ALMetro360 Magazine

..................................................................................................................................................................... I N I TALIAN FOLKLORE , THE MOON IS BELIEVED TO HAVE TWO FACES . O N ONE SIDE A FACE LOOKS BACK OVER THE PAST ; ON THE OTHER , A FACE LOOKS FORWARD WITH ITS SIGHTS SET ON THE FUTURE . T HAT MYTHOLOGY HAS COME ALIVE THROUGH A NEW CLASSICAL SCULPTURE AT THE M ONTGOMERY M USEUM OF F INE A RTS . I T IS M AYOR T ODD S TRANGE TO THANK . I T WAS HIS IDEA . n the cusp of his mayoral retirement, Mayor Strange commissioned a sculp- ture in commemoration of two impor- tant anniversaries: Montgomery’s ten- year partnership as a “Sister City” with Pietrasanta, Italy. And our 2019 Bicen- tennial — celebrating the 200th birth- days of both the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama. Official Sister City documents, desig- nating the partnership, were signed with the advent of the mayor’s term in 2009. Bicentennial history goes back to when Alabama was born on December 14, 1819, becoming the 22nd state to the union. In the same month and year, the City of Montgomery was incorporated. The sculpture, named “Nostra Luna,” is a classical piece carved in pure white Sylacauga marble. The name literally means “Our Moon” in Italian. It symbolizes the strong bond between Montgomery and Pietrasanta. Although some 5,000 miles apart, the cities share one moon. Mayor Strange said, “We are excited to have this piece in the John and Joyce Caddell Sculptor Garden at our museum. It will be a constant symbol of the relationship between these two great cities.” Commission of the sculpture was made possible through the Montgomery Area Business Committee for the Arts (MABCA). Ashley DuBose Ledbetter, MABCA, Executive Director, has served as project chairman. Dawn Hathcock, Vice-President, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, has coordinated many events throughout the partnership’s existence. Although Mayor Strange initiated the partnership, former Ala- bama State Council on the Arts, Executive Director, Al Head, is recognized as being the catalyst. It was under his leadership, many years earlier, that groundwork was laid. The partnership has expanded to include Troy University as well as Montgomery Public Schools through City Councilman Richard Bollinger. The relationship may be termed a sisterhood, but there seems to have developed a strong brotherhood between the mayors of both cities. Mayor Strange and then Mayor Massimo Mallegni of Pietrasanta have maintained a mutual friendship. They’re what you could call “buddies.” Each has visited the other’s city, more than once. They have been hailed as honorary citizens in each location. The camaraderie continues with Pietrasanta’s new mayor, Al- berto Stefano Giovannetti. Former Mayor Mallegni has moved on to become an Italian senator, but there has been no movement away from his commitment to our Capitol City and certainly to his good friend, Mayor Todd Strange. When time came to make the sculpture a reality, none other than the celebrated, brilliant Alabama sculptor, Craigger Browne was selected. The Birmingham area native is artist-in-residence in Sylacauga, Alabama. His works are exhibited worldwide. Browne has made many commission pieces, including the life-size Helen Keller/ Anne Sullivan statues for Tuscumbia, 2017. Browne knew right away he wanted Pietrasanta sculptor, Mar- cello Giorgi, to join forces for the important work. Giorgi is a master carver. He is classically trained, growing up near the famous Carrara Marble quarries in Italy. Both sculptors happen to be good friends, working together during Sylacauga’s Marble Festival. They both have been trained in fine art, studying classical sculpture in Italy and France. Giorgi arrived in Sylacauga some six months ago to work with Browne, who was finalizing his concept for the design. Each sculp- turer had rough draft designs of what they envisioned. “The work flowed… we worked easily together,” said Browne. However, the work was laborious, even if a passion for the ultra- talented sculptors. There were 12-14-hour days. And that was six days a week. He Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter NOVEMBER 2019 21 O Senator Massimo Mallegni (Former Mayor of Piesantra) with his wife, Paula