Deconsecrated Church in Cremona Reopens as Contemporary Art Space with Servane Mary Solo Show

The deconsecrated 17th-century church of San Carlo e Donnino in Cremona, which was listed for sale on eBay in 2015 for €250,000, has been restored and reopened as a contemporary art venue called SAN CARLO. The church, previously owned by the parish of Sant'Ilario and later the Fondazione Moreni, was purchased by a private buyer after its eBay listing. Following cleaning and restoration approved by the Soprintendenza, it opened to the public by appointment on September 15, 2021. The inaugural exhibition, 'Glitches,' features French artist Servane Mary (born 1972 in Dijon) and runs until December 19, 2021. The show, organized in collaboration with APALAZZOGALLERY of Brescia, includes three monumental paintings (5m x 5m each) on laminated plywood panels arranged in a triangular formation. Mary uses a CMYK color palette with a silver spray base, incorporating saturated paint drips and gestural marks. The works embrace 'glitches'—formal errors or defects that emerge during the painting process. Curator Francesca Minini, who oversees the new space, stated the project aims to promote contemporary art as a means to investigate societal changes and stimulate public participation. The church had suffered decades of damage and looting before its restoration.