A Day In The Life at the Studio
While I was in Italy for several weeks, this was my day-to-day. When the flat became available in Florence, the only change was an hour and half train ride hours before the sun was even up to make it to the studio by 8 am. Each day at the studio in Carrara, I felt this growing sense of familiarity, becoming more comfortable with the studio ongoings, being observant of the Artigiani, the artists, and their process -genuinely being present.
Each day was kickstarted by a double espresso followed by a packed day at the studio, soundtracked by the humming sounds of power tools and 80s music blasting through an old boombox. Marble dust clinging to any available surface. Like clockwork, we would break for an hour for lunch, typically a bowl of decadent pasta and local wine - something the Italians could teach the world a thing or two about slowing down, hitting pause, and fantastic food. Looking back on it all, the best thing about the two months was meeting these wonderful people and learning a great deal about who they are and why they love what they do. The days were long as I juggled other client projects and deadlines, but the trip profoundly affected me and the direction I sawmyself headed - professionally and personally.
Carrara wouldn't be considered a typical tourist hotspot, but that makes it all the better. It is a working town with many residents' lives focused on various marble productions, from mining to transporting marble blocks to factories to the studios which employ the Artigiani. You have pockets of artists that come to Carrara from around the world.
The Cooperativa Sculturi di Carrara is a short ride up from the train station, just off a hairpin turn coming into the industrial district. The energy in the studio is palpable. As an Art History major, I studied in-depth about the region and its role throughout the history of art. The Carrara quarries have provided artistic inspiration and raw materials since their discovery. The town, nestled at the base of the Apuan mountains, has been a gathering place for artists from Michelangelo to modern artists such as Henry Moore and Louise Bourgeois, who employed the Artigiani to rough out their work.
Books, while educational, cannot translate the presence and energy of the studio and this town. Watching the Artigiani work with precision, as they employ century-old techniques, felt poetic as they worked the stone by hand, slowly revealing the hidden figure. I plan to continue with this project when I head back in 2023. There is still much to document about these Artigiani, the studio's story, and the region.
The Italian Diaries is a visual diary of these Artigiani's stories, The Marble Quarries of Carrara, and Mackenzie's travels through Italy. #ContemporaryCreatives