If you find yourself passing through Pordenone, don't miss a visit to San Valentino Park, where since September this year, a very special mosaic has been installed.
The "Mosaic of Peace" spans roughly 15 square meters and is composed of thousands of glass tiles. It was created by Officina dell'Arte, a day center that is part of the Fondazione Bambini e Autismo's network of specialized autism services in Pordenone.
At Officina dell'Arte, adults with autism work in professional mosaic and product-packaging studios alongside mosaic masters, graphic designers, psychologists, and educators. This same team undertook the creation of the peace mosaic.
Over recent months, more than 160 children and teenagers—students from elementary, middle, and high schools—participated in creating sections of the mosaic. Working with the guidance of staff and teachers, they gained firsthand experience with Officina dell'Arte and its mission.
The mosaic's graphic design was created by Francesco Tullio Altan, the celebrated cartoonist many children know for his character Pimpa. The mosaic depicts Pimpa chasing a colorful butterfly across the sky with other small animals—a scene rendered in the colors of peace itself.
The mosaic tradition runs deep in the Pordenone region. But the choice to express the idea of peace through mosaic carries particular symbolic weight. As the Foundation's president explains: "We like to think of peace as a mosaic of small gestures—a vision of peace built piece by piece, where each person can do their part by adding their own tile."
"From a technical standpoint, the result is shaping up very well," says Davide Shaer, the mosaic artist supervising the work alongside master craftsperson Carolina Zanelli. "It holds some pleasant surprises. We've tried to maintain uniformity and harmony while preserving the differences and traces left by the many hands that created it. Some tile combinations are quite original and, in a way, unconventional—but they integrate surprisingly well, creating movement across the surfaces and making the work interesting and entirely unpredictable. Working with the children—some created sections of sky, others parts of Pimpa or flowers—was rewarding. I think it will be gratifying and educational for them to identify their contribution within the Mosaic and see how it gains meaning as part of a collective effort where everyone played their role."
The Fondazione Bambini e Autismo is raising funds to cover the cost of the project. Those wishing to support the "Mosaic of Peace" initiative can contribute via postal account 10501591 (payable to Fondazione Bambini e Autismo, with the note "for the mosaic of peace").
For more information, contact the Foundation at 0434 29187.
Officina dell'Arte
Entry to the workshop follows a functional assessment, which forms the basis for developing an individualized work placement program tailored to each autistic person's specific needs and abilities. The team works year-round across several studios: mosaic, packaging, and computer design.
They produce frames, trays, coasters, mirrors, and other home décor items decorated with mosaic. They also create personalized party favors and gift items for ceremonies and special occasions.
The originality and quality of each product are assured by the presence of designers and master mosaic artisans.