Artist Luca Bertolo writes open letter to mayor over marble quarry privatization

Artist Luca Bertolo has written an open letter to Lorenzo Alessandrini, mayor of Seravezza, Italy, criticizing the privatization of marble quarries on Monte Altissimo in the Apuan Alps. The company Henraux spa of Querceta, known for contemporary art commissions and the Premio Henraux, has taken ownership of the quarries despite protests from citizens and environmentalists. The Seravezza city council approved the agreement on July 1, 2023, ending a decades-long dispute over land historically designated for civic use. Bertolo questions the short-term economic benefits touted by the mayor and links the issue to broader climate change challenges, arguing that political competence must serve a long-term vision for future generations. He describes the environmental impact of quarrying, including constant noise from machinery, lack of regulation, and the rapid extraction of marble for low rents and taxes. The letter reflects on the intelligence of Homo sapiens and the need to prioritize survival over economic exploitation. Bertolo, a visual artist born in Milan in 1968, has lived in the Seravezza area for over fifteen years.