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QUARTERLY DIGITAL
MAGAZINE FEATURING THE
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A R T C U LT U R E H I S TO RY L I F E S T Y L E S O F L I G U R I A
ISSUE ONE
HOLY TRINITY ROCK STARS OF BUSSANA
The early artists who discovered a medieval ruin and rebuilt it from the rocks and rubble and gave life to a unique experiment that stills lasts to this day.
BUSSANA TODAY
The river of art has forked as Bussana Vecchia looks toward to an uncertain future, but hope is on the horizon
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Has the time come to move up a gear and put Bussana Vecchia firmly on the economic map?
SPOTLIGHT FEATURE
In this issue we feature several of the long-standing artists of Bussana Vecchia
JAZZ BUZZANA
BUSSANA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2019 TO BE ANNOUNCED
PLUS MUCH MORE.........
COLIN SYDNEY-WILMOT JUNE 2nd 1940 - FEBRUARY 12th 2019
ditorial
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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS COPYRIGHT OF THIE RESPECTIVE OWNERS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Welcome to the inaugural issue of
BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE Welcome to the inaugural issue of BUSSANA VECCHIA TODAY MAGAZINE.
Editorial
Bussana Vecchia Today is a digital publication dedicated to the art and culture of Bussana Vecchia the medieval village on Italy’s Riviera dei Fiori a few kilometres from the French Riviera. Bussana Vecchia is a vibrant, colourful, medieval village that has evolved since the early 1960’s when the village was discovered by international artists whose spirit and creativity lives on. Bussana Vecchia is going through a transformation, partly due to the Italian State property agency who claim ownership over the entire village and have been applying legal pressure over the recent past in an effort to normalize Bussana Vecchia. The village is fighting back to protect its legacy, the livelihoods of its artists and the launching of various initiatives to help spurn economic growth and opportunities for the businesses, artists and residents who call Bussana Vecchia home. Bussana Today Magazine was devised as one small initiative to help bring the visibility of the village to international English-speaking audiences and boost interest in the arts, culture and history of this unique village. Join us in our journey to tell the many interesting and touching stories of this special part of the Ligurian coast. Follow us on social media and visit ISSUU to catch up on our latest publications. We look forward to your company.
BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
INSIDE THIS ISSUE BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
VILLAGE ON THE EDGE OF TIME
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BUSSANA VECCHIA The medieval village of Bussana, struck by a deadly earthquake in 1887 was reborn in the late 1950’s after its rediscovery by three Italian artists. They created what was to become the International Artists Village, their legacy still stands today as one of the jewels of the Ligurian region.
BUSSANARTE
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ART FOR ARTS SAKE BussanARTE Foundation is dedicated to promoting the art and culture of Bussana Vecchia. Founding member Simon Bremer talks art and investment and unveils plans for a wide slate of new artistic and culture initiatives for the village during the coming year.
LA CASACCIA
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DINING ON THE EDGE La Casaccia is a legend. Sitting at the entrance to Bussana Vecchia the restaurant specializes in barbeque and grilled meats and attracts loyal fans from far and wide to enjoy its sweeping views and tranquil setting.
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY
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LA BARCA La Barca is an open-house that welcomes visitors and travellers to join them in a non-stop party that brings back the atmosphere of the original village of artists. Hop on board for a wild ride!
JANA & WOLFGANG WIESER
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CANDLES IN THE WIND Jana and Wolfgang Wieser arrived in Bussana Vecchia in the late 1960’s and are the longest serving members of the original international artists village. Jana tells her touching story of her arrival in the ruined village and how the magic is still alive.
EAT TO THE BEAT AT RISTORANTE NATURALE Bussana Vecchia is host to a vegan-friendly restaurant. A full menu of organic dishes to bio wines and craft beers is on offer to the health conscious and adventurous diner. Great food and good live music welcomes you at Bussana Vecchia’s Ristorante Naturale.
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AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD COLIN SYDNEY-WILMOT Colin Sydney-Wilmot arrived in Bussana Vecchia on a mission to save his mother from a life of penury among the medieval ruins of Bussana Vecchia. What he discovered was an ethereal beauty that led him to the journey of a lifetime.
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YE OLDE ANTIQUE SHOP Digging out more treasures in Bussana Vecchia. This time from a treasure trove of the eclectic and antique gems that can be found in the old antique shop of Bussana Vecchia.
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IN THE SHADOW OF THE GODS ARTIST DANIELA GABETO Piedmont artist Daniela Gabeto gives us an audience and takes us on a tour-de-force of artistic achievements from the ecclesiastical to the romantic and why she chose the ghost town of Bussana Vecchia to establish her home and gallery.
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LET’S GET LOST, AGAIN JAZZ ART WITH VLADIMIR GESTINI Catch the A-Train to Bussana Vecchia and discover the jazz art of Vladimir Gestini, where you can find he ghosts of Duke Ellington and Chet Baker hiding in the shadows.
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RENAISSANCE MAN THE ICONIC BUZZANA JAZZ CLUB The iconic Buzzana Jazz Club has found a new lease of life under new owner Lukas Baltrunas. The club will be used as the setting for an upcoming series of televised concerts from jazz, blues and classical artists.
