In dialogue with slate

The Essence of Slate

Slate is a unique stone, very different from marble, which is distinguished by its fine grain and ability to be treated in any direction. Slate, however, retains its original nature as a sedimentary rock. Over millions of years, it has undergone enormous compressions which have given it a particular property called “fissility”, which allows it to fall apart into millimeter-thick sheets.

The Sculpture Challenge

For sculpture, however, this property can be an obstacle. It is necessary to “dialogue” with the slate, working it carefully so as not to damage it. Some contemporary artists have accepted this challenge, using chisel and mallet with extreme caution, respecting the grain of the stone.

Mirko Gualerzi: Pioneer of Rediscovery

Years ago, Mirko Gualerzi, coming from the Po Valley, settled in Uscio and began a dialogue with slate. Until his death in 2004, Gualerzi rediscovered the “fountain” slate to create sculptures and bas-reliefs, as the craftsmen-artists of the 15th and 16th centuries did for the historiated portals of the stately homes of Genoa and the Riviera. Gualerzi taught many young people how to choose and work this stone. However, slate processing requires a lot of physical effort, and many young people dropped out.

Berzsenyi Baläzs and the Cornia Atelier

The Hungarian sculptor Berzsenyi Baläzs fell in love with slate and created an atelier near the ancient Cornia quarry, open to anyone who wanted to learn to sculpt it after Gualerzi’s death. However, Baläzs also almost abandoned slate, preferring other materials.

Pietro Burzi: A Master of Slate

Pietro Burzi learned under the large canopy of the atelier, where slate was once worked for roofs, steps and windowsills. He began at the Baläzs school and today continues to carve this difficult-to-work stone in the round. Burzi has participated in numerous competitions, exhibitions and exhibitions in the United States, France, Spain and throughout the national territory, receiving various awards and recognitions. In 2016, Burzi became the protagonist of a documentary on slate sculpture made by the Japanese TV TBS – Tokyo. He is also mentioned in Professor Germano Berlingheli’s Dictionary of Ligurian Artists.

The art of slate processing is an ancient and fascinating tradition, which continues to live on thanks to the passion and dedication of artists such as Pietro Burzi. This dialogue with the stone, which requires respect and skill, keeps alive an important part of Liguria’s cultural heritage.

Sources

Lagomarsino R., “Nulla si ottiene se manca il dialogo”, in Centro di Documentazione della Civica Biblioteca di San Colombiano Certenoli (a c. di), “L’ardesia della Fontanabuona e le sculture di Pietro Burzi”, Chiavari, Grafica Piemme, 2017, collana “Quaderni del Lascito Cuneo”

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