“Bassi Beneventano” was born in Scicli: an evocative space where the amenta art print shop, which makes precious engravings, connects with the lo magno art gallery. A unique project that takes shape inside the historic Baroque palace, a world heritage site.
In a unique marriage of art and striking spaces, an art print shop in Scicli will expand and link up with a renowned art gallery in Modica, thus embracing another Baroque jewel. This extraordinary project will find a home in the ancient Palazzo Beneventano, a historic icon declared a World Heritage Site. Beneath the aristocratic rooms, “Bassi Beneventano,” an innovative art initiative led by Loredana Amenta, an engraving printer, and renowned gallery owner Giuseppe Lo Magno, is born.
The opening of this unique space in Italy will take place on Friday, June 9 at 7 p.m., promising an unprecedented experience in the national art scene.
The art print shop, which is moving to this new location, continues its mission of creating extraordinary engravings through an artisanal process involving presses, acids and plates. Italian artists who have collaborated with the print shop include such illustrious names as Piero Guccione, Angelo Ruta, Giovanni Robustelli and many others. Some of these artists are followed by the prestigious art gallery Lo Magno, based in Modica, which will now also boast this new space in Scicli.
Initially focused on artisanal framing, Lo Magno Gallery recently celebrated 30 years in business and continues to promote leading Sicilian talent, both at trade fairs and at national and international events.
Loredana Amenta, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Catania and a specialist at the prestigious Il Bisonte Foundation in Florence, made a bold choice seven years ago: to open an art print shop in Scicli. This decision was the result of a strong friendship with a gallery owner, with whom she shared years of work and study.
Today, “Bassi Beneventano” is much more than just a print shop. Located in the basses of Scicli’s renowned Baroque palace, this facility also houses a Modican art gallery, thus realizing an unprecedented synergy between art and printing. Loredana sees this project not only as a job, but more importantly as a passion that has become a reality.
The name “Bassi Beneventano” stems from the mutual exchange of ideas between Loredana and the gallery owner, who wanted to create a “living” exhibition space, where visitors can not only admire the artworks on display, but also witness the various stages of the engraving process. This allows them to discover the meticulous and passionate work behind each creation.
The inaugural exhibition will feature works by the likes of Sandro Bracchitta, Giuseppe Colombo, Emanuele Giuffrida and many others, curated by Lo Magno Gallery. Alongside these will be engravings by artists such as Giovanni Robustelli, Giovanni Blanco and Piero Guccione, as well as a selection of Loredana’s own works.
The uniqueness of “Bassi Beneventano” lies in its unique identity and atmosphere. Architects Elisa Lo Castro and Andrea Pluchino designed the spaces, while the graphic identity was taken care of by Angelo Ruta, Sergio Iacono, Marco Lentini and the After Studio team.
Loredana and gallery owner Giuseppe Lo Magno firmly believe that “Bassi Beneventano” can become a reference point for art and culture lovers not only in Scicli, but also throughout the Val di Noto. The presence of an old Albion Press from the 1800s, still in working order, adds a touch of charm and authenticity to this extraordinary art project.
With “Bassi Beneventano,” Loredana and her team strive to create a welcoming and stimulating environment where artists and visitors can share ideas and inspiration. With cultural events and initiatives, they aim to grow and enrich the vibrant art scene in Scicli and beyond.