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BUSSANA TODAY EASY MONET Bussana today is a village at the crossroads. The winds of economic change are blowing and without an economic plan to attract more visitors to the village, Bussana Vecchia may lose its title of international artists village and become the village of bed and breakfast. Can art survive or will the winds of property speculation win out in the end.
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102 via Bussana Vecchia TEL: 0184 516185
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B U S S A N A
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V E C C H I A
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VILLAGE ON THE EDGE OF TIME In this article we will take international readers on a journey to the village where time stood still, Bussana Vecchia, Italy. A short drive across the French border from the glittering Cote d’Azur, the first time visitor to the Riviera dei Fiori {Flower Riviera} discovers a different world to the bling and carnavalesque French Riviera where the world’s super-wealthy reside a short Rolls Royce ride to Monte Carlo. Passing into Northern Italy across the border at the French town of Menton, one immediately feels a sense of relief. Relief from the oppressive high-octane, non-stop carnival atmosphere of Nice, Cannes and Monaco that drains the energy from your spirit like an maniacal spinning roulette wheel spun by Mephistopheles himself. The Italian Riviera at first glance looks a little tired and worn at the edges, certainly not kept to the clinical standards of Monaco or Cannes, but don’t let this betray the underlying true nature of this region. Life here is lived at a more pedestrian pace and a sense of old time values permeate as you pass through the small towns and villages between Ventimiglia, Bordighera and Ospedaletti before reaching the more lively San Remo. Medieval villages sit majestically behind the turquoise Mediterranean sea and can feel frozen in another era, with the errant outside world yet to catch up and break the piercing silence of these whispering villages.
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A real and present sense of history is etched into the aging cobbled stone alley-ways that serpentine their way through the heavy, medieval stone walls of the small towns and villages of Liguria. It is here in this Ligurian hinterland there stands a lonely and unique anachronism, Bussana Vecchia. The hamlet of Bussana Vecchia has stood for centuries atop a hill that overlooks the village of Poggio to the west and the bustling town of Arma di Taggia to the east. It was during the early hours of Ash Wednesday on the February 23rd 1887 that a severe earthquake struck the Liguria region and when the ink of history stained Bussana Vecchia and the moment it lost its soul. The survivors were evacuated and lived in makeshift tents and wooden huts on the common ground at the entry to the village for several years until new homes were built 3 kilometres below the stricken village leaving its collapsed ruins to the forces of nature. Fast-forward to the late 1940’s and the arrival of migrant workers from southern Italy who settled in the abandoned village. They cleared several houses near the entrance to the village where they remained until the local government forcibly removed them in the early 1950’s. Following the eviction of the migrant workers the local Commune of San Remo began a systematic destruction of stairwells and roofs to deter further occupation of the village. More damage was done to the village during this act of state vandalism than by the earthquake its self!.
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The village lay abandoned again until the early 1960’s when Bussana Vecchia was rediscovered once more, this time by three Italian artists who were captivated by its ethereal, ghost-like qualities. They decided to settle in Bussana Vecchia and create an artistic community devoid of restrictive mainstream society. Bussana Vecchia would be the nucleus of a unique endeavour to offer unrestricted artistic freedom to those who came to practice their craft amidst its Medieval ruins. The early artists continued the rehabilitation of ruined buildings using the stones and materials that filled the streets and houses and began a unique adventure in to the spontaneous architecture that can be seen in todays village. Three key figures of this early movement of artists can be credited with what would become the International Artists Village. Mario ‘Clizia’ Giani, Vanni Giuffrè and Giovani Fronte, Italian artists, sculptors and poets. They created a constitution that would return all properties salvaged from the ruins from outgoing artists to new incoming artists. Their idealistic attempts to engineer a set of common principals adhered to by gentlemanly agreement began to fray and many recovered properties soon became bargaining chips that evolved into blatant property speculation that would undermine the free-wheeling approach the founders envisaged.
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Ironically, it was partly due to the success of attracting artists from around the world to this sleepy hamlet that led to both its success and decline. With the arrival of non-artists attracted by the same sense of freedom from the world beyond its boundary, Bussana Vecchia began its transition into what it has become today, an anachronism devoid of the original spirit of art and cross-cultural integration. While there are many excellent local and international artists to be found in todays Bussana Vecchia, the village has been locked in a time-warp and with it the loss of its original identity. The germ of an idea that blossomed into a unique environment for art during the sixties and early seventies has been all but lost. Until now, Bussana Vecchia has in many ways avoided the slowdeath of government planners, however, a fork in the road beckons today that may bring the end of an era, but in other respects may offer a new beginning where compromise may result in a renaissance for the village that can breath new life to this unique laboratory of art and culture. In an age of multi-national, bland, franchise businesses and the sterile imagination of local government, Bussana Vecchia can still inspire and welcome new ideas and opportunities for the bold of vision. While the dream lasts, visitors should take the chance to step back in time and discover the eternal beauty of one of Liguria's true hidden gems before the Italian governments threat to raze it to the ground begins.
