New mini-documentary: "Painting for Eternity"
The 5th- and 6th-century mosaics of Ravenna, Italy, are such important international treasures that some of the world's best restoration artists have devoted themselves to their preservation.
Dear Friends,
This week, in a brief departure from our Fall theme (on Native American crafts), we have a treat for you: a new short film by Italian filmmaker Luisa Grosso, who has made several of our most popular mini-documentaries.
In “Painting for Eternity,” Grosso takes us inside the painstakingly detailed efforts to restore and preserve the ancient mosaics of Ravenna, Italy. Ravenna is still home to a surprising number of mosaic artisans today, and Grosso’s film introduces us to one of them: Francesca Fabbri, who has attained international renown for producing remarkable, three-dimensional mosaics commemorating figures such as Rajiv Ghandi of India, and legendary Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. At just under 10 minutes, I hope you’ll find time for this enjoyable and enlightening little film.
We’ll continue to add to our Fall issue on “Native American Craft: The Southwest" through mid-November. Each Friday, we’ll release a feature story, short article, mini-documentary, photo essay, or podcast. While most offerings will be related to some aspect of our theme, we also try, as we are this week, to present a few stories on other topics each quarter, so that there's always something for everyone.
In the meantime, I hope you'll always find something intriguing to read, watch, or listen to within our pages—currently free of charge, and free of ads. We welcome your thoughts via email, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for donating to our cause when you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Editor & Publisher, Craftsmanship Quarterly
Native American Craft: The Southwest
In our first issue on Native American craft, which we hope will be joined by others in the coming years, we look at the unusually rich and varied craft traditions of some of the Southwest’s Indian tribes. These communities rarely let outsiders see much of their cultural practices, but thanks to the tireless work of a few New Mexico writers and others, who have spent years developing relationships with members of the region’s tribes, we can offer you a glimpse into the work of some remarkable Indigenous artists and artisans.