Beica Ben! Expands with New Site-Specific Works in Piedmont Valleys

The Beica Ben! project, which promotes Occitan identity in Piedmont's Maira, Grana, and Stura valleys, has expanded with new works by Maura Banfo, Manuela Cirino, Silvia Margaria, and Enrico Tealdi. These join earlier pieces by Tommaso Rinaldi, Lavinia Raccanello, Silvia Capiluppi, and Saverio Todaro from September 2022. The new works were created during artist residencies from May 29 to June 1, 2023, under artistic director Olga Gambari. Gambari stated that the project centers on the valleys, their territories, stories, and people, serving as both commissioners and recipients of works arising from immersive residencies. The 2023 edition emphasizes public space en plein air, aiming to engage the community. Silvia Margaria's 'L'Escondut' is a site-specific installation along the path from Filatoio Rosso di Caraglio to Bioparco Acqua Viva, featuring red-painted eyes on trees and a narration by Caterina Ramonda accessible via QR code. Manuela Cirino's 'Vai Saber' in Villa San Pietro, Monterosso Grana, connects local cup-marked rocks to the Pleiades constellation. Maura Banfo's 'Materia Nobile – Ricordati di non dimenticare' in Valle Stura uses oral histories and the chestnut as a symbol, with posters in Roccasparvera, Moiola, and Gaiola. Enrico Tealdi's 'Un sonno lungo mille anni' at Espaci Occitan in Dronero depicts a maiden's face using medieval techniques, honoring women and their historical exclusion from social life.