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CROSSCURRENTS Simon Bremer originally came to Bussana Vecchia from Holland in the mid-nineties, to visit his friend Peter van Wel. One of his first impressions is etched in his memory forever. Whilst eating breakfast together on the terrace a neighbor appeared to wish them good morning, he was wearing nothing but a tin helmet. After chatting amiably for a while he disappeared back into his apartment. Simon realized immediately that Bussana Vecchia was no ordinary village. When an adjacent house to Peter’s came up for sale, Simon and his wife purchased it and began the huge undertaking of restoration and renovation in order to create a beautiful space to house their art collection. Simon has been an avid art collector since the age of 16, so what better place to make a home than Bussana Vecchia, the village of artists. He collects only original works of art and his taste is eclectic and broad. After residing here for sometime he understood that the best way to stimulate art activity and to support individual artists was to create a formal cultural organization according to Italian law. So BussanaArte came into being, the brainchild of both Peter, a natural leader, and Simon, who wanted to give something back to the village for the privilege of living here.
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Their desire was to bring unity to this unique community. They organized eight week long exhibitions, not only for resident artists but which included former artists of the village and also those who had a bond with Bussana Vecchia. They held themed exhibitions , previews and art lovers evenings where guests could meet the artists. There were music and theatre events, artist in residence programs and cultural exchanges with other cities. Once or twice a year there were general exhibitions where everyone could participate as well as many solo artist’s shows. Simon believes that it is important to keep the memories of the early artists of Bussana Vecchia alive. Such as Clizia, one of the original founders of the International Village of Artists, Michael Green who impressed Simon greatly, not only with his art but on a personal level, and Guido da Bussana , a classic painter and fascinating personality. They, and others, helped to create something out of nothing, without any help. Simon feels that there is something to be learnt from this experience and it is important to share the story of that time for many reasons.
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© Maurizio Falcone
© Maurizio Falcone
© Maurizio Falcone
A Bussana Vecchia Visitors Bureau is the ideal vehicle to carry the information of the past and the present and Simon is optimistic that this may become a reality in 2019. According to Simon there is much archived material still to be uncovered. This village has wonderful spontaneous architecture created by people with an enormous amount of energy but with little building experience which adds a sense of mystery and intrigue to the already magical setting. He believes in the resilience of Bussana Vecchia and that it is the best place in the world to see hippies in real time. When speaking of Bussana Vecchia today, Simon sees the need for radical change. After the financial crisis people stopped buying art, and the impact of the digital age and the availability of copies affected art sales globally. Over half of the village is owned by non-artists who come here for a few weeks each year so there is little available housing for new artists. Rather than viewing Bussana Vecchia as a place of commerce he would prefer to create an environment for artists, so allowing the economic aspect to take care of itself. Simon’s passion and love for the this International Village of Artists is evident as publisher of the Book of Bussana, a collection of classic photographs covering the first years of Bussana Vecchia up to the eighties. He is a treasure trove of knowledge regarding the village and he loves to sit and chat with visitors and locals each day at La Piazzetta Golosa , the local café, sipping wine and reveling in life in Bussana Vecchia.
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© Maurizio Falcone
© Maurizio Falcone
© Maurizio Falcone
© Maurizio Falcone
JAZZ IN THE RUINS
JAZZ
AMONG THE RUINS BUSSANA VECCHIA A brand new series of jazz concerts set in the timeless village of Bussana Vecchia. Enjoy an evening of jazz among the ruins with genres to suit every taste.
EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT 6PM - JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 2019
ADMISSION FREE BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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PAESSE PHANTOM page 17
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LA CASACCIA
CASACCIA
WHERE TO EAT
FRANCESCO VILLA VERCHELLA
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SMOKESTACK
LIGHTENING THE THRILL OF THE GRILL
CASACCIA
LA
DAVIDE
VILLA VERCHELLA
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If a prime cut of tender, succulent meat is your choice of the day, look no further than La Casaccia, Bussana Vecchia. La Casaccia is a local institution and its legend stretches beyond the border deep in to the French Riviera. On a normal day you will see cars from Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and even as far as Marseille lining the only road in to the village of Bussana Vecchia. La Casaccia is situated at the entrance to the village and dining is predominantly alfresco. Tables and benches look out over the breath-taking valley below toward the glittering Mediterranean sea a few kilometres below. Lunch and evenings you will find almost every table taken, la Casaccia is so popular among its regular clientele you will be best advised to book well in advance.
ROUTA DI PRIMA CARNI LIGURIA
LA CASACCIA BUSSANA VECCHIA
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The atmosphere is casual and laid-back, and brothers Davide and Francesco della Valle offer you a warm welcome as they prepare their fresh cut meats on the roadside barbeque and grills, the smoke from the searing meats drifts through the warm summer air tempting all who pass. The della Valle brothers opened their doors ten years ago and have never looked back. The quality of their menu, produce and service continue to impress and attract customers from all walks of life to the sleepy hamlet of Bussana Vecchia. The menu is varied and offers everything from a delicious bruschetta to a tender cut of Angus steak, there are salads for a lite lunch and a choice of mouth-watering home made sweets. Davide and Francesco show a natural talent and their culinary skills should not be underestimated, their legendary status is confirmed by the repeat visits of loyal customers over the years. For a relaxed and memorable dining experience la Casaccia is hard to beat. The natural beauty of the Italian Riviera only lends more enjoyment to a meal shared among friends. In the next issue of Bussana Today we speak to owner Davide della Valle and discover more about this special restaurant and its cultural significance to Bussana Vecchia, and beyond.
