In the night between 14 and 15 January 1968 the whole of western Sicily was shaken by a violent earthquake that completely destroyed Gibellina, Poggioreale, Salaparuta and Montevago and partly destroyed Santa Margherita di Belice, Santa Ninfa, Partanna and Salemi. Huge destruction was also suffered by Menfi, Camporeale, Chiusa Sclafani, Contessa Entellina, Sambuca di Sicilia, Sciacca, Vita, Calatafimi and Segesta.
2018 marks the 50th anniversary of this terrible event, which will be commemorated on the 14th of January with an exhibition of photos taken by Franco Baldi, who migrated to Australia soon after the earthquake, immediately after the catastrophe, the presentation of the book La tarantella del fango by Franco Baldi and Annamaria Lo Castro (with readings of excerpts by Charlotte and Luca Rinaldi) and the screening of some documentaries dedicated to this terrible event and Sicilian culture and traditions. During the evening participants will receive a free copy of the book signed by the authors.
Baldi’s photographs move and evoke strong feelings, the sense of loss of the first days, the dismay at having lost everything, the distressing pain of the survivors, the resignation before an event whose meaning could not be understood. The Belice was a repository of great cultural significance dating back to the ancient Greeks, had important churches and palaces, a substantial heritage not adequately valued and that the earthquake was likely to have annihilated. These days these places are alive again, thanks to the tenacity of its inhabitants but also thanks to the many artists who decided to use their talent to create beautiful works which drew the attention of the civil society to the problems of the region and that today contribute to make Belice a new and contemporary cultural laboratory and a place of great attraction to tourists.
The printing of the book The tarantella del fango was made possible thanks to the contribution of C.I.M. Confederation of Italians in the World. The book will be donated to the participants, all proceeds will go to the Father Atanasio Gonelli Charitable Fund.
The photographic exhibition will be inaugurated by the Consul General of Italy, Arturo Arcano, and the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney, Lillo Teodoro Guarneri.
Light refreshments will be served at the end of the evening.
FREE ENTRY. NO BOOKING NECESSARY.