EVENT
We were at Weekendoit 2018!
We were in Ancona, at Weekendoit, an event made with heart and attended with enthusiasm by many craftswomen and craftsmen who came from all over Italy to share with love and passion their work and spirit of innovation. Here is our account of three days of intense emotions and interesting encounters.
Dear Valentina, today, 25 July, it has been a few days since we got back to Rome from Ancona, and we are still thinking about Weekendoit, an event made with heart.
You can see it in the people who took part, in the fantastic volunteers and the local organiser, all framed in a beautiful place. Gaia Segattini welcomed us with her unique gaze and embrace, and it was an immediate immersion in the atmosphere she intended to create. The two halls set up in the Lazzaretto of Ancona were ready to host the workshops and the presentations of people who came from all over Italy.
From knitting with Lanando Lab to footwear with Daniela of La Marchigiana, from self-producing a printed T-shirt with Rosita to making soap at home with Cera una bolla, passing through silkscreen printing with the friends of Rinoteca and making a veil for a fashion event with La Nico delle Meraviglie. We were struck by the skill in linoleography of Giulio Vesprini and by the craftsmanship in bookbinding with Stefania Giuliani of Librare.
Our Rosita presented the workshop on making your own T-shirt with the cutting plotter and heat-transfer materials, and the workshop on using resins for jewellery in collaboration with ResChimica.
We met special people; in particular we mention a few. Giacomo Giovannetti with his Upupa e Colibrì brand, the super creativity of @Babeltag, Valentina of @Lovaludesign, the clothes of Alessia Barbarossa, the creations of @Microamica. Some of those we met can’t wait to drop by our window in via Persico in Rome.
The daytime event took place at the Lazzaretto; in the evening, instead, there were exhibitions to inaugurate in the alternative, artisanal and top venues of Ancona. Like the Coffeeeshirt Good Shop, the Legatoria Librare and, to celebrate the 50 years of the Sacco Zanotta, a 60s-design themed evening, in which the work of the Italian illustrators selected for the Zanotta feat. Weekendoit collaboration was exhibited at the “Contemporaneo” showroom.
Luckily there was also the chance to visit the fablab of Ancona, the Rinoteca. It was a particular emotion to see it, because I am in part the one who pushed for it, ever since I made a Skype call with them, always thanks to Gaia Segattini who plays the role of connector in her territory. The current premises are very spacious and oriented towards woodworking, a local tradition. There is also a well-established silkscreen-printing area. It is good that fablabs are oriented in the direction of management and also following territorial themes, so as not to be alien entities but to be understandable to the local public and to public administrations.
It is a very emotional account because the organisers are right: self-production and craftsmanship must be lived this way, immersed in the wonder and courage of committing to one’s own work and bearing fruit in our territory. Stories of those who have stayed with difficulty, that sometimes last half a century and become true historic companies.
A special mention also to Marco who acted as host, welcoming us and always making us feel at home.
Long live Weekendoit, long live the network of people and craftsmanship that connects!