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La Casaccia on social media
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LA C A S A C C I A
B U S S A N A V E C C H I a
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WE ARE SWEET TOO! page 10 24 page
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OPENING 2019
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Vanni Giuffré page 27
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EXHIBITION SPECIAL
FOOTSTEPS IN THE PAST A PHOTOGRAPHIC RETROSPECTIVE OF BUSSANA VECCHIA FROM THE LATE 1950’S
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B U S S A N A E VE RYWHERE AVAILABLE ON ALL DEVICES AND ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS
PC/MAC TABLET/MOBILE
LAPTOP
SMART TV page 29
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Piazzetta Golosa BUSSANA VECCHIA
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Piazzetta Golosa BUSSANA VECCHIA Delicious home-made foods
Breakfast - Lunch - Snacks
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BUSSANA VECCHIA
ITALIAN CINEMA CLASSIC SERIES JUNE
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JULY
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AUGUST
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SEPTEMBER
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2019
OPEN-AIR CINEMA UNDER STAR LIT SKIES BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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EDITORS CHOICE
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MUTINY BOUNTY ON THE
HAS THE GOOD SHIP BARCA FINALLY HIT THE ROCKS, OR IS IT ABOUT TO SET SAIL ON A BRAND NEW JOURNEY.....we talk to El Capitano
BURNIN’ LOVE
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Casa
BUSSANA VECCHIA Liguria - Italy
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La Barca DON’T ROCK THE BOAT
A LEGEND AS LARGE AS ITS CAPTAIN Bussana Vecchia can still surprise and shock and nowhere more so than legendary open-house, La Barca. La Barca is as unique as Bussana Vecchia its self. Sitting on the terraced slopes of the east side of the village, la Barca is a chameleon in every respect, always reinventing its self, although to the casual observer, nothing changes, but everything changes. Founded by two friends, Dutchman Ronald van Merwijk and locally born Davide Ghilardi. Ten years ago, they set about creating a shared dream of an open-house that welcomes anyone and everyone. However, they intended to stretch the envelope and take the concept of hospitality one step beyond. Not only would they welcome you in to their home, they would feed you, water you, during your stay you could effectively ‘unplug from the Matrix’ and find yourself again, leaving behind the pressures of the grindingly difficult life in the real world political construct. Here, you could paint, sculpt, help rebuild parts of the ruined village, write your memoires, cook, clean, strum a few chords on one of the many beaten-up guitars that can be found hanging precariously from nails in the medieval walls. You can even go head-to-head and philosophize with El Capitan Ronald and share your extensive knowledge of global conspiracy theories, or, for those with a desire to recline and placate, you can enjoy an never ending flow of bio wines to stimulate your creativity, all totally ‘free’!!! When it’s time to move on you can show your appreciation by leaving a donation, or not, the choice is yours, however, you will always be welcome at La Barca.
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The huge success of La Barca can be witnessed by the countless tourists who pass through its gallows and feel they have discovered a lost world, a place that free-floats just above the clouds. It’s close enough to earth to be able to leave and return at will, and you always find a great welcome amidst a cast of the most diverse characters imaginable, ex-judges, athletes, captains of Monaco mega-yachts, waifs and strays, an ever mutating cast of friendly animals from an ostrich to wild pigs, chickens, geese, you can find them all at La Barca! While the village itself has morphed into a more residential than artistic profile over the years, La Barca has resolutely stood firm and maintained its sense of anarchic abandon with its anything-goes attitude. Lacking in any semblance of order, this is the ultimate Bussana Vecchia experience for those looking for a taste of 1960-s Bussana Vecchia where creativity had no bounds and a sense of living-onthe-edge hadn’t worn out its capacity to thrill. You can still find the proximity to danger at La Barca and test your own limits of endurance if desired, you control the off-on-switch in this circus of carefree calamity. No visit to Bussana Vecchia would be complete without jumping on board La Barca if only to savour one of the best pizzas you can imagine and a glass of locally produced bio wine, drop something in the Bosun's hat as you depart, or, just give a word of thanks to the Captain and Crew, either way you are forever welcome, so, don’t miss the boat.
