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The book Marmor macht Schule tells the story of a vision, which has allowed the sculpture school in southern Peccia to grow from its modest beginnings into a major art school. With the book launch and presentation of the thesis of the German sculptor Gregor Wawerla on 24 September, the school reaches the highlight of its 27th academic year.

In 1984, the sculpture school in Peccia in the canton of Ticino found its way to Cristallina marble that is mined in the farthest corner of the Maggia valley, at the Pizzo Castello. The precious stone is still central among the courses offered, even if the course offerings now include all manner of sculpture. Students have taken hundreds of continuing education courses in recent years in Peccia; 300 alone in the current year.

In their book, the authors Rudolf Meyer, Almute Grossmann-Naef and AlexNaef want to record more than just the history of the school. They show how artists, scientists and students teach and learn in open course communities. The work is also intended as an aesthetic contribution to the discussion about education and wants to outline a possible way of promoting the cultural and economic support of alpine border regions.

Although Alex Naef together with Almute Grossmann-Naef could give shape to their dreams of a sulptor’s school, Marmor macht Schule is just a milestone. In the near future, an international sculpture center will represent a meeting- and workplace for artists from around the world. The first steps from vision to implementation have long been taken.

The book premiere takes place on 24 September 2011 at 11:00 in the Museo di Valemaggia in Cevio, Tessin (CH). On the same day, at 15:00, the thesis “Halbkrieisfolge” (“Semi-circular Sequence”) by Gregor Wawerla will be presented.

www.marmo.ch

The book is published by Haupt Verlag, Bern (www.haupt.ch)

176 pages, comprehensively illustrated in black and white

Softcover, 23 x 23 cm, 673 g
CHF 38.00 / EUR 34.90 (D) / EUR 35.90 (A)
ISBN 978-3-258-07348-4