[sm]art Festival 21 Program
We bring to you our first digital edition of a two-day Festival 20-21 Feb 2021 hosted in Spoleto, Italy, city of art and culture pre-dating Rome. Co-creating and dreaming with fellow artists and creatives from around the world, especially curated for anyone to tune in with live-streaming!
Get engaged!
#smartfestival21
Revisit Live Sessions ...
[sm]art 21
Program Schedule!
DAY01
DAY02
DAY01 | 20 Feb | Sat schedule
Morning Sessions
Sat 20 Feb | 10:00 - 10:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Opening Keynotes with Vitor Pereira
Travelling around the world in a digital way, we need to restart something that is in our human nature: the arts, the culture, the social, the travel, the discovery, the dreaming.
Sat 20 Feb | 10:30 - 11:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Dancing into [sm]art Festival 21 with Riccardo Meneghini
The life of a professional dancer during the pandemic, in dialog with Riccardo Meneghini.
Riccardo Meneghini, (sm)art curator for dance is inviting us to dance towards the (sm)art festival 21 following a few steps, a few ideas that can put some attention and some inspiration in moving ...
Sat 20 Feb | 11:15 - 12:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Vivaldi in Love" with Adi Atassi
Adaption of "Mozart in Love" we bring to you Vivaldi in Love a poetic and artistic interpretation by Adi Atassi. While we are engaged by musical notes, maestro Adi begins to register his feeling of the musical reverberations into an artistic display, through colours and drawings.
Afternoon Sessions
Sat 20 Feb | 13:00 - 13:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Bona Dea with Sandy Marie Humby
Connecting with the whispered messages of Bona Dea with Sandy Humby. Bona Dea, the Good Goddess holds a key to this calling to true Homecoming, to revealing and empowering the authentic voice and expression of the Feminine essence. Just as SHE called the women in Ancient Rome, over 2000 years ago, HER voice and invitation to connect with the Sacred dance within, is as true today as then… and is calling once more to be heard.
Sat 20 Feb | 13:30 - 14:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Lorenzo's vest" with Graham Hofmann
On his very first trip to Italy, Graham comes back to the UK with more than just any ordinary souvenir; he returns having bought a house. With nothing more than phrase book Italian, excited and uncertain of what he’s done, it’s the biggest gamble of his life. Lorenzo’s Vest offers an entertaining understanding of Italy and Italians as observed through the eyes of a straniero.
Sat 20 Feb | 15:00 - 15:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"You were once forgotten" with Juliette Geissler
Juliette works with colours, words, lines and emotions. Her main themes are her relationship to herself as well as to others, the search for a space between two people in which they can share safely and ultimately connect with one another, as well as rewriting and rearranging past narratives.
Sat 20 Feb | 14:00 - 14:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Living your Dream" with Ingrid Christensen
The Live Your DreamLife Today Interview Series began on the 10th June 2020 in response to a growing desire in our communities to become independent from traditional income streams. With more people desiring a greater balance in their lives and even more control over their futures, Ingrid saw a gap in the knowledge field as to how to make it happen.
Sat 20 Feb | 15:30 - 16:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"What Children Remember" with Tasha Hunter
Tasha's story validates the emotional pillars of faith and forgiveness in one's lifelong recovery. This true story is a modern-day fairy tale which movingly describes one seeker's quest to overcome the Goliaths in her life in order to find her true purpose.
Sat 20 Feb | 16:00 - 16:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Against Wisdom" with Teresa Albor
"As we age we are said to be 'wise', which can be a way of telling us to 'be quiet and stay calm' -- I prefer to stay angry and take up space" Teresa Albor (Multidisciplinary Artist)
Evening Sessions
Sat 20 Feb | 18:00 - 18:45 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Dreamweave" with Karin F Giusti
Public art with a deep reflective sensibility, 'weaving together the cities of the world' we will be visiting the studio of Karin F Giusti
Sat 20 Feb | 19:00 - 19:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
DEAD FROGS with Ina Nico and Francesco Di Loreto
"Dead Frogs is a project by Ina Nico and Francesco di Loreto and one of the coolest new experimental music duo ensembles in town!"