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EXHIBITION SERIES 2019
PERMANENT DIGITAL EXHIBITION BUSSANA VECCHIA VISITORS BUREAU
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PERMANENT DIGITAL EXHIBITION BUSSANA VECCHIA VISITORS BUREAU A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION TO THE FOUNDERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VILLAGE
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A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION TO THE FOUNDERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VILLAGE
DIGITAL EXHIBITION 2019
PERMANENT DIGITAL EXHIBITION BUSSANA VECCHIA VISITORS BUREAU BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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ACK
TO
RONTE
A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION TO THE FOUNDERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VILLAGE
DIGITAL EXHIBITION 2019
PERMANENT DIGITAL EXHIBITION BUSSANA VECCHIA VISITORS BUREAU
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VANNI GIUFFRE IT’S ONLY WORDS
A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION TO THE FOUNDERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS VILLAGE
DIGITAL EXHIBITION 2019
PERMANENT DIGITAL EXHIBITION BUSSANA VECCHIA VISITORS BUREAU BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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Bussana Vecchia Limited Edition Collectors Book
The Ultimate Photographic Reference Iconic images from the beginnings of the International Artist's Village Bussana Vecchia ‘The BOOK’ - available online at www.bussanarte.eu page 43
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PAESSE PHANTOM
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CANDLES
WIND ATOMIC ART Jana & Wolfgang Weiser arrived in Bussana Vecchia in the summer of 1968. It was early morning and Jana found it an overwhelming and almost mystical experience, amazingly, she had dreamt of this place as a young girl. The young couple had met in London earlier in the year, Jana visiting from Germany, and Wolfgang from Austria, it was love at first sight. They eloped to Scotland and were married in Edinburgh, Jana was 16 and Wolfgang 21. After their marriage they came to live in Bussana Vecchia, a place that Wolfgang had visited some time earlier and had found exciting, creative and freethinking. The streets were still filled with rubble four meters high and there were artists from many diverse cultures helping to rebuild and to establish an international artists' village here. There was no running water, no services of any kind, just a water-pump at the entrance to the village, but there was a sense of freedom and unlimited potential.
Jana Weiser
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There was a feeling of community in the early days, with about twenty-three artists in residence in summer and fewer in winter. There were many fine painters, sculptors, jewelers, ceramicists, writers and musicians. Little by little the residents began to clear the streets of rubble, in many places as high as four meters, a back-breaking task, to enable the visiting tourists access to the village, and to the artists' studios. Particularly for the many Americans who heard of Bussana Vecchia whilst playing at the San Remo Casino, and who were fascinated by the story of the of the formerly abandoned village coming to life. They very generously gave the artists money simply to support them without necessarily making a purchase. Each Thursday evening a bus load of Swedish tourists visited the village, they bought much artwork, especially paintings and jewelry. Jana picked wild flowers and sold them at the entry to the village. Many serendipitous meetings between an artist and a prospective client were made at the water pump, which was often the centre of social activity in the village. in the evenings the locals would sometimes meet at poet Giovanni Fronte's house as he was one of the few residents who had electricity, at that time, being the proud possessor of one electric lamp. Fronte loved animals and he kept three lamas, two of which lived in his sitting room and slept in front of the fireplace like dogs. As Jana recalled "we could work there, paint, and make small 3D pictures", we enjoyed those evenings very much."
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The artists would sometimes collaborate, for example, Wolfgang made art with Franco Oliveri, Colin Wilmot and Franco Brunatta. There was a great sense of mutual support and when an artist made a sale the money was pooled for a celebratory home cooked dinner where all were invited. Trips to the local cinemas in Arma di Taggia or San Remo, with as many as seven people squeezed into one car, were also popular for many reasons, firstly to learn Italian and secondly because the cinemas were so warm and cozy, a welcome change from the somewhat basic realities of winter in Bussana Vecchia. Most of all Jana loved to visit the castle situated at the highest point of the village, formerly a residence of the Count of Ventimiglia. She would climb through the ruins and found the crumbling structure to be entrancing and magical. At that time, some of the walls and floors were intact but they were later destroyed by the Commune of San Remo to prevent immigrants from southern Italy, who came to work in the local flower fields, from living there. There was a small church inside the walls of this formerly magnificent home. Unfortunately the castle is no longer open to the public as it is now privately owned.
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Jana loved the many musical events held in the village and, in particular the occasions when Frank Zappa's band, The Grandmothers, held three candle-lit concerts in the ruined church. There were also regular annual festivals in Bussana Vecchia encompassing many aspects of performance art including dance, mime and clowning. Wolfgang and Jana opened the first individual art gallery in Bussana Vecchia and began to create their unique expressive pieces. Wolfgang, with a background in chemistry, used his scientifically based skills to produce a diverse range of of artwork including but not limited to, crystal candles, lithographs, silk screen prints using up to 17 colors, woodcuts and other experimental art pieces. Jana developed a uniquely lovely collection of silver wire jewelry. Today, after more than fifty years of life in Bussana Vecchia, Jana can be found in the W+J Gallery, situated under a covered archway near the historic ruin of the St. Egidio church. She does not look to the past but still feels a sense of excitement and gratitude for their life in the village that they helped to re-build so long ago.
