Salò Residents Clean Graffiti in Community-Led Initiative
Today, a group of Salò residents from the “Amici del golfo” group celebrated May 1st by working towards a noble goal: erasing the graffiti that mark alleys, houses, and buildings.
Equipped with paints and brushes, they will split into several squads, scraping off slogans, uncrossed crosses, various graffiti, and repainting everything. A completely voluntary cleaning operation that will surely be appreciated by the local people.
“We will meet at a quarter past nine under the porticoes of the municipality,” explains Aurelio Nastuzzo, president of the Amici del golfo. “Everyone needs to bring a brush and, of course, suitable clothing or a jumpsuit to avoid staining themselves. Mayor Giampiero Cipani and Public Works Councillor Bernardo Berardinelli may also participate.”
We have already made a list of locations to intervene: the Canottieri square (the wall behind the hospital), via Teatro vecchio, vicolo Tomacelli, via di Mezzo, Tresanda S.Orsola, and the area around the oratory. Then we will evaluate whether to expand the scope of our efforts. For example, the walls of the technical institute “Battisti” deserve to be restored to their original shine.
Even if messages of love, with hearts pierced by many arrows, evoke tenderness. “We contacted six painters: Aurelio Bettoni, Roberto Giacomini, better known as Doro’s son, Marino Apollonio, Oliviero Stefani, Michele Cristic, and Carmelo Pezzotti.”
They gave us a big hand by preparing the paints, that is, the pastel shades used on the lake,” continues Nastuzzo. And what about the homeowners? “They’re very happy, and will surely join us. Many of them have already had their walls cleaned, but later found new graffiti.”
It’s useless to spend money if, shortly after, the situation returns to the way it was. By creating a sort of… movement, we believe we can help raise awareness on the issue. After completing the work, there will be a spaghetti dinner at the Canottieri the following evening,” involving both artists (the painters, masters of the paints) and laborers.
Previous initiatives and awareness campaigns
Nastuzzo was already involved in a performance in the 1980s, together with the Comitato della Calchera, one of the oldest districts in Salò: they lined the main street with daisies, transforming it into a colorful garden.
Back then, an advertising slogan advised to “say it with flowers.” They, to draw the attention of municipal officials to unresolved issues (the resurfacing of pavements, the enhancement of lighting, regulation of waste collection, the introduction of parking restrictions, opening vicolo Gazzere to connect with the lakeside, and replacing the door of the Liceo), brightened the asphalt with hundreds of daisies.
Now, the action targets slogans and writings on the walls. A spring cleaning effort.