Street art revitalizes two Italian towns amid political indifference

Montale, a hamlet of 5,000 in Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), and Albano Laziale, a town in the province of Rome, have added street art works to their urban landscapes in early 2020. In Montale, a mural by Fabio Tellas was inaugurated in October 2019 on Via Estense, supported by the municipality and local businesses. From February 4 to 10, 2020, artist Fabio Petani (born 1987 in Pinerolo) will create an "alchemical" mural on Via Vandelli, known for blending chemistry, soft colors, and elements that harmonize with the environment. In Albano Laziale's Pavona district, the Association Museum of Street Art Castelli Romani, with the local scout group, the onlus Chiara per i bambini del mondo, and private entities, commissioned Morden Gore (born 1996 in Macerata) to paint a large mural. Gore depicted a child's hand using sign language to spell "ROMA" on an abandoned electrical cabin, aiming to draw attention to the lack of public spaces for children. This follows Gore's 2018 mural against criminality for the XXIII Day of Memory and Commitment for innocent mafia victims. Both towns, with limited resources (Albano Laziale ~40,000 inhabitants, Castelnuovo Rangone ~15,000), rely on local groups and volunteers, as major ministerial projects for peripheral areas have stalled.