The “Amici del Palco” association led by Giacomo Carioti presents the eighth edition of the “International Competition of Madonnari Città di Taurianova”. The initiative obtained the recognition of "REGIONAL EVENT" (Calabria Region Law No. 27 of 4.8.2022). The event will be held in the city of Reggio from 4 to 7 August next. A novelty of the 2023 edition is the change of the artistic direction which after the first seven editions entrusted to the maestro capo madonnaro Gennaro Troia, this year sees the artist and Taurianovese madonnara Antonella Larosa as the new artistic director. For four days the city center of Taurianova will come alive with the art and colors of over 50 international chalk artists. Street artists who will transform the city into a large canvas following the inspiration of the theme of the competition: “Hugs… beyond time”.
International competition of Madonnari
And the 2022 work chosen for the manifesto is the embrace of a mother of the eighth edition. The work "My mother" it was in fact made in Taurianova last year by Salvador Hernandez Briones (Mexico), who, explaining his picture, said: "The love unconditional love of a mother for her children is essential for life to continue on our planet". The peculiarity of the work taken with the drone, after a light rain, also wants to underline the priceless beauty of this ephemeral art, an ancient artistic expression of great value in the world. The 2023 edition of the "International Madonnari Competition - City of Taurianova" also sees the precious collaboration of MArRC – National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria and MuDOP – Oppido-Palmi Diocesan Museum.
Madonnari artists will have the opportunity to visit the two museums on the morning of Sunday 6 August. Furthermore, they will be offered a small tourist-cultural tour of the beauties and wonders of Calabria. Among the various initiatives this year there will also be the Grand Gala of the Madonnari, an event scheduled for Sunday 6 August which will once again focus on the madonnari artists. The various works that will manage to obtain the consent of the quality jury will be told, but also the prizes awarded by visitors and the social public.
Hugs beyond time
The new edition of the "International Madonnari Competition - City of Taurianova" will also include a series of collateral events. Including workshops for children, a work created in 4D for visitors' selfies, musical performances, in-depth meetings, buskers, pictorial and photographic exhibitions, exhibitions, market fair and market area of handicraft products, a photographic competition and the fun fair.
In the past editions, the event has already obtained patronage of the Calabria Region, of the Regional Council of Calabria, of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, of the Academy of Fine Arts of Reggio Calabria, of the diocese of Oppido Mamertina – Palmi, of the Municipality of Taurianova, of the Council of Associations of Taurianova, of Confcommercio of Reggio Calabria, of the artistic/didactic partnership of the Art School of Cittanova and the Art School of Palmi.
