Alongside the artworks by contemporary artists who are exhibiting at Palazzo Malaspina, stunning classic cars will also be the protagonists of the Festival.

The fourth edition of the Chianti Star Festival will take place from 18 September to 4 October 2016 at Palazzo Malaspina in San Donato in Poggio. 18 international artists will be exhibiting paintings, sculpture, photography and digital art and will participate in the collateral: meetings, tastings and stargazing at the Chianti Observatory (Osservatorio Polifunzionale del Chianti).

strade-bianche-vino-rossoThe exciting novelty of the 2016 edition is “Strade Bianche, Vino Rosso”, an elegant classic car rally organized in collaboration with ACI Florence and the Scuderia Biondetti. “Strade Bianche, Vino Rosso”, a sporting and cultural event that follows both tradition and innovation, fits perfectly with the theme of the Festival dedicated to the meeting between art and science. The technology and design of the best manufacturers have created cars considered by many as works of art (as recent record sale results of classic cars demonstrate).

The “Strade Bianche, Vino Rosso” rally will take place on Sunday 18th September 2016 to coincide with the inauguration of the Chianti Star Festival. The participation of the Scuderia Biondetti at this event “Strade Bianche, Vino Rosso” provides an added value with the presence of these extremely important classic cars. The route will take the classic car enthusiasts through the heart of Chianti, starting from Panzano in Chianti to the Badia a Passignano, the new Cantina Antinori at Bargino, to arrive at 6pm at Palazzo Malaspina in San Donato in Poggio.

The Chianti Star Festival is organized by Studio Abba in Florence, in collaboration with Giada Rodani, the Chianti Observatory (Osservatorio polifunzionale del Chianti), the ‘Pro Loco’ of San Donato, the Anèmic Association and the ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ Philharmonic Association. The Festival is held under the patronage of the Region of Tuscany and the local town council, ‘Unione Comunale dei Chianti Fiorentino’.

Since the first edition held in 2013, the Festival has brought protagonists of the contemporary art world and science to the Florentine Chianti region, for an exciting series of meetings, conferences, concerts and shows. Each year, the exhibition is judged by a jury and one artist is awarded with the Chianti Star Festival prize. Jury members are: Roberto Casalbuoni, theoretical physicist; Anchise Tempestini, art historian; Giada Rodani, curator of contemporary art exhibitions; Gabriele Rizza, journalist, expert in cinema and theatre; Massimo Ricci, architect, member of the UNESCO Central Forum; David Baroncelli, Mayor of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. The award and symbol of the Chianti star Festival is a terracotta sculpture created by Eugenio Riotto at the Montecchio furnaces and in this way, the material par excellence of the Chianti region has been used. Another “star” of the Festival, together with international contemporary artists who exhibit at Palazzo Malaspina, are the stars in the literal sense, which can be observed from the Observatory of Chianti, as well as typical products of the region, including olive oil and wine.

The Chianti Star Festival award is also presented to an individual who, for various reasons has helped to promote the area or the Festival itself. Among the past recipients of this award are: the astronaut Paolo Nespoli (who will return into space for the third time in 2017), the architect Marco Casamonti who designed the new Cantina Antinori at Bargino and Albiera Antinori representing the family who commissioned the building; actors Ennio Fantastichini (Enrico Fermi “I ragazzi di via Panisperna by Gianni Amelio) and Giorgio Colangeli (who before becoming an actor was trained as a physicist); and Maestro Bruno Canino.

Artists participating in the 2016 edition

Lawrence Armstrong
Trond Are Berge
Stefania Bertini Cavelti
William Braemer
Mary Brilli
Joan Criscione
Beatrice de Domenico
Maiada El Khalifa
Sylvie Hamou
David Harry
Sumio Inoue
Michael Katz
Fiorella Noci
Tereza Ordyan
Chris Reichenbaum
Susanne Sjögren
Enzo Trapani
Max Werner

CHIANTI STAR FESTIVAL
San Donato in Poggio and other locations from 18 September to 4 October 2016
Opening: 18 September 6.30pm
Location: Palazzo Malaspina, Via del Giglio 31, San Donato in Poggio

Opening hours at Palazzo Malaspina: 9.30-12.30 | 4-8pm | closed Wednesdays
Free entrance
www.chiantistarfestival.org
For information on the exhibition and collateral events:
Studio Abba 055292082 [email protected]