Anna
Azario, Pria Factory; Graziano
Prola, picture framer and “appassionato di arte” – Il Cornicaio, Borgo D’ale .
Other
individuals in the Torino area whom I
respect for their contributions include:
Anna Pironti, Barbara Rocci, Paola Zanini – Department of Education Castello di Rivoli, Catterina Seia – UNI Management.
I
have seen and spoken with many people who think that this current situation is
something positive, as it is making many
people re-look at their values and to recognize the greater need for love,
appreciation and sharing and uniting more with others».
Creative,
eclectic and radiant, you are always on the move.
What projects do you have in mind next?
«I have numerous ideas.
Currently I am working on projects for exhibitions
related to the Expo 2015 CIBO theme, at this moment, for Milano, Parma, and Biella at the
Spazio Pria - June 2015.
I am excited about these project opportunities, as I
will be able to incorporate most aspects about what I enjoy the most. Right now I am dedicating my time and energy
for creating for these exhibitions.
As I
move further along the process of creating for these exhibitions, I will be
lead to know what my next project will be.
I like surprising others and myself».
B.Saccagno
TRADUZIONE
Intervista a Carla Cecere
Artista
_piccola.jpeg)
Post
