John David Mooney to Create Public Art for Matera 2019

American artist John David Mooney will create a site-specific public artwork for Matera 2019, when the city serves as European Capital of Culture. Mooney, known for large-scale light sculptures and urban interventions, recently completed a preliminary site visit to the Sassi district. He will collaborate closely with Matera's Open Design School from the design phase onward. Mooney described Matera as magical, having slept in a cave and absorbed the unique atmosphere of nature and traditional culture. He will return to Chicago to begin a creative phase lasting about six months, followed by two months for fabrication. A second site visit is planned in about eight months, with final installation expected closer to 2019. Mooney emphasized that his works are collaborative projects involving architects, designers, artists, and engineers, aiming to create pieces that feel born from the local community. The artwork will connect the city and present with Matera's distinctive landscape and history. Mooney's works are held by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Since 1981, his foundation has hosted artists, students, and scholars for interdisciplinary experimentation.