A city celebrating the maestro Andrea Carisi, a multifaceted genius who donated his talent to Agrigento

Andrea Carisi, a multifaceted and esteemed figure of the Agrigento intellectuals, ninety years old, painter, graphic designer, set designer, historian and teacher was celebrated in the Zeus Hall of the Pietro Griffo Regional Archaeological Museum of Agrigento. Born in Forlì in 1934, he was adopted by Agrigento and is still much loved and esteemed by the people of Agrigento who have always appreciated, among other things, his deep love for art and local history. And also during this meeting, organized by Beniamino Biondi, with the patronage of the Municipality of Agrigento , the Park Authority and the Pirandello Theatre Foundation , Andrea Carisi illustrated the fundamental characteristics of some of the artistic gems of the historic center of Agrigento and celebrated some of the characters who have characterized the local culture over the last two centuries.

A friend of Sciascia, Ignazio Buttitta , and many other Italian writers and intellectuals, he participated in about 400 painting exhibitions, also setting up fifty personal exhibitions, in various cities, about which, in addition to Sciascia and Guttuso, Servello, Valsecchi, Buttitta, Miele, Monteverdi, Collura, Bonavia and many other well-known critics and writers wrote. He collaborated for many years for the Giornale di Sicilia, with 200 plates, including those that illustrated on the front page all the phases of the Apollo Eleven journey and the arrival of the astronauts on the Moon.

Among his most appreciated works there are also drawings that portray very accurate details of the monuments and views of the historic center of Agrigento . These works, characterized by a refined technique and a deep historical-artistic knowledge , represent a precious testimony of the cultural heritage of the city and during the event, the participants were given limited edition reprints of some of these drawings. Works more than iconic; postcards (which are part of his production entitled "Agrigento in India ink"), which still today have the merit of spreading and preserving the art of a master who was able to immortalize with his distinctive trait the most significant architectural and stylistic details of Girgenti. Andrea Carisi has created a visual archive of inestimable value for future generations.

The event was attended by the mayor of Agrigento Franco Miccichè . The evening was presented by the actress Barbara Capucci , and ended with the moving testimony of Dr. Simona Carisi , daughter of the maestro. Among the most touching moments of the evening, a special resonance was the speech by director Michele Guardì , director and television author creator of successful programs. And Guardì recalled that maestro Carisi participated as a contestant in one of his programs. It was the quiz show “ Secondo Voi “, hosted by Pippo Baudo. Andrea amazed everyone, as Guardì recalled, with his extraordinary culture, memory and intelligence, but also for his charm. All of Agrigento, one evening a week, was in front of the screens cheering for him, in 1978. Other Agrigentines who attended – friends, colleagues, students of Andrea Carisi – characterized his personality, professionalism, commitment, including political-administrative, showing him gratitude and much affection.

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