Mistretta - Inauguration of the "Noi" Wooden Sculpture sicily
Artist Nino Lipari has donated the sculpture 'Noi' (We), crafted from the trunk of a felled century-old fir tree, to the community
Riccardo Zingone 12/08/2024 0
The echoes of the inauguration of The Sea Road mural in Torremuzza have barely faded, and the Halaesa-Nebrodi territory is already enriched by another important and evocative work of art: "Noi: Inizio di una nuova vita" (Us: Beginning of a New Life), by Antonino Lipari, known to all of us as Nino.
We are in Mistretta, within the majestic municipal park named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, and the artwork stands where, until recently, a magnificent Norway Spruce (Picea abies) once proudly stood. The cycle of life accustoms us to its fluctuating rhythm, where life precedes death, and death — sometimes — generates life. And so, after several centuries of silent and undisturbed existence, the fir tree became irreversibly diseased to the point that, to safeguard public safety, the city authorities decreed its removal about a year ago.
The community began to wonder how to fill the large void left by the impending demise of the majestic tree. While initiatives were being considered, the administrators decided to completely trim its crown, which was by then irreparably diseased, and to preserve the vast majority of its trunk, which was healthy enough to envision reusing the resulting timber.
An Unexpected Gift
Then, at a certain point, a young carpenter from Mistretta, Nino Lipari, knocked on the mayor's door. With his characteristic politeness, he suggested carving an artwork, a sculpture, from the remaining trunk: "I'll take care of everything," Nino said, "and I don't want to be paid."
It must be said that Nino is not new to the art of wood carving; in the past, through private commissions, he had already demonstrated artistic skills that transcend those of a simple, albeit very skilled, artisan. But now things became decidedly more serious, and he would have to put himself out there, exposing his work to public judgment. Yet Nino was confident; he knew what he was doing, had clear ideas, and possessed the skills to realize them. Thus, he immediately gained the mayor's trust, and work began just a few months after the tree's removal.
Access to the left avenue leading to the central square of the park was closed, opaque nets were put up, and simultaneously, the curiosity of passersby grew. They could barely glimpse scaffolding, the outline of the fir trunk, and Nino moving around it, but nothing more. The work lasted several months, and finally, on the evening of August 11th, the artwork was inaugurated, coinciding with the restoration of the lighting of the main gate of the municipal park.
"Noi": A Symbol of Love and Renewal
Noi blossomed at dusk on a pleasant August evening, contrasting with the sad days of the cutting of the majestic mother-plant that had held it in its womb for three centuries. In this journey that intertwines life with death, and allows death to generate life, Nino sensed the presence, in that trunk otherwise destined for the sadness of abandonment, oblivion, if not destruction, of an opportunity for rebirth and regeneration that could take shape through his hands, his tools, and his heart.
Nino then chose to embark on a reinterpretation of José Luis Santes's The Embrace and thus decided to celebrate his love for his land through the tender and eternal embrace between two lovers. It is a message so simple in its genuineness that, at times, we don't fully grasp its power. But Nino, with his artwork that he decided to give to the community, reminds us that giving oneself to others is also a form of love, that solidarity among people is an act of love, as is gratitude, and that one can become a father infinitely, just as he himself demonstrated by transforming a raw and shapeless piece of wood into a magnificent work of art that all of us can enjoy and through which we will have opportunities to reflect on the true meaning of life.
With these brief words, we extend a warm virtual hug to Nino, his family, and his collaborators, along with a sincere thank you for the significant gesture he performed.
Learn about the Operators and the Project of GMT Halaesa-Nebrodi.
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Riccardo Zingone 16/08/2025
Mario Biffarella and Remembrances five years after his passing
I believe Mario had an absolute blast last night. He, who always maintained that the dead never truly die but observe us from the afterlife, from another dimension, I saw him sitting on the steps of his house, on a small street near the Church of Santa Caterina in Mistretta. He was watching, watching us, and watching himself.
His clever, deep, and gentle gaze, curious like the goblins he loved to paint, rested on the faces of those who, five years after his passing, had decided to accept the invitation from family and friends to attend a cool August evening dedicated not to his commemoration, but to his memory.
He had a blast, as I said. I noticed it when he was in stitches, listening to the words of his close friend, Tatà. Growing up with a person, sharing their battles, passions, bold and unconventional choices, their successes and failures, is the fertile ground where a sincere, deep, and timeless friendship germinates, grows, and matures. This is why Tatà, in talking about Mario, couldn't help but talk about himself. And vice versa. Mario, sitting on those steps, laughed and Tatà smiled, between one anecdote and another, as he spoke to us about Mario the boy, Mario the artist, Mario the philosopher, Mario the politician, Mario the "communist," Mario the writer, Mario the man.
At a certain point, however, Mario's amused expression changed, becoming more introspective. The scene was changing, and Mario was changing too. His son Alvaro took up his guitar, adjusted the microphone, and, along with Valentina, began to sing the first notes of "La canzone di Marinella," by that De André whom Mario, so long ago, had introduced to his own son.
Mario had sung De André over and over at home, during get-togethers, maybe even with his group, Gli Elfi, but now, hearing it sung by Alvaro, it moved him and, at the same time, pleased him. "Alvaro is really good," he thought to himself, as the magic of the music spread along the narrow street crowded with people. Then I saw him go down the stairs and play the last verse along with them:
"This is your song, Marinella Who flew to the sky on a star And like all the most beautiful things You lived only for a day, like the roses And like all the most beautiful things You lived only for a day, like the roses."