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SW J tudio +
BUSSANA VECCHIA
OPEN DAILY 9.00 am until 6.00 pm
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PAESSE PHANTOM
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RISTORANTE NATURALE BUSSANA VECCHIA
Open Daily ORGANIC FOODS - VEGETARIAN - VEGAN CRAFT BEERS - BIO WINES
LIVE MUSIC
Via Bussana Vecchia 1 - 18038 Bussana (IM) Telephone: Italy 00 39 335 231 794 BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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Down on
Maggie’s
Organic Stefano Pascucci is a leathersmith from Rome whose journey to Bussana Vecchia came by way of 1960’s swinging San Francisco. Steeped in the music and counter culture of the epicentre of the west coast hippy movement it may not be such a surprise that Stefano’s journey would eventually lead to Bussana Vecchia, home of the Italian Riviera’s hill-top hippy movement of the early 1960’s. Although not one of the original arrivals in the International Artist Village during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Stefano is a longstanding member of the community and brings his passion for all things bio to his Ristorante Naturale. The restaurant is a large and spacious and sits directly in front of the main entrance to the church of Saint Egidio at the centre of the village. The bright, whitewashed walls welcome the visitor and the scents of wholemeal cooking fill the air. A large terrace offers alfresco dining with views across the valley and towards the mountains behind.
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Farm
organico
Stefano sources his produce locally and the accompanying bio wines and craft beers add to a sense of sustainability and support of local artisans. The Ligurian region is famous for its olive oil and abundance of fruit and vegetables, natures garden offer plentiful choice in this region of the Mediterranean, a full choice of appetizing organic dishes are on offer at Ristorante Naturale in Bussana Vecchia. As well as running his organic restaurant Stefano also offers bed and breakfast to visitors looking to experience a stop-over in a unique medieval village. Ristorante Naturale is open daily with live music from local and regional artists on certain days. In the next issue of Bussana Vecchia Today we speak to Stefano about his colourful time in 60’ San Francisco. Turn on, tune in, drop out……..
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Bio photo spread
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LIVE MUSIC JAZZ - BLUES - BEBOP - SWING & MORE BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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COLIN SYDNEY-WILMOT
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Preaching to It is with sadness that this article is prefixed with the announcement that Colin Sydney-Wilmot passed away in hospital in San Remo on February 12th due to respitory complications. Colin was one of the founding members of the artistic community of Bussana Vecchia arriving for the first time in the village in the late 1960’s. The story of how the grandson of an English aristocrat came to live in the wild abandon of the 1960’s quasiliberal Italy is an adventure in its self. Colin’s mother, a frequent visitor to the French Riviera and who enjoyed the jet-set parties thrown by friends in lavish Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, between Nice and Monaco, would happen upon an interesting story from a party guest who disparagingly commented of the wayward residents of Bussana Vecchia and who painted a less than favourable image of the village and its then artist inhabitants. Wendy Wilmot's imagination was piqued, and she decided to see for herself why this strange village elicited such contempt. Her first visit to Bussana Vecchia was a watershed moment, what she found was kindred spirits who were far from the the contemptuous picture painted by her upper-class party friends.
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the Converted Captivated by the free-thinking group of international artists she met, Wendy Wilmot decided she would join the party and found herself an abandoned property to revive and call her own. Casa Wilmot was a derelict shell in the shadow of the decaying corpse of Sant’Egidio’s church. Legend has it, Wendy formally returned to Bussana Vecchia at the wheel of a friends white Rolls Royce, accompanied by two pet alligators! But in Bussana Vecchia, anything goes and not an eye was batted on the latest arrival to the international artists village’s expanding community. It was during this time that her son, Colin, residing at the time in England, was asked by his father to travel to Italy to bring back his wayward mother. Colin was due to holiday in Portugal and agreed to make the detour and attempt to convince his mother to return to a sedate Mother England’. To his surprise, Colin found an immediate affinity with Bussana Vecchia and he too was smitten by its magic and charm and decided to join his mother on the adventure of a lifetime. The years that followed would indelibly link Colin to the history of Bussana Vecchia and place his name among the original cast of characters that brought Bussana Vecchia as we know it back-to-life.
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A young Colin would venture into the deepest recesses of the ruins that engulfed Casa Wilmot, he would regularly clamber over the mountains of rubble and make his way to the skeletal remains of the castle sitting atop of the village. He remembered its dream-like quality, disappearing frescoes, floorless chambers descending into the pit of the bedrock below. On certain days, the gentle zephyrs would bring a sense of melancholy to the cathedral-like beauty to the remains of the Count of Ventimiglia family seat.
Recounting the short journeys around the village he recalled the streets filled several feet high with boulders, Bussana Vecchia during this period was as close to a bomb site as can be imagined. The early artists that arrived in the late fifties began to slowly clear the entrance to the village of rubble, it would take over a decade to make the lower part of the village’s narrow streets accessible. The rocks that were retrieved were used to rebuild the houses that were damaged by the earthquake, as well as the intentional demolished by the state in the late fifties to effectively seal-off the village from illegal occupation by migrants. Photographs from the period show the intrinsic beauty of the soft sandstone texture of the walls, the hollowed-out windows revealing their darkened interiors. With bare hands and little in the way of lifting machinery, the artists used their imagination to re-build the houses in their own creative spirit.
