Barbagia Meets New York: A Residency in Sardinia

June 29th - July 14th

Wednesday, June 29th Departure from New York JFK Airport to London Heathrow Airport

Thursday, June 30th Arrival in London, transfer to Gatwick Airport for flight to Olbia, Sardinia. Travel by a chartered bus to the small town of Nuoro, in the center of Sardinia. Greetings by the community. Visit of the site of the 2005 public art project, in Piazza Su Cuzzone, Santu Predu, Nuoro. Welcome dinner and acquaintance time with local host family.

Friday, July 1st Morning: Visit of the Costantino Nivola Museum in the artist's birthplace of Orani. Walking tour of the town, and visit of the public murals in Piazza Sa Itria realized by the students in the 2004 residency. Then travel to the Ortobene Mountain. Lunch in a typical mountain refuge. Afternoon: Workshop on Sardinian local cuisine. Return to Nuoro in time for dinner.

Saturday, July 2nd Morning: Travel to the Ogliastra region. Architectural and cultural tour of the area. Afternoon: Visit of the studio of artist Maria Lai. Fashion workshop on traditional Sardinian costumes. Dinner and lodging in local mountain resort.

Sunday, July 3rd Morning: Travel to the Arbatax Gulf, and spend time lounging on the beach. Late Afternoon: Return to Nuoro and visit the public project site for first survey of the area. Dinner with host family in Nuoro.

Monday, July 4th Morning: Visit of Galtellì, the Grazia Deledda Park, and the ethnographic museum. Afternoon: Workshop with local artisan on traditional basket weaving. Dinner with host family in Nuoro.

Tuesday, July 5th through Thursday July 7th Morning: Classes in visual arts & art history, history, and Italian language, held in a private lecture room at the Satta Public Library. Sketching walks around town, and work on the permanent site-specific projects. Afternoon: Workshops with local artisans, including: metalworking, woodcarving, ceramics, and stone working. After dinner: Sardinian Dance Class with local professional Folk Dance Group, or continue work on public art project.

Friday, July 8th Morning: Travel to the beach resort of Cala Gonone. Stop in the nearby village of Dorgali for visit of local artisans workshops, including hand-blown glass, jewelry, and pastry. Some shopping opportunities. Afternoon: Time on the beach of Cala Gonone. Inspection of the site of second public project on the public dock. The work will be seen from land and sea. Dinner at a pizzeria, and camping at the beach resort of Cala Gonone.

Saturday, July 9th Morning: By boat travel to and visit the Grotte del Bue Marino (caves of the sea ox), and the beautiful beach and cliffs of Cala Luna (inlet of the moon). Late afternoon: Work on the public art project. Dinner and camping at the beach resort of Cala Gonone.

Sunday, July 10th Time on the beach of Cala Fuili. Then work on the public art project. Public unveiling of the project before local authorities. Return to Nuoro in time for dinner.

Monday, July 11th – Tuesday, July 12th Reprisal of regular schedule (See Tuesday, July 5th through Thursday July 7th )

Wednesday, July 13th Morning: Completion of the public art project. Evening: Public unveiling of the project before local authorities and community. Farewell dinner. Public performance of time-honored dances by students and members of the Folk Dance Group dressed in traditional Sardinian costumes, and accompanied by traditional Sardinian music.

Thursday, July 14th Departure from Olbia to London Gatwick Airport. Transfer to Heathrow Airport. Flight to New York Newark Airport.

All students will be housed with families carefully selected from within the town's culturally active community. Families will provide breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner, occasionally collaborating with other host families for small-group meals. The group will have lunch together each day. All classes, workshops, and free time will be supervised by at least one Italian- and one English-speaking adult, with 24-hour contact and medical services available. Local transportation is by chartered bus.

Visual art classes will focus on the original works of Costantino Nivola displayed in the Nivola museum in Orani and around the town on Nuoro. Nivola's style represents a perfect blend of the ancient Sardinian roots with contemporary avant-garde works. Nivola was close to many artists, such as Willem De Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and James Brooks. Classes with include lectures, audio-visual presentations, and small seminars. The students will have time allocated for sketching in museums, and around Nuoro and the nearby villages, including Orani, as well as some workshops on plein-air oil pastel work.

The Italian language classes will build on the after-school work done prior to the trip, encouraging the students to try to understand their surroundings, and hopefully inspiring them to continue their study of the language in high school.

For further information about the trip contact Micaela Martegani, micaela@moreart.org or 917-325-8705; or Lisa Allen, lallen21@yahoo.com or 917-554-6254.