While Alvaro and Valentina continued their musical performance, Mario, Liria, and Ferruccio led us up the stairs into what is now a small museum. It holds paintings, sketches, writings, and various documents produced by Mario during his long artistic life, carefully preserved by his family in that treasure trove of material and immaterial culture that Tatà would like to turn into a Foundation. It is the studio-workshop where Mario unleashed his exceptional artistic sensibility, his ironic, sarcastic, irreverent, bold, and fascinating, yet also gentle, brush. The colors, the painted figures with their almost photographic appearance, the symbols and symbolisms, the gnomes, toads, open books, and faces have always struck me.
The Rimembranze exhibition will also be open today, August 16th, from 7:00 PM onwards. If you look closely, Mario will still be there watching, watching us, watching himself.
For more information:
Halaesa Nebrodi 24/06/2025
In Pettineo, Andrea Buglisi's street art meets sport and inclusion
In the heart of Pettineo, a work comes to life that unites beauty, social commitment, and youth participation. Thanks to the Associazione Dialogos, which actively operates in the area with the aim of promoting culture and involving new generations, a monumental mural has been created as part of the project financed by the PNRR "Attractiveness of Villages," included in the broader program "Coast and Alesine Valleys: an itinerary to rediscover the villages of Castel di Lucio, Motta d'Affermo, and Pettineo."
The work, titled Dynamic Flow, is signed by the renowned Palermo artist Andrea Buglisi, who has been a point of reference in the national street art scene for years. The mural, located on Via Credenza, is striking for its expressive power and meaning, addressing a central theme for community growth: sport as a tool for inclusion.
"Timeless figures, suspended in an eternal gesture, merge into a single dance of strength and harmony. Taut muscles trace trajectories like lines on a map of an imaginary city, symbolizing humanity in motion. Sport becomes a universal language: it unites peoples, races, and cultures, breaking down borders and building bridges between the cities of the world. It is living, pulsating energy that ignites the spirit and celebrates the elegance of the athletic gesture transformed into rhythm, into art. A tribute to the spectacle of sport: timeless, placeless, an emblem of loyalty, sacrifice, and a shared dream. A powerful message to transmit to new generations, so that they may inherit it and continue its journey." -Andrea Buglisi
To celebrate and share the profound meaning of this work with the community, a presentation day has been organized for Saturday, June 29, dedicated to sport and inclusion, with the artist in attendance. A celebration open to everyone, full of events for both children and adults.
The day's program includes:
- Morning
- Art workshop for children, to introduce younger audiences to visual and creative language.
- Exhibition of the canvases from Antonio Presti's Fiumara d'arte, a symbol of dialogue between territories and artistic visions.
- Afternoon
- Sports games for children and a sports circuit for adults, to experience the mural's theme firsthand, through movement and sharing.
- 7:00 PM:
- Official inauguration of the "Dynamic Flow" mural
- Public conference with the artist Andrea Buglisi, to delve deeper into the meaning of the work and the creative process that generated it.
The project actively involved young people, citizens, and students in a participatory process that transformed a wall into a collective symbol. The mural thus becomes not only a work of art but a visual monument to solidarity, diversity, and the power of teamwork.
This initiative is part of a month rich in events in the Nebrodi villages, alongside events like the Pettineo Short Movie Fest, Medievalia in Castel di Lucio, and the Euterpe Fest in Motta d'Affermo. An intense calendar that testifies to the cultural vitality of these territories and the central role of local associations in promoting innovative and inclusive projects.
«We wanted to build something that would last over time – states the Associazione Dialogos – a work that speaks of future and sharing, and that could inspire new generations to believe in the value of sport as a metaphor for life.»
Photo credits: Sara Rizzo
Halaesa Nebrodi 18/10/2025
Mistretta, Capital of Popular Memory: Folklore Becomes National Heritage
Mistretta Awarded the Prestigious National Title of “City of Folklore 2025”
Mistretta has been awarded the prestigious national title of **“City of Folklore 2025”**, a recognition granted by the **Italian Federation of Popular Traditions (FITP)**. The honor highlights the universal value of the town’s **demo-ethno-anthropological heritage**, passed down with passion through centuries of popular and religious traditions.
This honor, unanimously approved by the FITP, originated from a proposal by the **Municipal Council** and directly reflects the efforts of both the **local administration** and cultural associations in preserving, promoting, and passing on Mistretta’s ethnographic heritage to future generations **Motivation and Significance of the Recognition**
In its official statement, the FITP emphasized how **Mistretta**, already renowned as the birthplace of anthropologist **Giuseppe Cocchiara**, stands out for its ability to preserve and pass on rituals that find their fullest expression in events such as **Holy Week**, the **Feast of Saint Sebastian**, the **Dance of the Giants**, and many other devotional re-enactments. These rituals blend the sacred and the profane in a **civil language of identity and belonging**.
A key role in the transmission of these values is played by the **Centro Studi Amastra**, a leading institution in researching and promoting local traditions. The award also pays tribute to the community spirit and passion with which the people of Mistretta protect their memory, cohesion, and identity—bringing Italy’s folkloric heritage to life.
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### **The Ceremony and Folklore Evening**
The award was celebrated during an **official ceremony held at the “Falcone e Borsellino” Cine-Theatre**, which was filled to capacity. The event included an **extraordinary session of the Municipal Council**, during which the title was formally ratified.
Following the official proceedings, the theatre transformed into a vibrant stage of **music, color, and tradition**. Participants included students from **Mistretta and Tusa**, the Palermo-based folk singing group **Le Matriosche**, the Catania storyteller **Luigi Pino**, and the **Centro Studi Amastra**, which has long played a leading role in local cultural promotion.
*(Source: Quadrochiaro.it)*