The second edition of "Madonnari Contemporanei," an impromptu painting competition with an artist residency organized by the ArteNativo association, concluded with great success. The event took place on September 20th and 21st, coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The event was organized with the support of the Celebration Committee and the Department of Culture, led by Nadia Spada. The initiative was also included in the cultural program "Palazzolo is”, confirming the central role of art as a driver of growth and dialogue for the community.
Madonnari, exhibition along Via Nicolò Zocco
For two days, via Nicolò Zocco welcomed 23 artists from different countries city European artists. They painted en plein air works inspired by the theme "The Silent Strength of Women," interpreting it through different techniques and expressive languages. The participating artists were: Francesco Floriddia, Fabrizio Costa, Maria Luisa Motta, Vincenzo Altavilla, Bridges Kong. Also included were Maria Stella Bambaci, Ekaterina Selezneva, Carmen Busacca, Noemi Di Maio, Laura Bellucci, Ina Edera, Jennifer Di Natale, and Rita Terrasi. Also included were Carla Maira, Antonino Sebastiano Rossitto, Alessandro Cantone, Paolo Pizzo, and Valentina Iocolano. Finally, Roberto Damian, Federica Spada, and three young street artists Leonardo Paolo Chiaramonte, Andrea Friscia and Paolo Di Domenico.
The jury
The jury, composed of artists Gianluigi Susinno, Emanuele Savasta, and Filippo Riniolo (the winner of the first edition), Claudia Marabita (representative of the ArteNativo association), and Antonietta Trombadore (representative of the Celebrations Committee), proclaimed the collective of Fabrizio Costa and Francesco Floriddia the winner. Their work—a diptych that brings together the beauty of a young woman and the scarred faces of those who have suffered violence—was enriched with verses from poems and songs against violence against women, offering a powerful reflection on female fragility and resilience.
The jury also awarded an honorable mention to Maria Luisa Motta. She successfully reinterpreted the traditional chalk technique, typical of madonnari, in a contemporary key, breathing new life into an ancient language. "Choosing the winners was extremely difficult," the jury members emphasized, "because each work possessed unique value and a strong identity. All the works submitted were of the highest quality, and each artist, with their own technique and sensibility, successfully interpreted the theme of the silent strength of women in an original way."
An exhibition coming soon at KokòStudio
In addition to the cash prize, the winners also won the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the KOKÒstudio exhibition space, located at Via Gaetano Italia 60 in Palazzolo Acreide (SR). "We are proud of how this edition unfolded," said ArteNativo representatives, "which we consider a truly remarkable achievement." the year of techniquesWe have in fact selected artists capable of bringing diverse and innovative languages to the streets, from string art (nails and wire) to plaster, all the way to metal, offering the public a surprising journey through contemporary art forms that dialogue with the tradition of the madonnari (street painters).
The interaction between the public and the artists, a very positive aspect already noted last year, demonstrated how street art can transcend simple exhibitions to become a moment of sharing and collective growth. This active participation by the community confirmed the vital role the initiative plays in forging a deeper connection between people and the city's cultural fabric.
With this second edition, the "Madonnari Contemporanei" artistic event confirms its vocation as a bridge between tradition and modernity, transforming the historic center of Palazzolo Acreide into an open-air art laboratory and a moment of collective reflection on the role and strength of women.
