Elizabeth Tomasetti

Featured Print: #4 Mancaza Series


#4 Mancaza Series
Reductive Linoleum Print on Heavyweight Paper
12″x12″ Edition of 13 | $125
click to view galleryFulvio Ciccone was born in 1933 in Capodacqua, an outlying village of Capestrano, in the region of Abruzzo, Italy. He is a self-sufficient individual, paying for nothing more than gas and cigarettes (and sometimes cheese, one of the few things he does not make or grow). This print is one of a series of four, dedicated to archiving Fulvio’s daily rhythms and processes. His relationship to the waxing and waning on the moon (la mancaza) is the core of this series as well as his life.

Elizabeth explains how Fulvio became her muse: “I met Fulvio in 2007 when I spent about 7 straight months in the region, working on a house that my great grandfather had bought. He stopped in his car one day to talk about the trees in the yard, it was a bit of a confusing conversation, but all was clear when the 70 year old man showed up the next morning about 8 am with a chainsaw. He was there to “help” me cut them down. From that day on, he came buy everyday to help with any and everything that was being done, and always showering us with amazing bounties from his garden. Followed by wine drinking, most of the time, his homemade magic.”

Elizabeth found inspiration in Fulvio and his relationship to his land and the food it produces. Her work inspires us and makes us just a tad hungry. To help, a freestyle recipe from Abruzzo: “Fulvio’s sisters Olga and Bruna have given me many cooking tips. One of my favorites is an “insalata di fagioli”, blanching fresh green beans, a little oil, salt and fresh mint. The mint and beans are an amazing flavor together.”

Enjoy!

Elizabeth Tomasetti was born in Wisconsin, grew up in Italy, and lived in various east coast cities before moving to Brooklyn. She loves the wonders of reductive linoleum printmaking on a Vandercook press and has been lucky enough to receive residencies doing this at Penland School of Craft and Women’s Studio Workshop. When not scenic painting for film, she dreams of having a farm for her all-time favorite tree, the fig.