Sat 20 Feb | 20:00 - 20:45 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Bedroom Lockdown Poetry" with Sam J. Grudgings
Flustered, inimitably poignant, and profound poet Sam J Grudgings at (sm)art festival 21. Renowned for his frenetic delivery and whirlwind stage presence, Sam is engaging us into lockdown poetry from his bedroom in Bristol, experimenting with 1920 silent films background projection.
Brace yourself, with Sam performing his latest work "Redeemer" and debut at (sm)art festival!
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Sat 20 Feb | 21:00 - 22:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Gavin Irvine (Film Director)
Get ready for the screening of award-winning director's hilarious comedy, Daddy's Note with Gavin Irvine and cast: Sebastian Lister, Ady Lloyd, Bianca Drakes and Verity Firth.
Photo Credit: Sebastian James Lister
DAY02 | 21 Feb | Sun schedule
Morning Sessions
Sun 21 Feb | 10:00 - 10:45 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Keynote Dialog between Rosie McGurran and Adi Atassi
Travelling to Belfast and Nicosia, Rosie and Adi will be reflecting on key moments in their lives as aspiring artists, sharing what helped them on their way to become recognised artists with their work exhibited at home and abroad.
Sun 21 Feb | 10:45 - 11:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Gospel Music" with Elina Lenga
"Singing is her talent... more so gospel music... Given the opportunity to perform, Elina Lenga says she becomes unstoppable to inspire and comfort people to the community and the world at large... at the same time she is looking to use her talent to meet her daily life needs." Weenee Madnjay
Afternoon Sessions
Sun 21 Feb | 12:00 - 12:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"The Code Of Them All" with Mellisa Felix
The Code of Them All. Mellisa Felix is a novelist in the process of querying her Young Adult Fiction novel, The Code of Them All — told in competing storylines by Vera (the descendent of healers), her best friend, Will, and an omniscient narrator (a historiographer), and set in the era of “Fake News.” Will steals Vera’s family’s ancient Code book, and a hex falls on him and the town of Beacon’s Reach, NC. In order to un-hex Will, and to save the town that has hated her family for generations, Vera and Will travel to the future, to Stonebridge Academy, a school of history and the arts, where they learn how to study history and the stories of the actual people who lived it. Their mission? To travel to three historical periods: (South Carolina, 1863; Sobibor Camp, Poland, 1943; and Washington DC, 1954) to fight for the marginalized victims in history. Told so the reader must ask WWYD (What Would You Do?) and via excerpts from the Code book, poetry, and dropped clues — think Danielewski’s House of Leaves for young readers — this novel tackles mainstream beliefs, starting with the history that unites us all.
Sun 21 Feb | 12:30 - 13:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Amir's Blue Elephant" with Melissa Hekkers
A woman's journey into the lives of Europe's refugees, meet the journalist and author Melissa Hekkers, recounting her footsteps as she joins the journey of thousands of refugees seeking safety in Europe.
Sun 21 Feb | 13:00 - 13:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Tony and his Big Fish" with Rehema Katite
Beatrice Rehema Mlaa Katite is an upcoming author who is in the process of writing her debut book 'Tony and his Big Fish'. Having had to fight for her late husband’s wish to Rest In Peace in Kenya, Rehema discovered writing as a way of healing the wound which she was nursing.
Sun 21 Feb | 13:30 - 14:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Voices over the sea" with Davina Johnson
"My passion for human rights has taken me to the refugee camps of Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon. I feel privileged hearing the stories of the people I meet. They are intimate and give perspective to what we hear in the news. I also enjoy telling those stories. Generally, I tell them through how they affected me. After all, the original story isn't mine to tell, only the impact it had on me is." Davina Johnson (Storyteller)
Sun 21 Feb | 14:00 - 14:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Italianizzata" with Rachel Zitin
Italianizzata" describes Rachel's personal evolution with a global pandemic as the backdrop where her adoration of the Eternal City radiates in every aspect of her life.
Sun 21 Feb | 15:00 - 15:20 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"YPL" with Niaz Maleknia
Photography has always interested me, particularly the works of Eggleston, Klein and Friedlander. I enjoy reading about photography theory, and I bring theory and practical photography into the workshops at Young Photographers London (YPL). Making young photographers think about the images they are taking and to discuss and critic them is my aim."
