“Nomen omen” goes a Latin adage: people’s destiny is in their names.
That’s what I thought as I was watching the trailer of the docufilm “Lino Tagliapietra”, a master in the art of glassblowing, scheduled to be screened at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival.
“Tagliapietra” means “stonecutter” but Lino went further. During his very long working life (he started at 11 and is now 88!) he has being shaping sand into stunning glasswork with fire, his breathe and, undoubtedly, with his heart.
Observing his artworks and videos where he forges glass, my mind goes to the creative force of Lino’s breath very much akin to the biblical breath of life. Indeed, Lino’s breath creates his artworks. They come to life and, through the passage of time and the changing of light intensity, they literally become alive as they constantly change their colours and shapes.
The docufilm shows Lino’s personality and the beauty of an art born in Murano (Venice) many centuries ago. An artform that has been interpreted and modified in various ways by different glass masters as only artists can do.
A unique Chelsea Film Festival window onto this ancient technique seen from afar and therefore maybe more objective and analytical rather than just a close look to the artwork that could miss what lies behind andbeyond.
The docufilm is directed by Jacob Patrick and the cast is made up of: Lino Tagliapietra, Dante Marioni, Dale Chihuly, John Kiley, Nancy Callan, Dave Walters, Jen Elek, Silvano Tagliapietra
Key sentence: Lino might speak rusty English and rusty Italian, but his first language is probably glass.
REGAL 14TH ST. | Sunday, October 20th | 4:45 PM
Auditorium 11 available also online
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