Serena Fineschi and the 'Piedino' in Ceramic Art

During a residency at Cantieri Montelupo in Montelupo Fiorentino from July 19-22, 2022, artist Serena Fineschi, together with ceramist Patrizio Bartoloni, redefined the humble 'piedino' (also called 'birillo' or 'distanziatore')—a small terracotta support used in kilns—as an artwork. This shift occurred on a Tuesday, after a weekend workshop and initial acclimatization. The piedino, typically invisible and utilitarian, undergoes dozens to thousands of firings, embodying the essence of ceramics through its deep experience within the kiln. Fineschi and Bartoloni's recognition of the piedino as an 'opera' opened a new world of meaning. The residency also featured artist Elena Bellantoni, who focused on the dried riverbed Pesa for her work 'MI SONO SECCATA'. Both artists demonstrated a 'depth' that involves deviation from original plans and attention to marginal elements, emphasizing vitality and existential connection over rhetoric. The project was part of a broader exploration of the artist's role, loss of control, and community relations in contemporary art.