From a summer exhibition to a permanent collection. ‘La Straperetana’ celebrates its 10th anniversary
In Pereto, a new programme has been launched ahead of the joint solo exhibition by Montessori and Favelli
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Key points
The Straperetana is celebrating its tenth anniversary and has adopted a new format. No longer a summer arts festival, but a public open-air contemporary art collection, spread across the narrow alleys, streets and squares of Pereto (Aq). Kicking off this new chapter are two leading figures on the Italian art scene, Elisa Montessori (Genoa, 1931) and Flavio Favelli (Florence, 1967). Both artists explore the realms of memory, time and identity, using different approaches and artistic languages.
The small medieval village of Pereto, with a population of around 600, stands on a hill in the Turano Valley, in an area bordering Lazio, hence its nickname ‘Porta d’Abruzzo’. Like many Italian mountain villages, it faces the problems of depopulation and marginalisation, though it comes back to life during the summer months. Surrounded by woodland, it boasts a perfectly preserved historic centre that extends around the medieval castle, dating back to the first half of the 10th century. There are numerous historic buildings and stately homes, the most important of which is Palazzo Maccafani, which, to mark the tenth edition of the initiative – curated by Paola Capata and Annalisa Inzana – is hosting a joint solo exhibition by Montessori and Favelli, which can be viewed until 16 August 2026. An opportunity to explore the work of these two artists in greater depth, within an unusual and evocative setting.
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On display by Favelli are ‘Black&Ivory’ (2024), a sculpture composed of small assembled pieces of furniture; ‘Fondazza’ (2026), a painting in shades of blue on a crate that once held bottles of sparkling wine; ‘soft arancio’ (2026), an old Oransoda box assembled with other materials, as well as ‘Rosso Antico’ (2025), made from an old beer carton, and ‘San Vitale’ (2026). The common thread is an imagery centred on mass culture, in which personal impressions and memories converge. In the underground space of the Cisterna at Palazzo Maccafani, the previously unseen video ‘Bologna Centrale’ (2026) is on display. A “cathartic narrative” spanning a thirty-year period, beginning in ’74, during which personal stories and memories linked to the time the artist spent living in the Santo Stefano neighbourhood of Bologna unfold in succession.
Favelli’s works come from the Studio SALES and are valued at between 7,000 and 15,000 euros, whilst those by Montessori, represented by the gallery Monitor, are valued at between 2,500 and 65,000 euros.
On display is a previously unseen environmental sculpture by the Genoese artist, ‘Labirinto’ (1989), a fully painted cardboard roll over 30 metres long, arranged in a spiral pattern. A reflection on time and memory as they unfold and layer within the present, analysed and understood through the artist’s distinctive painterly practice and refined graphic style. A poetic landscape, both physical and mental, into which one can immerse oneself to glimpse new horizons. Also on display are small painted ceramics depicting retro-style women’s shoes, created in collaboration with the ceramicist Elisabetta Seber, which reflect a commitment to women’s empowerment.
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