See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comOn 15th April, 2019 a catastrophic fire broke out in Notre Dame Cathedral. Parisians watched in horror as the spire fell and most of the roof was destroyed. In the aftermath it became clear th

Viareggio Carnival 2024: Confetti in their blood

Feb 9th, 2024 28m 29s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comThe flags are out, the bunting too, and the red and white mascot Burlamacco is everywhere as Viareggio eagerly awaits the start of Carnival. The trees are heavy with oranges, the sweet fried d

Gabriele Gelatti: Like an insect

Jan 24th, 2024 25m 27s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comGabriele talks to us about his upbringing in Genoa, his self-taught artistic training, his love for the history of art, and for photography.He explains the process of creating pebble mosaics,

Robin Bell: Pioneers and famous Canadians

Dec 13th, 2023 22m 37s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comWe settle down to chat outside Robin Bell’s home at a sheltered table with a spectacular view of the sea, from Pisa to La Spezia, and the never ending horizon. An exterior storage space agains

Janice Mehlman: Come fly with me

Nov 29th, 2023 21m 31s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comThe long, narrow, glass-walled studio of Janice Mehlman is perched half way up the steep garden of her home, on a hillside near Pietrasanta.Many of her abstract photographs are hung on crisp w

Steaven Richard: Artsmithing

Jul 19th, 2023 19m 32s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comSteaven Richard evolved his craft as an apprentice to several artisan blacksmiths over many years and in many countries, before establishing his own atelier in Paris specialising in artistic m

Xavier Montoy: Sternocera aequisignata

Jul 5th, 2023 24m 11s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comXavier Montoy grew up in a family of doctors and was always keen on biology. When he chose an artistic route he wanted to focus attention on endangered insects to highlight how we should honou

Judith Kraft: Early instrument maker

Jun 14th, 2023 25m 50s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comJudith’s workshop is in the 10th arrondissement, tucked away in a courtyard behind huge iron gates where tall white buildings house workshops, and motorbikes and cars are squeezed against the

Sylvain Maenhout: Forging a new life

May 26th, 2023 24m 25s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comSylvain always loved cooking and when he discovered a passion for working with metal and wood he trained so he could create kitchen knives for chefs.Mike Axinn and I travelled to Paris to meet

Trailer: Paris Transformations

May 24th, 2023 4m 37s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comThis spring Mike Axinn and I went to Paris to see how artisans are able to practise their craft in a vibrant, urban setting. We wanted to discover more about the relevance of traditional skill

Ron Mehlman: An artist of many parts

Apr 26th, 2023 28m 31s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comRon Mehlman grew up in Brooklyn and came to Pietrasanta in the 1980s. No materials are off limits in his quest for creating sculpture infused with spirit and life.As we settle down to talk by

Nicola Stagetti: We can move the mountain

Mar 22nd, 2023 14m 59s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comNicola Stagetti of Stagetti Studios in Pietrasanta, and Robin Sethi, the project coordinator from India, describe the creation of Pramashwar the Infinite.Artisan and studio head Nicola Stagett

John Greer: Art is a language

Mar 8th, 2023 35m 24s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comJohn Greer finds art gives him an invaluable structure in life. Expressing himself in form is more important than a visual language.Professor of sculpture for 26 years at the Nova Scotia Colle

Magic at the Carnevale: Artisans of Viareggio

Feb 15th, 2023 22m 13s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comCarnevale originated in pagan rituals celebrating winter turning to spring. For Christians it offers a brief hiatus before the rigours of Lent – hence the name ‘carnem levare’ – which means ‘t

Silvano Cattaï: Into the Light

Feb 8th, 2023 34m 10s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comSilvano Cattaï born in Belgium, of Italian parentage, came to be an artist in Italy by way of making films in New York. After years in sculpture he finally came back to painting but this time

Vanessa Paschakarnis: Feel with your eyes

Jan 25th, 2023 32m 58s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comGerman born Vanessa Paschakarnis migrated to Nova Scotia before coming to Pietrasanta in northern Italy. Hers is a philosophical approach to sculpture.I met Vanessa through Californian photogr

Alvisé Boccanegra: Venice — A floating miracle

Dec 14th, 2022 36m 36s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comIn the third of our Venice series, Mike and I are meeting furniture restorer Alvisé Boccanegra who trained in restoration in the workshops of the Church of San Marco. He tells how he repaired

Gabriele Gmeiner: Venice — Walking in their shoes

Nov 30th, 2022 36m 6s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comIn this, the second of our Venice series, Mike Axinn and I met Austrian born shoemaker Gabriele Gmeiner who makes high quality made-to-measure shoes in her workshop at Campiello del Sol. She s

Piero Dri: Venice — Rowing through time

Nov 16th, 2022 38m 5s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comPiero Dri is the fourth and youngest remer in Venice, making oars and oarlocks - or in Italian ‘forcolai’. Since he learnt to row aged 4, rowing has been his passion.I came to Venice with soun

Trailer: If you love Venice

Nov 14th, 2022 4m 16s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comIn the Spring of 2022, sound specialist Mike Axinn and I went to Venice during Homo Faber, an event created by the Michelangelo Foundation to celebrate master craftsmanship.We wanted to discov

Marianna Blier: Home

Nov 2nd, 2022 34m 55s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comMarianna Blier was born in Astrakhan, Russia but moved to Vienna in 2007. She now divides her time between her atelier in Vienna, Austria and her marble studios in Carrara, Italy.Eminent Calif

Daphné Du Barry: What is beauty?

Oct 19th, 2022 28m 4s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comCelebrated figurative sculptor Daphné Du Barry speaks seven languages and modelled for Salvador Dali in her 20s. She discusses her bronzes, her love of learning and her faith.Born in Holland,

Helaine Blumenfeld OBE: The language of sculpture

Oct 5th, 2022 34m 51s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comRenowned sculptor Helaine Blumenfeld continually re-invents herself in her search for a vocabulary of form.Helaine’s work communicates on all levels: visual, tactile and emotional. She is well

Nilda Comas: It was just a dream

Jul 13th, 2022 55m 33s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comNilda Comas knew she’d be an artist from a very young age, and now she’ll be the first Hispanic master sculptor to create a statue for the US National Statuary Hall. She describes her journey,

on form: On stone

Jun 15th, 2022 45m 32s

See pictures and read more on materiallyspeaking.comon form is an exhibition of sculptures in stone held every other summer at Asthall Manor, Oxfordshire. Discover what goes on during its installation.Creative director, Rosie Pearson tells us a