Tag: Adele Gentile

Sannio Hills Recycled Fabrics = Art

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo, Local Businesses

Taking something precious from the past and building something new is the basis of the fiber art of Adele Gentile.

One old sheet from her grandmother‘s house, accented with pieces of fabric found in the same house, transforms into a beautiful table clothe with matching napkins,.

When we had the farmhouse in Flagtown, New Jersey, I would troll shishi home goods stores looking for sales on something that looked French Provençal. My creative pal, Adele, would hit her family’s attics or go to the market and buy a piece of fabric. Recycling fabrics suits Adele and her lifestyle. The retired pharmacist has a great eye for color and loves to create tableware that suits her lifestyle.

Adele’s lifestyle includes a zest for living. About ten years ago, I went to a doctor in nearby Santa Croce. It was close to seven pm and I knew I wouldn’t get back to the pharmacy in Pontelandolfo to get the prescribed pills. We pulled into the Santa Croce pharmacy and speaking what I thought was passable Italian asked the glamorous woman in the white coat to help me.

“Are you British?” She asked.

“American,” I said.

Ten minutes later we were blabbing on and on about travel, ex-pats, entrepreneurial women and where we could meet for drinks. Those ten years have flown by and we are still meeting for drinks.

Last week on our way Radici Enoteca Libreria, the neat Morcone wine bar/bookstore, we stopped at her storefront. Adele has set up a show of her recycled works and hopes it inspires other to make something new out of something old. Entrance is by appointment only – she is retired you know and can’t be expected to sit there all day! You can easily message her through instagram page, adele_concept.

Walking around the industrial space, I started giggling. I don’t know about you, but I stopped wearing jeans, and somehow they still manage to live in the back of my closet. Well, if you have that problem, eliminate the jeans and turn them into interesting bags, pillows, baskets, table runners. That’s what Adele did.

Imagine the stories these jeans could tell.

Old boxes that may at one time or another have held cigars became a piece of art that could hold any mysterious object in your future

Don’t throw away that panettone box. It looks remarkably like an interesting 1930s hat box. Box sculptures, glued, stacked, cut and decorated could be an interesting place to hold your necklaces. Adele kept saying, “Just let your creativity flow.”

Remember that fancy dress that you wore once to that posh event and now you can’t get your arm in? Don’t just toss it to Goodwill. Buy some hardware downtown or online and turn that dress into adorable little purses that will make all your lady friends happy at Christmas time.

Knowing Adele, these dresses could tell super duper tales.

Adele, is so used to working and so high energy she just can’t sit still. Nights find her crocheting. Anyone can make a cute blanket – Adele certainly can. But who else but someone with a passion for life turns yarns into booze gift bags! She made bags for everything from a magnum of Champagne to back pocket pints.

Look for Adele Gentile on Instagram – adele_concept

Ci vediamo!

Midge Guerrera

What to meet fun filled creative people? Come Cook in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo!
We have two spots open for this
September 19th through the 26th.

Writers &Readers Thrive in Sannio Hills

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo, Nonna's Trips & Events

Since we got back to our happy creative place, my inbox has been a flutter with invitations to book launches, book club and writer meet and greets. Remember, my happy creative place is not an urban center but Pontelandolfo – a tiny village with a population under 3,000 – that includes sheep and cows.

One of the newest organizations that is making a literary impact is Sannio Che Legge. Spear headed by folks with an interest in art, literature, intellectual discourse and highlighting the cultural connections of Pontelandolfo, Morcone and the entire Sannio area, they are constantly providing me with a place to go and a book to read.

An aside: I just turned to Jack and bellowed, “I just love this!” We are sitting outside Bar Elimar, my writers room, Latin music is playing, I’m sipping a limoncello spritz, tapping my foot and writing. Two tables of men are playing cards. Three tables of thirty something’s, with babies in tow, are gossiping and laughing. How could someone not create art here???

Jack and I went to the Sannio Che Legge event at Morcone’s newest restaurant, Cantina Ristorante Biancamela. (Morcone’s progressive mayor and council are working hard to bring life back to their historic center. That is another blog. ) I was impressed. About 30 people were there listening to author Rita Martignetti talk about the genesis of his work. He actually gave all of us a copy of one of his books. Grazie Mille. His numerous works deal in an entertaining manner with the history of the Sannio Hills.

I should note that Sannio Che Legge grew out of the Pontelandolfo Biblioclub and signed a Reading Pact with the Municipality of Pontelandolfo. The organization is now entrusted with the Pontelandolfo Library.

I will be there with my cosmopolitan literati hat on.

One of my besties, Adele Gentile had a recent book launch and of course I went. Once her publisher gets that e-book link and on line bookstore link up there, you will get a full story on her tome.

Book launches here are set up a bit differently. Adele, the author, didn’t read any parts of her book. She has a wild and wonderful personality and I was looking forward to her reading. Instead, others – think critics – talked about the book. There was also dialogue with the author. It was actually incredibly interesting. A great way to learn about an author’s catalyst for creation.

Blue is Adele’s favorite colors and blue took over the auditorium. From the flowers on the stage to the cover of her emotional and yet entertaining memoir. I chuckled as I watched Adele hand out programs and check every detail of the launch. Is she a Jersey Girl too?

The place was packed. That means about 200 people came to a book launch. A book launch in a teeny tiny village! (Damn, time to start getting my stuff translated.)

Adele, wrote her memoir while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Ooops, I vowed I wouldn’t say a word until we had the links so that you could buy the book. It is – a freakin‘ amazing work.

Rescheduled to September.

I am excited to hear this presentation and buy a copy of the book – written in English and Italian. Written originally as a screenplay, the novel tells the tale of the 1861 pillage of Pontelalndolfo in the name of Risorgimento in a different way. An American woman with Pontelandolfo roots visits the village, sees a mural and …. I can’t wait to read the story.

I could overburden your inboxes with more examples or you could visit our little place of creative energy and see for yourself. Interested in gathering up some writer pals and spending a week here? Just let me know and we can organize something magical. Then, I will grab my laptop and join your writer’s room on Piazza Roma.

Ci vediamo,

Midge

http://www.midgeguerrera.com