The Province of Catanzaro, presided over by Mario Amedeo Mormile, has consigned to history, to the City of Catanzaro, to art, to the history of art, the bronze bust of Mimmo Rotella created by the sculptor Luigi Verrino. The ceremony was held at the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park "Michele Traversa" - International Sculpture Park - Marca Open Arts Museum of the Province of Catanzaro in the presence of a large and qualified audience. The director of the Academy of Fine Arts of Catanzaro, Virgilio Piccari, immediately got to the heart of the matter, giving a true critical lesson on the internationally renowned art of Mimmo Rotella, highlighting his artistic gestures, the value of beauty, and the complexity of society with multiple languages. Focusing on decollage, he spoke of the tears and recompositions, of Rotella's works that manage to conquer the soul. He proposed establishing an annual festival and a biennial prize in his honor. Director Piccari thanked Verrino, "always smiling," who today with his sculpture allows us to give a caress, a greeting, a smile to Mimmo Rotella.
The moderator of the event, professional journalist Luigi Stanizzi, before giving the floor to Luigi Verrino, publicly asked him if he would be available to also create a bronze statue of the late Michele Traversa, former President of the Province of Catanzaro, Mayor, Regional Councillor, Trade Unionist, Deputy, who did so much for the Biodiversity Park. The sculptor Luigi Verrino's response was lightning-fast, saying he was honored to be able to immortalize Michele Traversa with one of his bronze works, to be placed right in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park so desired and loved by Traversa. Artist Verrino then recalled his deep friendship with Rotella, which began in the 1970s in Milan. He confessed that it was precisely this bond that allowed him to faithfully capture the artist's facial features in his bronze work.
The conclusions of this meeting, of the highest cultural value, were drawn by the President of the Province, Mario Amedeo Mormile, who emphasized the strong emotions linked to the Mediterranean Biodiversity Park, in memory of Michele Traversa. He highlighted the prestige of the open-air sculpture park with works by world-renowned artists, as a symbol of affection and memory. President Mormile took the opportunity to recall that the Biodiversity Park belongs to the Province but at the same time represents the symbol of the city, and then listed the museums and countless structures of the Province that bring prestige to the capital of Calabria. On the commemorative bronze donated by Luigi Verrino, he stressed that it is a new step to further enhance this space and the culture of the city. President Mormile thanked all those present and collaborators, emphasizing the commitment of the provincial administration despite limited resources, reiterating the importance of political reasoning for a far-sighted and united vision for Catanzaro, a capital city that must have centrality, and the need to network to enhance its cultural and artistic heritage. And then the awaited announcement, even beyond national and European borders but on a global level, by the President of the Province, Mario Amedeo Mormile, of a retrospective exhibition of Mimmo Rotella's works, from 1938 to his last days, to be held at MARCA in the summer of 2025, with the aim of promoting the city and its cultural offerings worldwide. Finally, Mormile welcomed with favor and enthusiasm Verrino's willingness to create a statue of Michele Traversa, but for now - he specified - it is a declaration of intent and naturally the family must also be consulted. President Mormile himself, after thanking Eng. Paola Fragale, Head of the Park and Museums, for her tireless commitment and Dr. Giuseppe Talarico for his interest in organizing the event, started the debate by inviting those present to intervene. Franco Cimino, former secretary of Christian Democracy, said that Luigi Verrino gives soul to clay, gives life to bronze, makes the personalities he creates and recreates with his art speak. Of Rotella, Cimino specified that none of those present knew him as well as the artist Verrino, his personal friend for over half a century, with whom he discussed the artistic avant-gardes of the time. Mimmo Rotella therefore frequented Luigi Verrino's art workshop, where he often created various works with posters torn down with Verrino himself from the walls and advertising spaces of Catanzaro. The sculptor Verrino, at the end of the event, then recounted unpublished and curious anecdotes about the life of Mimmo Rotella, for example talking about his favorite dish when he returned to Catanzaro. "He would call me," Verrino recalled, "and would regularly ask me in April and May to prepare him broad beans and frittole, of which he was very fond."
A passionate greeting from Salvatore Tozzo, President of the Pro Loco of Zagarise, who shared his pride when, as a Catanzaro student in Florence, he heard praise for the great Rotella, a fellow Catanzaro native. Tozzo invited everyone to admire the precious sculptures and other works of art by Verrino that adorn squares, fountains, house-museums, and museums of Zagarise; moreover, the artist is Honorary President of the Proloco of Zagarise. The Mayor of Zagarise, Domenico Gallelli, thanked President Mormile for his valuable role in the continuity of artistic promotion, recognizing the Province's effort despite the institution's financial constraints. He praised the vision of art as a "caress" and expressed the intention to transform Zagarise into a "City of Art," thanks to Luigi Verrino, originally from Zagarise, of whom he is proud just as Salvatore Tozzo was of Rotella from Catanzaro when he was studying outside Calabria. Mayor Domenico Gallelli finally recalled another great event, unique in the world, the "100 Steps of Legality," which will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Zagarise, which is already in fact the City of the Arts, with the presence of over 150 artists who will exhibit their works outdoors; he also took the opportunity to thank the artistic director Arcangelo Pugliese, present in the hall. The event in Catanzaro, which with the announcement by the President of the Province - Mario Amedeo Mormile - of the great exhibition of Mimmo Rotella's works becomes of worldwide interest, ended with applause with the unveiling of the statue of Mimmo Rotella, created by Luigi Verrino in the International Sculpture Park, which boasts works by the greatest artists in the world. A moving ceremony, seeing the face of Mimmo Rotella sculpted in bronze by the art of Luigi Verrino, who received compliments from all those present, and then a long line to take photographs next to Rotella's bust, with Verrino and the President of the Province, Mormile. The International Sculpture Park of Catanzaro is one of the most important art realities in Italy, the collection is made up of works by major artists who are protagonists of the contemporary world scene: Daniel Buren, Stephan Balkenhol, Tony Cragg, Wim Delvoye, Jan Fabre, Antony Gormley, Mimmo Paladino, Marc Quinn, Dennis Oppenheim, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Mauro Staccioli. And Luigi Verrino.