Santa Maria della Scala Unveils Ambitious Fall 2017 Program

Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, under director Daniele Pitteri since February 2016, has announced a packed program for the second half of 2017. The highlight is an exhibition on Ambrogio Lorenzetti (October 22, 2017 – January 21, 2018), featuring loans from the Louvre, National Gallery, Uffizi, Vatican Museums, and Yale. The show follows a restoration campaign funded by Mibact that conserved Lorenzetti's frescoes in San Francesco, Montesiepi, and the Maestà di Sant'Agostino. Photography is a key focus: Cristina Coral's 'Storie di Stanze Room Stories' runs July 28 – September 10, and Monica Biancardi's 'RiMembra' from December 15 – January 15, with 13 watercolors and 4 photographic diptychs. A self-produced exhibition for Franco Fortini's centenary, 'Je voudrais savoir' (November 3 – January 7), is co-organized with the University of Siena. 'In Nomine Lucis' (until August 31) honors composer Ludovico Scelsi with a show, sound installation, and David Ryan's film. 'Caveau' (from September 21) concludes Serena Fineschi's project featuring 12 curators and artists. 'Un secolo di storia' (from December 8) is a traveling exhibition based on La Nazione archives. Ongoing events include SMS_Live every Thursday with performances and tastings, and the World Tourism Unesco event (September 22–24), which will reopen Palazzo Squarcialupi after years of closure.