An Invitation to Care

On Saturday, June 22, an art installation created by artist Sóley Ragnarsdóttir during her artistic residency in Berceto was inaugurated. The project, titled “Sign of Care,” utilizes road signs as a means to draw attention to other species that coexist with humans along ancient pathways. Fourteen road signs have been placed by the artist between Berceto and its thirteen neighboring villages, forming an alternative route that connects these small towns both physically and emotionally.

Sóley Ragnarsdóttir’s words capture the essence of her artistic intervention: “Knowing the names of your neighbors and the rocks that define the landscape holds great value, just as knowing the names of birds, flowers, and mushrooms can make us more attentive to them. This familiarity encourages us to walk more slowly, with greater delicacy, and to pause to encounter people, animals, and species.”

The artist’s work was complemented by geological and naturalistic expertise, emphasizing the significance and meaning embedded in the landscape’s geological matrix. The accompanying photo depicts an artistic reinterpretation of the labyrinthine traces of Helminthoidea observed in the outcrops of the Monte Caio Flysch during a geological and naturalistic excursion with colleague Stefano Segadelli.

“Una Boccata d’Arte” (A Breath of Art) is a national initiative now in its fifth edition, promoted by the Elpis Foundation in collaboration with Galleria Continua and with the participation of Threes. Originating in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the initiative aimed to provide a strong signal of encouragement by bridging contemporary artistic practices with lesser-traveled locations, away from the typical tourist routes.

• Una boccata d'arte
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