Vacations travel

“The first time I came to Italy
in Naples
I was struck by the cribs of 1700. They opened new horizons to me. I was used to the one of the Metropolitan Museum of New York
small and simple at the base of an imposing Christmas Tree.

The cribs of Naples were a real discovery to me!” Together with the crib Yvonne DiPalma – born in Philadelphia – met also the sculptor Michele Attanasio. She fell in love with him
got married and with him opened the “Paul Whistler Art Gallery”
near Sorrento.

For Christmas
in a place where everybody prepares a crib
they started to make one in the Gallery: scenarios by Michele and characters by Yvonne.

This is how it has begun
by chance
the most charming and passionate adventure of the life of this artist. In the first “Installation” there are 20 characters: sculptures representing the people of the town and famous figures.

This was the start of a thirty-year experience. Every year after that debut in 1976-77 it has had more and more success; it was an opening up of a new life.

The crib emigrated to Florence where it found in Monsignor Setti a supporter and in the Basilica of San Lorenzo a home. In the town of iris the two artists found the same enthusiasm of the first time: that miracle of a sincere participation.

After San Lorenzo
it went to Loggia Rucellai (1981)
then to Rome
in the Oratory of Santa Maria in Via
then back to Florence
in the church next to the Gallery of San Jacopo Sopr’Arno (1991). In 1992 the crib by Yvonne was the set in the Theatre Parioli of the programme Maurizio Costanzo Show.

Since then
the work increased “at home” until the interlude of Christmas 1999
when it was lent to the 7th International Festival “Costruimo il Natale”
in the crypt of Santa Croce of Florence.

And now let’s know better this very special crib made of characters of about 50-centimetre height. Yvonne creates the body with iron wire
fabric and stuffing.

To be noticed that all clothes are sews one by one and represent the Neapolitan models of the 18th century. The heads and hair are in terracotta; each sculpted head is a masterpiece of refinement. All characters have the features either of people the artist has met in her life or of famous figures
among them many international politicians: the presidents of United States Nixon
Reagan
Carter
then the Russian
Italian
French
Chinese ones etc. Thirty years of history of 1900 in a crib…

Beside the human characters
there is the world of international animals: in addition to the traditional ox and donkey
there are also horses
sheep
cats
elephants
cocks
baboons
rams
kangaroos
etc… all in terracotta reproduced in the minutest details.

How many are the Crib characters now? Yvonne has stopped counting when they have been more than 200!

They have got out of control and have become alive! Indefatigable
Yvonne creates different groups and expressions
always reflecting upon life and world around us.

Do not miss it in Florence
Via San Zanobi 58 - http://www.yvonnedipalma.com