A resource that defines the Etna region. A material with unrivaled potential for creativity, craftsmanship, and originality. Tania Mazzaglia she is an artisan from Nicolosi who, like Angela La Rosa and Laura Calareso of Etna Lava Rock, believes in the value of lava stone.
The artisan-creative path
Tania Mazzaglia From an early age, she had a penchant for manual skills. She enrolled at the Art Institute of Catania and then at the Academy, specializing in scenography. At the same time, she attended Barbaro Messina's ceramics and lava stone course in Nicolosi, learning how to work them. This initially resulted in a more marginal business, but later expanded. Her family encouraged Tania to pursue lava stone working as a full-fledged career. Thus, the young woman opened her workshop in 2007 and her shop four years ago. A job that allows her to expand both her creative, emotional and material dimensions, since she does something she enjoys and that allows her to live. His artistic studies have tempered and forged his manual skills.
The processing of lava stone followed by Tania Mazzaglia
The procedure is typical, carried forward by Barbaro Messina in his activities and courses. After the lava stone is extracted from the bottom of the flow, it is shaped, thus starting to give form to the future artifact.The material is then cut by the marble worker, which then forms a slab and takes on the desired shape. This is followed by the enameling phase, which Tania applies with a brush if the pieces are small. For larger surfaces, however, the enamel is sprayed using a compressor gun; four coats are required, with the enamel drying between each coat.
Along the materials intended for the fresco, after the enamelling and its drying, Tania Mazzaglia uses the dusting technique. A design is made by piercing the outline with a pin; it is then placed on the glazed lava stone. It can be dabbed with charcoal to prevent it from burning, or traced with graphite. This process allows the design to be left on the glaze. Finally, the piece is decorated and fired at around 920-930°C; the product is ready.
The artistic movement that has always inspired Tania Mazzaglia is theAbstractionism. A style through which she expresses her most remote perceptions and sensations. The clock displayed in her shop is one of her first lava stone works, a work that Tania is deeply attached to. It embodies Abstract Art and is not for sale.
The creations
Only a portion of the creations are freely inspired; a significant portion are commissioned. The production, due to the demands made, strongly recalls Sicilian tradition:Etna, puppets, carts, and Moorish heads are a constant, as are paintings of oranges and lemons. Her abstract creations consist of geometric designs, with the most bizarre shapes and brightest colors, present in various furnishings. Tania creates tables, kitchen countertops, wall coverings, lights, tile backsplashes, magnets, paintings, ornaments, costume jewelry, and small souvenirs.
A production that pays homage to Sicily, both for its creative essence and love of the land, in a world where this is lacking due to multiple factors. Overproduction and a lack of understanding of the local context tend to hinder craftsmanship. But productions like this teach us to persevere.
