Abandoned newsstand in Siena transformed into contemporary art gallery by collective Fare Mente Locale

The collective Fare Mente Locale, founded in Siena in 2015 by artists Agathe Rosa, Giacomo Ricci, Martina Marolda, and Nicola Machetti, has converted a long-abandoned newsstand in the Petriccio district into a contemporary art space. The project, part of their nomadic curatorial initiative Spazio Instabile, began in 2020 with Laura Pugno's site-specific work in an industrial building under the Ponte di Spugna in Colle di Val d'Elsa. The current exhibition, running until June 15, 2024, features Clarissa Baldassarri's (born 1994, Civitanova Marche) work 'Quotidiano per il Quotidiano' at the newsstand in the Terrazze area, abandoned for thirty years. Baldassarri's project uses a recoded AI software by engineer Simone Esposito to film activity near the newsstand and generate descriptive text on a display, reconnecting the kiosk with passersby. A printed publication collects AI-generated documentation and is distributed in local shops. The initiative includes partial restoration and community collaboration with local association Giallo Menta. After the exhibition, the newsstand will become a permanent independent artist-run space with a regular program of exhibitions and interventions starting around September/October 2024. Spazio Instabile will become a biennial event, with the third edition planned for 2026.