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This so-called ‘spontaneous architecture’ lent an additional ethereal quality to the village, as if witnessing a resurrection as life was breathed once again in to the Medieval corpse of Bussana Vecchia. What was witnessed was the miracle of the village being reborn and a belief that history could be revived by sheer will power. The painstaking recovery, brick-by-brick, would remove the shroud that fell over Bussana Vecchia on February 23rd 1887 and light flooded into the majestic medieval village once again.
The following years proved pivotal for young Colin Wilmot, he produced his own art, he became a leading voice in the community, he wrote a novel, and he was instrumental in launching the legal process to establish ownership of the recued properties, a battle that is still ongoing. Although Colin and his mother would never see the final chapter in the history of the International Artists Village, his son Mungo will carry the torch and hopefully enjoy the legacy and determined belief of his father and grandmother, that Bussana Vecchia’s long-term residents are afforded the legal right and title to the properties they rescued from the ruins, and that the village continues its artistic lineage and provide all who visit with a unique experience and warm welcome. You too can visit the home that Colin and his mother so lovingly restored as it is open year round as a bed and breakfast, now run by Colin’s son Mungo. Colin’s last interview will be published in the forthcoming issue of Bussana Today magazine.
Colin Sydney-Wilmot JUNE 2nd 1940 - FEBRUARY 12th 2019
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YeOlde Antique AN ALADDIN’S CAVE OF ECCLECTIC, OUT-OF-TIME, HOMELY TREASURES AND ALL FOR A PAUPERS PRICE!
Shop
Have you ever wanted to step through the wardrobe into Narnia, well Bussana Vecchia has its own Aladdin's cave, filled to bursting with the odd, the interesting, the vintage and things you may never have seen before, such as late/early nineteenth century regional agricultural relics. Items from the past to the present are odd bedfellows in this window to another world. For the collector there is a high chance of finding undervalued items that can command a pretty price in another country, and despite the random nature of the multitude of bric-abrac, there may be an odd old master lurking behind a 1960’s dressing table!
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For vintage seekers you can find something to tickle your taste from an iconic television set, in working order, to a space-odyssey telephone or a genuine whiskey barrel drinks cabinet from the early nineteenhundreds, or a pair of vintage St-Moritz ski’s from the roaring 20’s. When you enter the magical space of this cavern of delights be prepared to find a treasure that will surprise and enchant you. So, on your next trip to Bussana Vecchia, delve into the past with a visit to ye Olde Antique Shope.
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VISIT BUSSANA
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ART ECCLESIASTICA
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Stolen Moments Artist Daniela Gabeto portrays the true essence of sensuality and seduction in her exquisite paintings, with the subtle turn of a hip, or the soft curve of a neck, she leads us into the secret, hidden world of true femininity. More is revealed in one brush stroke than in a thousand whispered words of love. Daniela has a background in ecclesiastical and religious artwork, so how did she take the step from religion to seduction? After schooling at the Liceo Artisitco of Savona and the Accidemia di Belle Arti of Genova and Torino she was offered work by a company specializing in the restoration of religious artwork in churches. She also reproduced sacred paintings and murals for churches and abbeys as well as continuing to teach as a Professora di Discipline Pittoriche. Piedmont, Northern Italy, was her home and place of work for many years and the land and people are still close to her heart.
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A great turning point came in her life with the death of her beloved father in 2009. Unable to express her true grief she painted her deep sorrow into the face of a woman. The finished canvas affected her profoundly, she felt the image spoke to her. Her work was transformed and she began painting women from a new perspective, a place of freedom and true self-expression. For the past five years Daniela has made Bussana Vecchia her home and place of work. Her gallery can be found next to Bussana Jazz Club and directly across from the historic ruin of the St. Egidio church in the heart of the village. Daniella can be found most days working on her one of a kind jewelry pieces, earrings, bracelets, rings and where her stunning artwork is lovingly displayed.
Expect a warm welcome from this big- hearted Italian woman, a true artist in every sense of the word.
A full interview with Daniela in the next issue of Bussana Vecchia Today Magazine
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www daniela gabeto art com
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G A L L E R I A D ’ A RT & J E W E L E RY BUSSANA VECCHIA ITALY
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DANIELA GABETO ART
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BUSSANA VECCHIA
PAESSE PHANTOM
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Vladimir Gestini BUSSANA TODAY MAGAZINE
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The Colour of Jazz Vladimir Gestini is to Bussana Vecchia as Dexter Gordon was to the pork-pie hat, immediately recognizable. Vladimir specializes in jazz as his subject of choice. As a young man he visited the legendary jazz clubs of Milan and witnessed some of the greats of jazz in the intimacy of subterranean cellars that gave jazz its indistinguishable atmospheric mark. In the company of masters such as Chet Baker, virtuosos such as Franco Cerri and a myriad of bystanders that would become household names in international jazz and pop, Vladimir soaked in the images that would give life to his canvases.
His paintings represent a lost world when jazz was king and talent was an essential pre-requisite to a long lasting career. In todays world of auto-pilot musicians who tap a button, or two, and the machine makes the music, the nuances of capturing musicians in-flight require a similar talent an eye for detail.
