BEPPE DOMENICI – Painter and Sculptor

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09/2012 – Rievocation of the Miracle of the 8th September 1944

On the 8th of September, the anniversary of the liberation of the inhabitants of Massaciuccoli from the Nazi occupation occurs. The local population, in fact, was locked up in the Frantoio di Quiesa awaiting his death, but at dawn on 8 September he managed “miraculously” to save himself even after the bombing of Pisa that put the Germans on the run. However, the local population reminds us that this is also the date of the birth of the Virgin Mary and their salvation is thought to be due to their salvation; in fact the Nazis were not used to leaving traces of living memory during their retreat, as had happened. To mention local tragedies, in l’Aquilata or in the villa of the noble family Massarosa.
Since then, every year on this date, to commemorate the extraordinary event, a mass is celebrated inside the mill at 18.00 which always attracts a large number of participants, reflecting the intensity with which this event is still today remembered. Here we celebrate life, the light that has won over darkness. 
On this occasion Manuela Menici, a young Tuscan artist already selected for the Venice Biennale last year, will invite the participants, before the mass, to light a candle and to make a wish. Candles of different shapes and heights will create an imaginary landscape whose light will recall the idea of ​​spiritual enlightenment and the belief that the sacred is everywhere needed.
On the facade of the building will be placed the beautiful terracotta image of the ” Virgin on the throne ” (in the picture), which the artist  Beppe Domenici  created in the early 50s in his furnace ” Ceramica Viareggio ” This work was donated from the family fulfilling a wish of the father who wanted to be placed almost as an ex-voto in this place that the people read as miraculous. In fact during this period Beppe Domenici worked in Bozzano for the Apice shoe factory for which he created all the advertising campaigns.