Grazia NICOTRA
Tutor: Pietro Maria MILITELLO
Grazia Nicotra, Currently a doctoral candidate in the XXXVIII cycle in Science for Cultural Heritage and Production, she is interested in studying Material and Intangible Heritage, from their conservation to their valorization.
She obtained her bachelor's degree (DAPL09) in Communication and Valorization of Contemporary Artistic Heritage, at the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania in 2012. With a thesis in Historical-Artistic Heritage with the title, "Iter in Hodie Mundo. The military fortifications in the Ionian coastal strip between Calatabiano and Aci Castello" supervisor Prof. Arch. Salvatore Tudisco.
In 2019 he obtained a Master's Degree in "Educational, psychological, anthropological and design theory and methods" at the University for Foreigners "Dante Alighieri", Reggio Calabria.
In 2023, she obtained the teaching qualification for the subject A001 Art and Image for secondary school, and was subsequently given a permanent position with the Public Education, which she freezes to carry out research activities.
She has participated in several Workshops organized by the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania. She has curated workshops, exhibitions, and events for the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania. Together with local associations, he tries to promote the beauty of his territory, often participating as a speaker with interventions on cultural heritage. He cultivates a passion for illustration and graphics, trying to combine theoretical research with graphic representation.
In 2022 he obtained a Second Level Academic Diploma (DASL04) Graphics, Illustration and Comics at the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, with a thesis in Experimental Techniques of Art Graphics with the title: "40 Weeks" Experimentations of Art Graphics", supervisor Prof. Rosaria Calamosca. In 'academic year 2022/2023 he is Subject Tutor: Illustration, at Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, with Prof. Rosaria Calamosca, Department of Graphics, Illustration.
Project title:
Innovative approaches for the study, diagnostics and enhancement of tangible and intangible assets:
the case of Sicilian Shipwrights.
The research project uses a method of investigating the territory and identifying those assets belonging to the oral tradition, study and bibliographic and archival research. It exploits multidisciplinarity to approach the tangible and intangible asset examined.
In addition, through the study of naval archaeological finds from Sicily or significant evidence in the Italian territory, it could find significant evidence of current ship carpentry construction techniques, which many of the shipwrights know and apply in the present day.
The study of the ancient Sicilian shipyard of Aci Trezza and the figure of the shipwright of the Living Human Treasure, with references to other Sicilian, Italian shipyards and foreign archaeological sites (Greece, Malta, Spain) will lead me toward a path of comparison, from which I will be able to draw meaningful connections.
The case study of Aci Trezza offers a high density of ethnoanthropological assets revolving around Trezza's seafaring industry now included in the REIS. A remarkable potential hidden in the everyday life of the community.
Specifically, a phase of cataloging and filing of historical sources, boats built in the shipyard and tools used will follow, in order to constitute a catalog along with video-recorded interviews with the Living Human Treasure. An iconographic study of the hull decorations of the "trezzote" boats and its symbolism. Making paper models of the construction techniques, and iconographic symbols used in hull decoration to support the theoretical study. Finally, the proposal of a Museal project, from the museological point of view and the arrangement of the exhibition spaces of the Rodolico Shipyard, in front of the port of Acitrezza, with particular attention to the communication of the product.
Research Products | Presented Contributions
1) Participation with two proposals in the Poster section of the International Conference Minom-Icom 2024 held on February 22-23, 2024 at the Benedictine Monastery in Catania. The proposals, "Acireale and Santa Venera. Social Memory of Lost Craftsmen"(co-authored with Dr. Agostini), "Aci Trezza: Wood, Basalt and Sea. A Long History to Protect and Enhance" (co-authored with CSA association)
2) Participation with a proposal in the Poster section of the International Conference Chain 2024, organized by the PhD students of Catania on February 27-28-29, 2024 at Palazzo Ingrassia in Catania. The proposal, "AciTrezza and the REIS. The highest density of intangible assets in Sicily."
Other activities during the doctoral program
Participation in the seminar of 3D LAB Sicily, June 9-10, 2023
Participation in a 25-hour theoretical course on Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage organized by the Cento Campanili Association of the Diocese of Acireale in October 2023.
Participation in the presentation of the Living Human Treasure Salvatore Finocchiaro Boat Painter in the style of the Pingisanti of the Catanese school on January 13, 2024, at the premises of the City of Acicastello.
Participations during the doctoral program
October 03, 2023 Participated in the presentation of the book "The Medieval Cathedral of Catania" by Prof. Tancredi Bella, professor of Medieval Art History, at the University of Catania - Department of Humanities.
October 2023 Gives a talk on the intangible heritage of Aci Trezza at the teaching day held by the CSA Association within the 1st level Master's Degree in Tourism Promotion and Management of Cultural Heritage at the University of Catania.(Organized by the CSA Cultural Association and the Municipality of Acicastello)
20/10/2023 Participates as a speaker on the Intangible Heritage of Aci Trezza and exhibits his own comic strip "Mastri d'ascia di Aci Trezza" in a cultural meeting "Tribute to Turi Rodolico" at Villa Fortuna Aci Trezza.(Organized by the Cultural Association CSA and the Department of Political Science of Unict)
Participation in the museology workshop to set up a multisensory path within the Museum of Knowledge and Mirabilia Siciliane of Unict: "The museum for all the senses" Journey in the Museum Collections and Cultural Heritage of the city.
Organization and moderation of the cultural meeting "R.E.I.S. X 5," held on 2/12/2023 at the premises of VillaFortuna Aci Castello on the occasion of the inclusion of the sound of Brogne in the R.E.I.S. (Organized by the Cultural Association CSA and the City of Acicastello)
Affiliations
since 2019 Menbro of the Technical Scientific Committee of the Ecomuseum Riviera dei Ciclopi, Aci Castello
since 2023 member of the Cultural Association Centro Studi Aci Trezza
Press Review
- https://www.unictmagazine.unict.it/la-storia-di-un-tesoro-umano-vivente-diventa-un-fumetto
- https://www.unictmagazine.unict.it/itinerari-del-patrimonio-culturale
- https://www.unictmagazine.unict.it/minom-2024-ripensare-musei-e-societa-nel-mondo-da-catania
In programming:
1) G. Nicotra, Interview with the Rhodolic Living Human Treasure, 2023-24
Contributions in press:
1) G. Nicotra, "The Works of the Sacristy," an essay contained in: The Annunziata in Acireale. Art and theology of a Cathedral, edited by A. Agostini, Bracchi editore, Giarre (in c.d.s).
2) G. Nicotra, a contribution entitled "Aci Trezza and the REIS. The highest density of intangible assets in Sicily" for the proceedings of the International Conference CHAIN-CULTURAL HERITAGE ROUTES, UniCT (February 27-28-29, 2024)(in c.d.s).
Published Illustrations
Illustrations inherent to the Rodolico Shipyard for communication purposes within the Solo volumes (national artists' catalogs for popular purposes) of the publisher Psicografici publisher: Solo Black and White Illustration, 2023 isbn: 979-12-5546-045-9; Solo Digital Illustration, 2023 isbn: 979-12-5546-047-3; Solo Color Illustration, 2023 isbn: 979-12-5546-048-0.
Illustrations inherent in the Living Human Treasure of the Rhodolite Shipyard for communication purposes within Psychographic Publishers' Magazine PantaRei No. 0, 2023 isbn: 979-12-5546-053-4