Simone Donati
2022
Simone Donati
2022
February 2022. A view of the town of Sarconi (PZ) seen from Moliterno (PZ)
This work stems from the desire to tell examples of people who have decided to stay and live in Val d’Agri, province of Potenza, investing resources and energy for the area. The area, including a series of Municipalities around that of Grumento Nova, was identified by ICCD, the Central Institute for Catalogue and Documentation, for the PON project “Digital Itineraries“.
As the anthropologist Vito Teti recounts in many of his texts, once there was the sacrifice of the emigrant, now instead there is the sacrifice of those who remain. Today young people believe in other models and lifestyles and that these places can be livable again. The myth of elsewhere as paradise is over. Teti talks about what he calls the “ethics of remaining” and how it is measured against the arrival of others, with the safekeeping of one’s place of belonging, with the need to have respect, new attentions and a particular sensitivity for places.
In the first half of 2022 Simone Donati met some of these young people who are working hard to carry on their own business, the result of past generations or their business idea. From agriculture to pastoralism, from services to tourism and culture, the result is a series of portraits, which dialogue with small and large landscapes of the area involved.
May 2022. A portrait of Sebastiano (30 years old) and Franca (26 years old) Carlomagno in Sarconi (PZ). Sebastiano and Franca run the "Dal Biondo" dairy, opened by their father in 1990, together with their father and mother. For Sebastiano, it was his passion for this job that made him take this path, Franca did not continue studying and immediately started working, taking care of the administrative and commercial side. Both say they never thought about leaving.
February 2022. A portrait of Giuseppe Panzardi, 39 years old, lumberjack, photographed in Moliterno (PZ). Giuseppe was born in Lagonegro but grew up in Moliterno where he studied until 3rd grade. He has been a lumberjack in his company for 18 years. He continued his father's activity which involved both agriculture and forestry.
May 2022. Work tools inside the company "Fratelli Grieco - Stone Processing and Sale". The company has reached the fourth generation and specializes in "Pietra di Gorgoglione".
February 2022. A portrait of Antonio Racioppi in Spinoso (PZ). Antonio, 28 years old, has been managing his father's company since 2016. After graduating in agriculture, he returned to his hometown after a period between Bologna and Potenza. In his company, he pays attention to labeling and image, combining product quality with their presentation. The products are sold in general markets and in the GDA.
May 2022. A portrait of Anna (left, 31 years old) and Maria (right, 32 years old) Volpe in Contrada San Michele in Calvello (PZ). Originally from Accettura (MT), they settled in Calvello in 2000. After graduating in accounting in Potenza, they attended university for 2 years and then decided to take over an already established farm where their parents and paternal grandfather worked.
May 2022. View of San Martino d'Agri (PZ)
February 2022. A portrait of Simona Luglio, 33 years old, owner of the Moliendo Cafè restaurant and pizzeria in Moliterno (PZ). She opened the restaurant in 2015, after working in her father's restaurant. She has 2 people working part time in the dining room, her sister takes care of the pizzeria and another person is in the kitchen. She has never thought of leaving the village. "It's not easy here, but what happens if we all leave?"
May 2022. A portrait of Rocco Lapenta, 29 years old, in Corleto Perticara (PZ). Rocco runs the family business that has been working with iron, aluminum and sheet metal since 1987. He graduated from the ITIS in Corleto, after spending 8 months in various parts of Italy for an internship with a wood construction company he decided to start working with his father in 2018. He never had the idea of leaving the village even though he recognizes the difficulties in the job. Many people advised him to leave but he decided to stay thanks to his passion for this purely manual work. "There is not a day when I wake up and I don't want to work".
February 2022. A view of Mount Pilato from the road from Marsicovetere (PZ) to Calvello (PZ)
May 2022. A portrait of Antonio Gagliardi, 22 years old, in Corleto Perticara (PZ). Antonio manages the family oil mill, now in its 3rd generation, opened in 1968. After graduating as a chemical expert at the ITIS in Corleto at 18, he immediately began working in the company. His passion for this job has grown over the years, but he has never thought of going to work elsewhere.
February 2022. A portrait of Rocco Gallicchio, 39 years old, in his laboratory in Calvello (PZ). He attended the Art Institute in Salerno in the ceramics section, while in the afternoons doing an apprenticeship in the Salimeni brothers' workshop. After high school he followed an European course for a year with the certificate of generic ceramist and decorator in Montelupo Fiorentino. He opened his business at 21 in 2005 and for four years he has had his own personal collection with which he also sells abroad.
May 2022. Animals grazing on the Volpe sisters farm in Contrada San Michele in Calvello (PZ). They have 120 animals including Podolica cows and calves, mainly for meat. In spring they also produce seasonal caciocavallo, although in the future there is the desire to open a real dairy.
May 2022. A country house near San Martino d'Agri (PZ)
May 2022. A portrait of Francesca (left, 27 years old) and Gerardina (32 years old) Lombardi in Corleto Perticara (PZ). Francesca grew up in Corleto where she graduated as a chemical expert. She did not want to continue her studies to immediately dedicate herself to the farm started by her father in 1986. The livestock farm has about 200 sheep for the production of cheese, sowing, cereals and vegetables. Francesca takes care of the production of cheese including pecorino with walnuts, black olives and pistachios. The sale is made directly from the producer to the consumer. Gerardina is about to graduate in forestry sciences and as soon as she finishes her studies she will dedicate herself to the family's new project, an educational farm, where children and adolescents can experience the relationship with nature. "We have so many resources here, why should we go out to work?" "We are very attached to our family and our roots".
May 2022. A portrait of Felice Pascarelli (34 years old) and her partner Angela Ferrara (25) in Guardia Perticara (PZ). Felice and Angela run "Frutta SI" together, a company that deals with the distribution of fruit and vegetables that opened in December 2021. Before opening the company Felica worked in a fruit shop and Angela was a sales assistant in a shoe shop. The bond with their families did not allow them to leave; Felice says: "I am the only male child, I cannot leave my parents alone".
February 2022. A mural in Calvello (PZ)
February 2022. A portrait of Domenico Lagrutta in Sarconi (PZ). Domenico was born and raised in Rome but his family is originally from Sarconi. Owner of the company "Lumacamente" opened in 2013 on the land owned by the family. He raises snails and grows dry products; the company is the second largest in Southern Italy for snail farming and produces 180/190 quintals per year.
May 2022. A portrait of Michele Grieco, 25 years old, in Guardia Perticara (PZ). Michele, originally from Gorgoglione (PZ) did not finish his agricultural studies and entered directly into the family business "Fratelli Grieco - Working and selling stone". At the beginning he dealt with earthmoving but since 2018 he has taken over the administrative part even if he continues to work directly in the stone processing part. The company with him has reached the fourth generation and is specialized in "Pietra di Gorgoglione". "I was destined to work here as a child, since I was 5 years old I went around with my uncle to trade fairs".
February 2022. A view of the town of Tramutola (PZ)
