Quentin Bryce Creative Residency
Conzano, Province of Alessandria, Italy. The hamlet of Conzano is centrally located - an hour’s drive from Turin, Milan and Genoa. Known as the “land of the Australians” Conzano is famous for having been declared in 1992, as the symbol of the massive emigration of the people to northern Queensland during the 1890-1935 period. The ancient town square, named Piazza d’Armi (Weapons Square), was renamed Piazza Australia in 1992.
Conzano’s Villa Vidua, the eighteenth-century residence of the Count Vidua, restored after 1996, the year of its acquisition by the municipality, overlooks the ancient Piazza d Arms Square. Carlo Vidua, Count of Conzano, famous explorer, ethnographer and writer contributed to the foundation of the Egyptian Museum of Turin. In the tradition of exploration, travel and migration Carlo Vidua had a personal collection made up of ancient stones, tablets and artefacts, which are at the heart of the Egyptian Museum of Turin.
Via Mezzavilla is a unique studio accommodation in Italy’s Piedmont region, created by a two year restoration project by Australian artists, Stephen Copland and Meredith Brice.
The uniqueness lies in the location, the hilltop village of Conzano and the context of the studio. Stephen and Meredith created the Quentin Bryce creative residency as an integral part of the Migration as Art Museum. The Studio apartment intended to generate and inspire interdisciplinary creative explorations and collaborations through the various disciplines-geography, ethnography, social sciences and anthropology. Referred to as a creative in-residence program it is intend to be diverse and be offered to all individuals involved in the arts, literature and all areas that make and create more humane society.
One hour from the international airports of Milan, Turin and Genoa, is the ideal base for exploring Piedmont’s ‘Golden Triangle’, the area between wine town Asti, truffle town Alba and thermal bath town Acqui Terme. Piedmont, which was recently named Lonely Planet’s top region in the world to visit, is one of Italy’s best kept secrets.
The historic building is located in a central position on the circular road of the hilltop town.
The accomodation is surrounded by vineyard-lined rolling hills and comprises Italian artisanship is celebrated throughout, with traces of history tiles, luxurious Italian mattresses and bath products adding a slice of authenticity. The bedroom, kitchen and garden offer sweeping vineyard and mountain views. A short walk takes you to a silent landscape of thought and contemplation.
Directors: Stephen Copland and Meredith Brice Via Mezzavilla 37, 15030, Conzano, Province of Alessandria, Italy.
https://www.instagram.com/meredith_brice_artist/ https://www.instagram.com/migrationasartmuseum/
migrationasartmuseum@gmail.com 61+452373731 : merrybrice70@gmail.com 61+434912963
Download the brochure for more information
Residency
2024 Quentin Bryce Creative Resident
Herman Bashiron Mendoliccio is a researcher, writer, editor and curator, working across different disciplines, territories and cultures. He is Lecturer at the Cultural Management Programme of the University of Barcelona, and Coordinator of the Postgraduate Course on International Cultural Cooperation. Read more...
Italian news articles here and here.
