308xTen. The artists portray Colli Ripani
Interview with Alex Urso – ph Lorenzo Raffanelli
A new exhibition kicks off the Festa dei Colli Ripani.
“It’s a tradition we simply can’t give up—everyone at the winery knows the last weekend of July is party time," says Giovanni Traini, our president. “Among those who’ve experienced many of these Festas over the years, memories of legendary moments are still alive. This year, like last year, thanks to our collaboration with FIUTO Art Space, the Festa has something extra.”
Indeed, this year again Alex Urso* has guided our winery on a journey of art and emotion. “308×Dieci. The artists portray Colli Ripani” is the exhibition that pays tribute to the work of the men and women behind our cooperative. We got all the details directly from Alex, over a glass of wine, comfortably seated on the veranda of our Club.
Question: To start with—how did the first edition go?
Alex Urso: The fact that we decided to repeat the project, despite the organizational efforts a venture like this requires, is due to the extraordinary success of last year. The participating artists at that time were Antonio Pronostico, Virginia Mori, Eliana Albertini, Marco Leoni, Giulia Neri, Giacomo Giovannetti, Fernando Cobelo, Marco Goran Romano, Andrea Ucini ed Elisa Menini—leading figures in Italian illustration. hey were invited to dive into the winery's history and create original works inspired by the company’s activity. Beyond the artistic results, what I really want to emphasize is the importance of this type of grassroots synergy. FIUTO and the winery joined forces, involving Mobiltesino (who crafted beautiful handmade wooden frames) and donating all proceeds from the art sales to the Croce Azzurra (all the works were sold within the first few days of the exhibition). Public engagement was high—as it should be. This is a project with all the right elements to be appreciated not only by art lovers, but by a wider audience too.
Q: Since this is the second edition of the exhibition, are there any differences from the first—starting with the selection of artists?
AU: The format is the same as last year, but of course the ten artists are new. Following last year’s remarkable group of illustrators, this year we welcome another outstanding selection from all across Italy: Luca Caimmi, Nicolò Canova, Marie Cécile, Mara Cerri, Francesco Cattani, Alessandra Di Girolamo, Lavinia Fagiuoli, Maicol&Mirco, Vitt Moretta, Elisa Talentino. These are top names in contemporary Italian drawing. Each artist was asked to capture the “spirit” and story of the Colli Ripani winery in a single piece, drawing inspiration from the lives of its members and the surrounding landscape. All the artworks on display are original, created after studying both the winery and the local context. Each piece is like a “window” into different themes and perspectives tied to the winery, interpreted through the unique artistic language and sensitivity of its author.
Q: Will the charity element be part of the exhibition again this year? How does it work?
AU: Yes, this year too, the goal is to go beyond the gallery walls and make a real, positive impact on the Ripatransone community. The ten original, signed artworks will be sold to the public throughout the exhibition weeks. All proceeds will be donated entirely to the Croce Azzurra of Ripatransone and Cossignano, and the animal welfare organization L’Amico Fedele, turning this blend of art and entrepreneurship into tangible support for the local social fabric.
Q: In your view, what is the deeper value of a collective exhibition?
AU: Every group exhibition is based on a shared experience—ideas, perspectives, and lives coming together in a mosaic that makes sense as a whole. This is even more powerful in an intimate setting like FIUTO. 308xTEN. The artists portray Colli Ripani thrives on this collective voice and the juxtaposition of diverse visions. Each artist studied the winery’s history, its community spirit, and the territory of Ripatransone. They did their research, got lost among the hills and colors of our region. The artworks are the result of ten subjective views that, together, tell one unique and collective story.
Thanks, Alex, for your hospitality.
See you on July 5th for the opening of 308xTen.
The event will take place at Piazza Matteotti 13, Ripatransone—of course.
The exhibition can be visited until 26 July 2025.
*Alex Urso is an artist and curator. He graduated in Painting (Academy of Fine Arts of Brera); has a degree in Modern Literature (University of Macerata, University of Bologna). He completed advanced courses in Arts and Heritage Management (Bocconi University) and Arts and Culture Strategy (University of Pennsylvania). As an artist, he has exhibited at Casa Testori (Milan), Brugnatelli Foundation (Milan), Spazju Kreattiv (Valletta), Magacin Cultural Center (Belgrade), Italian Cultural Institute in Krakow, Spazio Meme (Carpi), Monopol Gallery (Warsaw), Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art (London), Entropia Gallery (Wroclaw), Palazzo Malipiero (Venice), Musei dei Bronzi Dorati (Pergola). From 2012 to 2019, he lived in Warsaw, working as a curator. Among the institutions he collaborated with during these years: Zachęta – National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, Italian Cultural Institute in Warsaw, Polish Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, Benetton Foundation, Adam Mickiewicz Institute. In 2017, he was co-curator of the Biennale de La Biche (described by The Guardian as "the world's smallest art biennale," hosted on a deserted Pacific island). Since 2014, he has been part of the editorial team of Artibune. Since 2018, he has been editor-in-chief for the Sky Arte website. He is the director and curator of FIUTO Art Space.