Dear Cultural Association “Made in . . . ”

Object: Letter of Thanks and Support for project “Made in Pistoia”

A group of our students, from Harding University on October 21, 2009 taking part in the project ACCUPI Program in Florence, spent a day in Pistoia as guests of Made in Pistoia. It was an unforgettable experience for all, and we thank you for giving us the opportunity to participate in the project.

We began the day with a brief visit to the most beautiful historic center of the city, and then, in small groups, the students had the opportunity to visit the studios and laboratories of local artists and artisans affiliated with Made in Pistoia.

During their visit, the students, under the direction of their experienced teachers, were able to personally create a small hand made object, an educational experience for understanding the processes and diverse artistic techniques such as decorative painting, wood working, metal working, and ceramics. We believe that providing the students the possibility to have direct contact with the artistic laboratories and workshops, where they can learn the technical and creative processes to make an artistic object, helps them to better understand works of art and to admire in a more attentive way the richness and distinctiveness of Italy’s cultural patrimony.

Concerning the proposal set forth by the Culture Association Made in …. For the realization of specific projects, Harding University expresses its support, insofar as the purposes pursued by the project are of particular interest for their own institutional activities.

We express therefore our willingness to support the current project “Made In Pistoia”.

Very truly yours,

Robbie Schakelford Harding University

Rose of Cooper

by Chase Gentry (Harding University Florence 2010)
Roll out of bed as the bell rings for us to get on the bus, throw some clothes on, run downstairs, out the door, and onto a charter bus waiting for us at the bottom of the hill. I’m tired, sore, and hungry; today is not going to be a good day. I woke up to us being rushed off the bus and onto a sidewalk. I didn’t want to be anywhere but in bed, and I was standing in the cold. I was unhappy, and in a terrible mood. I stuck in my head phones and as soon as we got on the second bus I was asleep again. When I woke up, we were in the country, at a house on a hillside with a cow, horse, and donkey out front. As we walked to the front door, I was surprised to see at least 19 cats in or around the house. After we walked in, we met the artist we would be working with until five o’clock. After a quick exchange of introductions in broken English and a feeble attempt at Italian, he showed us a tour of the house and some of his prior art work. The copper cut outs and impressions were absolutely stunning. We were called down for some homemade tea, made with mint straight out of their own garden. I sipped the delicious tea, slipping a glance at the time, ten o’clock. I thought to myself “this isn’t going to be that hard, but I don’t want to be here until five.” Seven and a half hours later I was surprised to find myself wanting to stay instead of leaving. How can such a change occur? The amazing patience of one copper working artist and great hospitality of a great family. After tea we went into a small workshop where we were divided into two groups. My group was assigned the task of making a rose out of a sheet of copper. I cut my three small “petals” and waitied for instructions. Within a few minutes a beautiful rose of the artist was born, and it looked so effortless. I began, and it took me the next two hours, constantly having to weld, cut and reshape metal. When it was finally done, I stepped back and admired my work. Comparatively it was terrible, but I was so proud of it. Then it hit me. He had just made in literally a couple of minutes what I made in two hours. I stood there in awe, and then I was punched in the face with another revelation. He had been practicing to make this rose for years. So how much had those great artists practiced who had painted, molded, or carved the great pieces of art I have seen in the Academia or the Uffizi? The amount of practice and the level of greatness really sunk into me as I stared at my homely rose in astonishment. I really couldn’t imagine how great these men actually were and how blessed we are to be able to view their work. It’s crazy how something as simple as a homemade copper rose can change your outlook on art in just a split second, and that change will impact how I view things for the rest of my life. Even though it took me dragging myself half way across the world, getting out of bed early in the morning, being in a bad mood and cockily thinking I could achieve art…God is great and he breaks you down only to build you up and open your eyes. Chase Gentry