Gibellina's MAC Museum Reopens with 400 Works After Six-Year Closure

The MAC – Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Ludovico Corrao in Gibellina, Sicily, will reopen at the end of April 2021 after six years of closure for renovation. The museum houses some 2,000 works by artists who participated in the town's post-earthquake reconstruction, led by visionary mayor Ludovico Corrao. The new installation features 400 works divided into eight historical-chronological sections, spanning from the early 20th century to the latest avant-gardes. Notable works include Mario Schifano's 'Ciclo della natura' (ten large canvases dedicated to Gibellina's children, 1984) and Renato Guttuso's 'La notte di Gibellina' (painted in memory of the 1970 torchlight procession). The museum's courtyard has been redesigned as an open-air exhibition section. The reopening is seen as a symbol of rebirth amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as stated by culture councilor Tanino Bonifacio. The museum originated in 1980 from a graphic collection donated by gallerist Nino Soldano, featuring works by Enrico Baj, Corrado Cagli, Pietro Consagra, Mimmo Rotella, and Mario Schifano. The 1968 Belice Valley earthquake destroyed Gibellina, leading to its reconstruction as an open-air museum with works by Alberto Burri (Grande Cretto), Consagra, Accardi, Isgrò, Pomodoro, and others.