Abstract

The central focus is the dialogue between artists and craftsmen. We proposed that this dialogue had to be extended to the specialists: archaeologists, historians, scientists and to the children of the workers in the mines, to the boys and girls of the schools and of centers that welcome students of depressed economic means. We also wanted the owners of galleries and merchants of art to visit the exhibition to enter into dialogues, but we did not obtain it. With Heidi Bauer, a German photo artist, we visited the local metal craftsmen, and she took photographs for this project. Since she is convinced that the images affect us, and are incumbent to us, the photographs had an excellent impact since they constitute the faithful testimony of what we are seeing really exists, and are for this reason, part of the cultural memory and a good form to complement the exhibited objects. It was an exercise to stress the positive aspects and the need for dialogue between artists and craftsmen, also involving the children of poor classes. We think that this exhibition was a good step to transform the way that we watch others: being as much the artists as the craftsmen, the children of high or low income, we are citizens of the town.