Sun 21 Feb | 15:30 - 16:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Berlin Recordings" with Gero Cacciatore
Gero Cacciatore recording from Berlin, sharing with us a photographer's life during the pandemic.
Dead city becoming alive through colour and style stratification of locked up shop windows. Hiding behind masks like city theatre characters. Abandoned objects, up-cycling, organised chaos, building site art, spoilt integrity, ruin porn, stigmatised neighbourhoods, building canvas, dummy architecture.
Sun 21 Feb | 15:40 - 16:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Live is a Beach" with Ingrid Taro
Ingrid Taro between New York and Europe exhibiting at [sm]art Festival 21.
Sun 21 Feb | 16:00 - 16:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Revisiting Calcata" with Janet Steen
According to the New York Times, Calcata "may be the grooviest village in Italy, home to a wacky community of about 100 artists, bohemians and ageing hippies. Janet Steen visited Calcata back in 2011 and wrote about it here. In this session we are manifesting for Janet to revisit Calcata, as soon as we can restart something that is in our human nature: the arts, the culture, the social, the travel, the discovery, the dreaming...
Sun 21 Feb | 17:00 - 17:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
From "make-up artist to artisan" with Melissa Chartan
After years of research and practice blending oils, I have not only learned about the specific benefits of each oil, but also mastered which combinations work best. Over time, my blending of oils evolved into the formulation of natural skincare products. The results were so significant that I just couldn't keep it a secret, and with a loyal following from family and friends, I eventually decided to bring my products to market. After a year of refining my formulas, Planted was born in my kitchen.
Sun 21 Feb | 17:30 - 18:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
"Streetwear art" with Zara Siddique
From doing graphic design for Cardiff Uni boxing club to CEO of her own streetwear art brand ... we learn about the people and design process of Rhetorik's unique geometric, bold, monochrome design iterations of Wolf, Feather and Stag illustrations and maybe a bit about Artificial Intelligence, rave parties and glitter ... no distinction between work and play, it is all the same!
Evening Sessions
Sun 21 Feb | 19:00 - 19:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
[sm]art 21 book awards with Mellisa Felix
Watch out for the first edition of [sm]art book 21 awards, presented by Melissa Felix, [sm]art Executive Curator
[sm]art 21 photo awards with Niaz Maleknia
Watch out for the first edition of [sm]art photo 21 awards!
Sun 21 Feb | 18:30 - 19:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
Sun 21 Feb | 19:30- 20:00 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
'Hidden Worlds of Words' with Adi Atassi and Moctar Datt
Adapted by Adi Atassi to reveal the collective sentiment and the spirit of [sm]art Festival 21, simultaneously vibrated by Moctar Datt ...
"My task as an artist is to reveal those 'hidden worlds of words', where words and letters turn into a form that can be related to the inner written words. It is the absolute abstraction of the content of the words or crafts and the creation of imaginary worlds hidden by words in their letters ..." - Adi Atassi -
"My task as a healer is to vibrate those 'hidden worlds of words', manifesting our digital journey until we can restart something that is in our human nature: the arts, the culture, the cinemas, the social, the travel, the discovery, the dreaming ..." - Moctar Datt -
Closing Remarks!
Sun 21 Feb | 20:00 - 20:30 (GMT+01:00 Rome)
'Closing remarks' with Max Blumberg
Max at [sm]art Festival 21 helping us to reflect on our first edition with some closing remarks setting us up for next year edition and beyond.
"Known for my straight-talking, inspirational and sometimes off-the-wall approach, I enjoy breaking down barriers to take us to previously unimaginable destinations."
Dr Max Blumberg (Talent Psychologist)
Thank You!
Thank you to all our curators, artists, and last not least our wonderful audience, we truly appreciate your support and hope we inspired each other starting a fire, here is to the second edition of [sm]art Festival 22 and beyond, a presto!
Vitor Pereira [sm]art co-executive
Ralph Overbeck [sm]art co-executive
Bravo, Brava, Bravi ...
