Pulchra Ecclesia: International Sacred Art Exhibition at Montichiari
Hundred quality exhibitors for “Pulchra Ecclesia“, the first exhibition of arts dedicated to sacred space, which will be held at the Centro fiera di Montichiari from January 25 to 28. It was presented yesterday at the offices of Staff Service, the organizer of the event, which ranks among the most significant culturally in the already substantial 2001 fair calendar.
First to speak were Carlo Miotto, CEO of Staff Service, and Domenico Montalto, editor of “Luoghi dell’Infinito” of Avvenire. “It will be an important occasion both for the ecclesiastical clients who will encounter models of high quality across the full spectrum of products and services,” they emphasized.
Objectives and Thematic Choices
“Pulchra Ecclesia” (which translates from Latin as Beautiful Church) aims to be an international forum for dialogue on issues related to sacred art and arts (architecture, painting, sculpture, design, music). The goal is to present prototypes of ever-increasing quality, highlighting the beauty that characterizes the Christian mystery and which represents the true passing leg for the third millennium.
Among the stands, there will be products (liturgical furnishings and components for worship spaces, lighting, worship objects, liturgical vestments, textiles, cassocks, religious images, religious articles) and services (restoration, Christian publishing, plant engineering, IT, consulting, and conferences).
Special Sections and Exhibition
A special section will be dedicated to the crucifixion in contemporary painting and sculpture, through eight galleries (Gariboldi, Marieschi, Antologia, Disegno, Mari, Bellinzona, Arte Bergamo, Niccoli) and two spaces occupied by “Artists with the Cassock” (Renato Laffranchi, Costantino Ruggeri, Marco Ivan Rupnik) and by “Enterprise and Beauty” with interventions on restoration and enhancement of cultural heritage curated by the Roman Sandro Benedetti.
Main Events and Conferences
Within the program, a particularly noteworthy day will be Friday 26 (at 3 pm) with the international conference “Sacred Art Today: A Possible Beauty“. This will serve as an in-depth elaboration and a necessary completion of the themes emerging from direct confrontation with artworks. The round table, moderated by Domenico Montalto, will feature Giorgio Cortenova, Pierangelo Sequeri, Guido Oldani.
On Saturday 27, at 10:30 am, the conference on “Biblical Guides to the Holy Land” will take place, with scholars and priests from across Italy, organized by CIPP and the Pellegrinaggi Paolini Organization with Brevivet. Later the same day, at 5 pm, a second conference will be held on “Rising to God through the Love of Beauty“.
Committee and Patronage
The scientific committee of “Pulchra Ecclesia” is chaired by Vicar of Brescia, Mons. Giulio Sanguineti, and among other prelates includes Mons. Giancarlo Santi, secretary of the National Council for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage of the Conferenza Episcopale Italiana (CEI), and don Ivo Panteghini, director of the Diocesan Museum of Brescia.
The “Arts for Sacred Space” exhibition, also called by organizers the “Church Construction Site“, is sponsored by the Municipality of Montichiari, the Center Fair, the Province, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Region. Entry from January 25 to 28 is open with continuous hours (9 am–7 pm).