Bottega Gatti archive damaged by Faenza flood

On May 2, 2023, torrential rainfall led to the Lamone River overflowing, inundating Faenza's Borgo Durbecco district in Italy. The Bottega Gatti, a renowned ceramics studio established in 1928 by Riccardo Gatti, faced severe destruction to its archive located in a warehouse on Via Silvio Pellico. The floodwaters submerged valuable paintings, drawings, books, and documents under 1.5 meters. Fortunately, the main museum and headquarters on Via Pompignoli remained intact. Davide Servadei, the founder's great-nephew and current director, was in the process of reorganizing materials for the company's centennial. The archive's loss included correspondence with notable artists like Roberto Matta and Alberto Burri. Servadei lamented the irreplaceable loss of artist books, especially those on visual poetry and conceptual art. Some artworks were sent for restoration, aiming to salvage about 10% of the historical collection. Ceramics remained unharmed, and artists such as Paladino and Ontani have offered assistance in recovering remnants of their collaborations. Additionally, a nearby nonprofit music school sustained damage and has raised over €40,000 through crowdfunding efforts.