It is too early to write about Feltrosa. I feel I need to let this experience sit for a while, as it is always all-involving. But, alas, I promised that I would write something by this evening and I try, but I feel very emotional now.<\/span><\/p> <\/p> I apologize for not making an accurate and impartial report about the \u201cFeltrosian\u201d events. I can only let the memories flow and tell a short, entirely partial story from my own point of view and I am sure someone will share my opinion, but others might not like it. Please do not blame me, <\/span>this is “my Feltrosa”<\/span><\/strong> and if it is not like yours … you just have to write about it too.<\/span><\/p> Let’s start from Wednesday, from the two intense pre-Feltrosa laboratories. Maybe for someone adding a third day of works would have been perfect. Susanna and I arrived at the end of the first day when Jane\u2019s students were calmly sewing their materials, some of them were already dyeing. I wonder if they were able to <\/span>clean their hands from the indigo dye<\/span><\/a><\/strong> or if their nails are still blue. In any case, <\/span>the work were in a very good shape.<\/span><\/strong> We’ll be flooded with indigo tie-dyeing as happened with Irit\u2018s ecoprint last year? Who knows! It is for posterity to judge.<\/span><\/p> Gudrun\u2019s students, intent to roll out tufts of fibers were already worried about not having enough time to finish. The students have struggled a lot to create important items, among geometry and 45\u00b0 angles, in a profusion of silk and wool curls. Someone finished on Friday morning, with our help: we were intruders, and looking forward to getting involved in felting, hey, how can you resist? Despite the long and challenging job, some tireless students, on Friday afternoon were proudly wearing their work – for which they had skipped dinner and have been working overtime.<\/span><\/p> Friday:<\/span><\/strong> after various problems with a wrong Porchianos (there is another place with the same name around Todi), delayed trains and lost buses, more \u201cfeltrosiane\u201d arrived for the Saturday\u2019s laboratories.<\/span><\/p> The visit to the <\/span>Center for Integration of Porchiano<\/span><\/strong> was very interesting not only its human aspect, but also because some items made by the guests are truly remarkable. A lovely lady, very proud of her work, explains to me that she is painting her ceramic pot: she is sweet and knowledgeable, and tenacious while explaining, despite the language difficulties.<\/span><\/p> It ‘s time for the mandala and the participants are swelling the ranks for the construction of the various rugs, each with a theme. The work, conducted by Diana, aims to prove that felting not only helps the guests to keep manual skills and sociability, but it also develops their energy, nourishes their spirit and mind.<\/span><\/p> They call it art-therapy<\/span><\/strong>, but I simply call it working the felt together. As far as I’m concerned, I would not bother arts, and therapy. As we do know, art it is every time you produce something beautiful and colorful with the others, with many hands. For us felters it is well known – and I hope Diana will not be disappointed by this, as this is my personal and questionable opinion. I’d just love to call it work, life and sharing instead of therapy that smells like remedy, sickness, cure. I would have liked to arouse the public interest on this, because we, felters, already know <\/span>the magic of felt<\/span><\/strong>, but if you have never tried, you cannot imagine.<\/span><\/p> We had a pleasantly airy and sunny walk around the walls of Porchiano, for the setting up of the exhibition competition, under a turbulent sky full of clouds. The light illuminated a thousand shades of green in the valley below, giving a marvelous frame for the participants\u2019 works. There were few of them, perhaps too few, as the walls would have generously hosted others, but the jury only chose those ones and, you know, juries are incontestable.<\/span><\/p> Finally, the dinner organized with the help of the proloco (a Consortium of local tourist offices): it was much appreciated, genuine and generous: excellent and simple. The long tables were full of good food and chatters as well and, at end of the day, I believe everybody was happy.<\/span><\/p> I have little to say about Saturday, as I dedicated the day to teaching. I could not do much more, nor see the works made in other laboratories.<\/span><\/p> <\/span><\/p> About my students, I can say that they have worked with extreme precision, often in silence, focusing on their drafts. Their work were admirable and very well made, just as I wanted them to be. They generously helped each others, swap materials and efforts. Greta has had its highest point in this. On behalf of all I quote her, because, both with her physical strength and her tireless enthusiasm, she helped each of her companions in various stages of their work without a single sign of fatigue, with an infectious energy. I thank them all for listening to me carefully, making very nice and well done scarves and neck warmers. I\u2018m really proud of them.<\/span><\/p> After the workshops, we went to the cloister Boccarini to visit the exhibition of <\/span>“Fino a Cento”<\/span><\/strong>, with works in felt of the maximum weight of 100 grams, displayed together with works from the exhibition of Felleutin (France) whose theme was instead 100, 200, 300 (always grams). These pieces arrived late and were quickly set up with the others.<\/span><\/p> Somebody complained that the pieces were not distributed throughout the cloister, that could host them with more space between them. At Feltrosa, despite a wonderfully friendly environment, we cannot miss some criticism and gossip!<\/span><\/p> All and all <\/span>the visual impact was very nice<\/span><\/strong> and every time you did a tour for once more, you could see a new piece unnoticed before. I enjoyed this set-up anyway, as the works were swinging with the breeze and they were like a continuous discovery, you only had to change your point of view, just as it happens in life.<\/span><\/p> Some of these pieces seemed to me to be real masterpieces.<\/span><\/p> >I mean, I do not know whether they can be considered works of art: as I have already said, I do not like to use such word\u2026but for sure, even the most skilled felters were admiring them, as these works really communicated emotions \u2013 and this is what an artist aims to do. You could fill your eyes with so much ability, color, interpretation of ideas, form, matter, and this was enough. Whether it was art or handicraft it doesn\u2019t matter, to me, they are equal in dignity.<\/span><\/p> In the frame of the same cloister, two actors of Vocabolomacchia have told us a nice story, inspired by the great <\/span>Maria Lai<\/span><\/strong> and the blue ribbon that tied an entire country. Its message was: chase the dream, the beauty of things – being creative saves your life. And this, too, on closer view, we felters have always known and we experience it everyday. It\u2019s a pity for shepherds and sheep, though: all of them died in a cavern. Fairy tales are often so sad and cruel!<\/span><\/p> Definitely exhausted, in the end we sat at a nice restaurant where the \u201cschienesi\u201d could finally have a rest even if their mouths \u2013 always laughing, chatting and eating tasty food from Tern \u2013 were not actually reaxing\u2026 <\/span>Ah women! They love communication!<\/span><\/strong><\/p> Finally Sunday: the meeting on felt and rehabilitation was a little disregarded, perhaps because of the need for sun which made the minilabs in the square much loved.<\/span><\/p>