Gorizia Handmade Tour: discovering the creativity of craftsmen

Art & Culture

24 May 2018

Art & Culture

Gorizia Handmade Tour: discovering the creativity of craftsmen

A short time ago I had the pleasure of conducting the first tourist event dedicated to "Gorizia Handmade: crafts on tour".

The initiative aims at a more “profound” and personalised use of hand-made products and currently involves four artisan workshops that on this day welcomed participants into their world with demonstrations and manual activities designed ad hoc, revealing curious facts and the history of ancient techniques and traditions. This in turn became the narrative starting point to draw participants into the creativity of our Gorizia district and the skills available locally. Being artisans is not just about creating to sell but it means above all creating to illustrate the story and the soul of a place.

The guided tour through the historical centre of Gorizia starts in the "Corso", passes through the elegant Piazza Sant'Antonio, the historic Via Rastello and reaches the heart of the former Jewish ghetto, right in front of the Synagogue (now a museum). At this point, I must relate some historical curiosities about the places visited, in particular Via Rastello, the ancient heart of the town’s commercial and artisan activity with a very particular etymology deriving from the old wooden gate which, when the sun went down, closed off access to the settlement that grew up around the Castle. In fact, this street was once the only road from the current Piazza Vittoria to reach the manor.

In summary, the tour included the following demonstrations / workshops:

Papier mâché: signora Alessandra opened the doors of her workshop to us, illustrating an ancient art that fascinates with the colourful magic it conveys. This is a technique born in China and also used by artists such as Michelangelo and Donatello for their sketches. Entering this workshop, you have the feeling of plunging into a small rural world, where colourful cockerels and hens in papier-mâché welcome you! After having explained the history of this technique, she showed us how the shape of the hen is created; then she explained and showed how we obtain the dough that we also “kneaded” with our own hands, and then all applied it together to the shape of the hen, giving form and size to the chicken. The participants, and the children in particular, had a lot of fun, baptising this group creation “Gallinella Grigetta”. The reason why is immediately understood from the photos. With their songs and calls, cockerels and hens have accompanied we humans since the dawn of time to announce the beginning of a new day and all good wishes for it. This is why our present artisan has chosen them as the main subject of her creations.

Carded wool: we witnessed a wonderful demonstration of the two wool felting techniques: one with needle and the other with soapy water. Signora Elena told us many curiosities about how by chance shepherds in the past discovered the possibility of carding using the flowers of the plant from which the technique took its name: the carduus, commonly called the thistle in English, but cardo in Italian. She also told us that in the region, the manual processing of wool has its roots in Aquileia, at the time of the Roman Empire thanks to the talent of a freed slave named Trosia Hilara, the first female entrepreneur of whom we have evidence in our lands (and of whom are conserved tangible memories in the Archaeological Museum of Aquileia). Then we got into the nitty-gritty of the workshop by experimenting with the two techniques mentioned above, making two small flowers that each participant took home with him as a souvenir of the experience.

Artistic glass: Daniele showed us the magic of a simple and lively material of ancient artisan tradition, enabling us to “dive” into the world of beautiful artistic stained glass panels bound in lead and tin, a technique used for centuries for large churches and cathedrals and which still retains a timeless charm.

Here too, we were able to experience some phases of the glass processing personally, taking in hand two types of the tools of the trade. Among his creations there are the famous Tiffany lamps, as well as chandeliers, pictures and jewels. Daniele's is a genuine contemporary interpretation of an ancient art.

The feedback from the participants in this original and personalised experience, which allowed them to learn something new while having fun and in some cases to deepen a particular interest that they had already experienced on other occasions, was very positive.

Here are some comments sent by the participants and which better than any of my words, give a sense of this handicraft experience:

“The idea was really thrilling. The ingredients were very simple but rich. Materials: paper, wool and glass with a thousand-year-old history but with always-up-to-date uses; a passion for creativity; an artistic tradition inherited from the past and shared to be present also in the future. But above all I was struck by the generosity with which all the craftsmen welcomed us into their daily temple. For young and old it was a wonderful discovery, practical and clear, and we cannot wait for a new day dedicated to the second round of the Tour” (Francesca)

“Knowing the arts and crafts, getting to grips and experimenting with them is the best way to pass on ancient traditions. Each experience in itself was unique. We had great fun working papier-mâché (for us it was the first time) and those who hosted us conveyed a desire to share their passion. Mission accomplished because my son is building his own “pignata”! Moreover, we are enthusiastic about the idea of ??going to finish the work we started!

Working the wool was wonderful: learning the art of creating beauty with simple and respectful gestures for such a precious material from expert hands. In her workshop you could breathe care, sensitivity, respect, and beauty. Then the glass: something you dare not touch because you've always been afraid of hurting yourself, but here skilled hands and a creative mind reveal the secrets of what you've always considered a mystery." ( Vlasta)

The next appointment with Gorizia Handmade is scheduled for 9 June. There will also be a pastry workshop dedicated to tiramisù, recently added to the list of Traditional Agri-food Products (Pat) and recognised as typical of the region. The practical part will be preceded by a good coffee in the company of our pastry chef who will tell us of the history, evolution, curious aspects and little secrets of some traditional cakes of Gorizia that reflect the central European character of the city. But no more on this subject: I hope to see you or that you will read the article that will follow the event.

In conclusion, if you are visiting Gorizia and want to bring home an authentic souvenir of the city, come into these shops: regularly open to the public, they are ideal for anyone who wants to buy items made strictly by hand, unique pieces that are the result of the creativity, time and the passion of those in my city who still keep alive these ancient crafts.

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Sabrina Pellizon

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I began my experience in the inbound tourism world as a tour leader and gradually became a regional nature/environmental tour guide.

I began my experience in the inbound tourism world as a tour leader and gradually became a regional nature/environmental tour guide. I’m also involved in educational activities with donkeys and I love walking at the pace of Noè, my little adopted donkey and a companion in our explorations of my Preval. I adore informing and amazing our guests, pampering and accompanying them as I tell them all the curious and original things to know about our environs.