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It’s hard to imagine that one dimensional copy-cat musicians whose fame is based on social media ‘likes’ would surpass instinctive talent of an Errol Garner or Django Reinhardt, but todays mobile generation have no palate for quality and display a blank appreciation of anything that resembles musical astringent, the blank generation can outsell Elvis in minutes thanks to the ubiquitous mobile phone spreading fame at the speed of light. Rolling back the years to a time when talent counted for something, losing ones self in a Paris attic on a life journey to create ones Palmarius or Opus magnum was a joy in its self, a holy grail that could lead to ‘Downbeat’ fame, a record deal with Blue Note, or the chance to make a living in small clubs of appreciative jazz aficionados would suffice.
Take the A-train to Bussana Vecchia where oil on canvas meets the Duke and Ella
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If that’s the case, preserving the jazz past in the idyllic setting of a Ligurian ghost town may be the ultimate reward for an artist like Vladimir Gestini. The journey was the gig of a lifetime and talent would always be appreciated, if not rewarded by fame, but who cared, as long as you ‘never sold out’ you could at least claim your integrity untarnished. Maybe Charles Mingus would never have been an overnight Instagram hit, a double bass and pipe would hardly have the teentrawlers enthralled, but maybe the real story is not the size of your social media following, but the ‘lack of it’ that will be the new defining measure of true fame. Find the ghosts of Chet Baker or Errol Garner in the shadows of. Bussana Vecchia, where else!
Delve deeper in to the life and work of Jazz Master of the canvas Vladimir Gestini in the upcoming issue of Bussana Today.
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Mario ‘CLIZIA’ Giani Bussana Vecchia Founding Artist
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Buzzana
Jazz Club
The Renaissance Man
Bussana Vecchia is home to an iconic jazz club set in the historic stones of this medieval village. If this venue could be teleported to London, New York or LA, it would be in the top small club venues of all time. The real value of the setting is it is part of one of the original buildings that survived the earthquake of 1887, intact. There have been a few minor cosmetic adjustment over the years, but the unique atmosphere of the building remains intact. Over the past year the Buzzana jazz Club has fallen under new ownership and is slowly gaining wider recognition locally and regionally and attracts a wide cross-section of visitors, not only those with a taste for jazz, but anyone who appreciates the history and unique setting of Bussana Vecchia.
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Previously, the club was no more than a curiosity and had no connection with jazz other than in name. The Buzzana Jazz Club today can boast a new lease of life and is beginning to attracting regular visitors from across the Italian and French Riviera’s and a series of new initiatives will see the club used as a television venue for international jazz, blues and classical concerts.
Under the direction of Lukas Baltrunas its new owner, the Bussana Jazz Club is set to become seen internationally through the upcoming series of broadcasts from the club. International interest from recording artists eager to perform in such a historic setting can only enhance the visibility of the club and the village internationally. The first International Bussana Vecchia Jazz Festival is another initiative that will be a step in opening up the venue to artists an audiences that are unfamiliar with the Ligurian region in general and Bussana Vecchia in particular.
A full feature on the Bussana jazz Club is planned for the next issue of Bussana Today Magazine…..watch this space…..
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TODAY
STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL
Whatever the analogy, be it Robert Johnson or John F. Kennedy, a Faustian pact delivered at the crossroads offers the trade of integrity for something deeply desired. Bussana Vecchia may be at its own crossroads, ready to trade its legacy and integrity of the international artists village for the deeds to the properties of its occupants. Some see it as a struggle between art and commerce with the village ultimately becoming an AirBnB destination living off the legend of its past. Whatever the outcome, it appears that the devil will present his deal to the residents in the hope they submit to a fate worse than homelessness.
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The state has big plans for Bussana Vecchia but have failed to convince anyone of the integrity of their own proposals. Talk of millions of euros from Brussels to rebuild the village complete with underground parking, a Relais & Chateaux type hotel on the site of the village castle and aspirations of turning Bussana Vecchia into some kind of pastiche of Saint-Paul-de-Vence in neighbouring France. Whatever the state property agency ultimately has in mind for Bussana Vecchia, the village has reached a crossroads. Under the constant threats from the state and municipality, the end game is in sight and many believe the trade-off with the devil is a bargain worth suffering. As more interest in the village comes from potential property buyers than artists, Bussana Vecchia may be slowly witnessing the end of the dream as it was envisioned by the founding artists. Time has taken its toll and easy money may win out in the end. Whatever the fate of Bussana Vecchia, the legacy will live on in some form, and the village will still retain its links to the ideals that were born from the rubble of the ruins. The memory of Clizia, Fronte and Giuffrè and the many others who helped build and shape the Bussana Vecchia we know today will not perish, and hopefully, if the state and municipality understand the intrinsic value of Bussana Vecchia, they may well find ‘a third way’ to save one of the jewels of the Ligurian region from disappearing.
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IN THE NEXT ISSUE FEATURES AND INTERVIEWS WITH………..
• • • • • • • • • •
Guido da Bussana Colin Sydney-Wilmot Vladimir Gestini Davide della Valle Luisa Bistolfi Jana Wieser Livia Gianni Stefano Pascucci Lukas Baltrunas Pablito’s Art
and much more
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