49th National Madonnari Meeting

08/15/2023

The 49th edition of the Fiera delle Grazie brought back to the forecourt of the Sanctuary of Curtatone the ephemeral art of the madonnari, with artists arriving from Europe, Latin America, and even Malawi. The official jury, chaired by journalist Fabrizio Binacchi, worked alongside the popular jury, while among the prizes stood out the “Madonnara Pigotta,” created in collaboration with UNICEF, a symbol of peace thanks to its yellow and blue colors.

The atmosphere of the event was enriched by a large public turnout, with thousands of visitors crowding the square to admire works dedicated to themes of universal brotherhood and hope, confirming the success of the Feast of the Assumption.

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Marina Ferrari - President of Pro Loco Curtatone
Nowadays, it's an event that not only the people of Mantua look forward to, but also people from well beyond the province. I've seen Mexicans, I've seen others who always come from Central America, we've seen that the weather is on our side, it's favourable, and at the start of the event, on the 12th, we brought people down from Malawi, so Africa is also involved. Let's say that over the years we have worked extremely hard to bring it to this level. It didn't just come out of nowhere because everything comes from passion, from immense love, and we have immense love for our territory. The official jury of the competition is chaired by Fabrizio Binacchi, a journalist who is now editor-in-chief of Rai Vaticano, while the popular jury is made up of people who come around and who are often experts and have been coming for years. As a prize this year, in addition to typical local products, we will give the Madonnara doll because, together with UNICEF, we have decided to give the winner a doll that is not donated but adopted, because the doll is adopted, and we will call it the Madonnara doll because it has chalk, and the chalk is the yellow and blue colours of Ukraine, which is an invitation to peace. In the fiftieth year, however, we would like to organise some very special initiatives, although everything is still in the pipeline, because we want to highlight the fact that these are arts that are disappearing over time, they do not want to remain, they are not permanent art, and so we want to highlight them.
Elide Pizzi - Presenter
I love the whole atmosphere in Grazie, I love the Madonnari, I love the administration, I love all the exhibitors, in short, I love everything, even the Cotechino, even though it makes you fat and I don't need it, but it's always a wonderful atmosphere and I'm happy because this year too, I think they've done what they call in slang now, the full house, so even last night there a huge crowd, which made me very, very happy, so I hope to be here for many more years to come, as long as the Madonna keeps me alive and, of course, with a good voice, because it's the voice that matters, and the mind too. To all of you, dear friends who are following me right now, I wish you all the best, not only for a happy Feast of the Assumption, but also for a good summer and good health for everyone.
Giorgio Spezzaferri - Deputy Prefect of Mantova
These beautiful and ephemeral works need, first and foremost, to be protected from damage. They also need good weather to survive, and what both the artists who created them and all of us hope for is to be able to enjoy them as much as possible. However, for this to happen, we need others to collaborate. There are many of us here today enjoying this wonderful spectacle and the amazement that, I repeat, captures us every year. We therefore thank the mayor, his staff and his administration, who have done so much and made it possible for such a beautiful and well-attended event to take place again this year.
Marco Busca - Bishop of Mantova
I saw one of the scenes entitled Warriors of Light, Warriors of Peace, which is about changing the colours between the shadows and the light a little, and another of these drawings sent us a message: time to do good is now, it is now that we can all do our part to colour the world with the perspective that the Gospel gives us, which is a perspective of universal brotherhood. I would like to thank the madonnari who put not only their genius but also their hard work into their art, offering us the opportunity to see messages with our own eyes and let them into our hearts.
Carlo Bottani - Mayor of Curtatone
I would particularly like to thank the madonnari because their sacrifice, seeing them working all night long and in the heat of these hours, gives us an idea of how important and passionate they are and, above all, of the messages they are giving us. As Bishop Marco rightly said, the madonnari give us life, so let's give them a big round of applause for their sacrifice.
Fabrizio Binacchi - Chief Editor of Rai Vaticano
It is a plunge into spirituality and also into the mastery and skill of using chalk and colours. There are extraordinary works that are now taking shape and will be finished by sunset. I am very struck by the looks in the eyes, even by many images of Mary and Jesus with their eyes closed, but it seems that they have their eyes open. And then there is this view from above that forces you to lower your gaze and immerse yourself in their spirit, their dimension, their value. There are many colours, but even where there are only a few marks in black and white, there is great expressiveness. There is great involvement and great value in the relationship with the current themes of peace, prayer and understanding. It is a beautiful adventure here in the churchyard of the Sanctuary of Grazie.
Stefano Savoia - Director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Diocesi di Mantova
Many madonnari belonging to different categories have evolved in recent years, abandoning classic themes such as Caravaggio and Baroque painting in favour of original new creations. This is a kind of experimentalism that the jury greatly appreciates.