In Memory of Ferruccio Billò Special Issue
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NEW SERIES NumBER 4 / AuGuST 2014 L’ARTE DEL VETRO EDINTORNI DELVETRO L’ARTE Special Issue Billò In memory ofFerruccio The time I We hit it off immediately. His enthusiasm was infectious. We kept in touch in the met him at following months and Ferruccio asked me to work on the the museum catalogue of the Museum. I was flattered; I could not y friendship hide hide it and overwhelmed with Ferruccio at the same time. Later on, Billò spanned throughout my several visits over twenty to Altare, he really helped years.M It have already talked and supported me together in public about my meeting with the very many friends him. It was a foggy winter who explained and revealed afternoon on 7th December to me some of the secrets so 1993 when I got, after a rather very much embedded into the tiresome journey, to Altare DNA of the people from that and reached the Oratorio town. If I now know a little di San Sebastiano – i.e. the about glassmaking and Altare home of the Museum back history, I owe it all to them. then. Because of my studies, I Commendatore Billò, only later needed information on Altare we were to drop the courtesy In memory of Ferruccio Billò and its history straight from the form, seemed extremely “battlefield”. To tell the truth I determined. Special Issue knew nothing. I had just come He had clear objectives. He across a brief note referring to was ready to free the way of all the collection and a magazine. possible obstacles in order to This issue of Alte Vitrie is It was necessary to get back reach his goals. entirely devoted to a person to the original sources and, He “wanted” the Museum to whom Altare and its people therefore, I decided to visit to have a catalogue. He was are greatly indebted to, i.e. the very place. I still remember certain of its importance and in Ferruccio Billò. Creative and how helpful Ferruccio was the end; his dream came true passionate, Ferruccio Billò was despite my young age and though he, obviously, had to a protagonist for many years inexperience. He told me what mediate problems. He would of the cultural life of our town. I needed, told me extensively certainly have liked it to be He organised events of high about Altare, its history and the in colour but money was too level. He actively concurred to glass production. tight. the founding of associations that still operate. Most of all, he promoted our glass tradition and Museum. After more than one year since he passed away, we aim at remembering him and celebrating just a small amount of his enormous contribution to the promotion of Altare,. We look at him as an inspiring example inspiring example that spurs us to carry on his work. What we can read here, i.e. the contributions of those who were lucky enough to actually meet him, bear testimony to his passion for our town. Unfortunately, I cannot be counted among them. I was not blessed enough to meet Ferruccio Billò. Linda Siri Curator of the Museo dell’Arte Vetraria Altarese previous page: Presentation of the catalogue of the Museum of Glass at the Triennale of Milan, 23rd May 1996 side and cover: Ferruccio Billò at the presentation at the Triennale He then opted for a black and However, earlier on, during years of the Statutes of the in ISVAV and the Museum of white version rather than no his first years as chair of the Art of Glas. He also the Altare owe him a great deal. cersion at all. He knew how Istituto (1991-1997), Ferruccio Argentinian glassmakers of However, I am deeply indebted important communication and had established contacts Altare descentfor the first to him. the promotion of Altare were with experts and academics time. His brilliant intelligence, He believed in me. He gave if the town was to come out of of international renown who in its original meaning of me a great opportunity. He its shell. were passionate about Altare “Intelligere”, i.e. look inside showed me a way I was He immediately embraced glass that was, then, better reality, allowed him to identify later on to follow in my the idea of presenting the known abroad than in Italy. the main issues Altare had studies. Thanks to him, I have catalogue at the Triennale He also founded a magazine, to address. As its furnaces established an important, in Milan. I clearly remember “Alte Vitrie” distributed free were definitely inoperative, fulfilling and ongoing how happy we all were, how of charge to 530 museums the town had to find a new professional relationship people praised Altare glass and organisations all over the vocation without just look with Altare. Foremost, I have and the admiration of those world, which was a point of backing at its past but turning enjoyed high quality personal who saw it for the first time. pride to him and he publicly it into a winning strategy for relationships. The most The evening of 23rd May stated in 1993. He organised the future. I am glad I was important one being with 1996 was a memorable one. important conventions given the opportunity to Ferruccio. It was the first event of very and events, among which appreciate Ferruccio’s honesty many that were to come to worth remembering are and his active commitment to promote Altare and its history. the celebrations of the 500 achieving what he believed Mariateresa Chirico In memory of Ferruccio Billo’ F erruccio Billo’ was born in Altare on 6th Septem- ber 1923. His parents were Antonio, whose surname clearly indicates the Piedmon- tese town of Mondovì as the origin of the family, and Emma Perrone. Antonio , further to his political merits, was appointed Consul of the Militia and the family moved to Turin. Italy, as an ally of Germany, participates in the Second World War and Ferruccio’s father, Antonio, embarks for Northern Africa. A British sub- marine torpedoes the ship and Antonio dies. Ferruccio, now In memory of Ferruccio Billò Special Issue an orphan, returns to Altare with his mother. When in Turin, he had learnt to love the mountains and joined a mountaineering school na- med after Giusto Gervasutti, a famous climber from Turin. He, then, enlists in the Monterosa Alpine Division as an “alpino” soldier. Luckily, he escapes the perils of the war. The end of the war period infuses everyone with a great zest for life. In Altare, Ferruccio meets clilmbers he befriended before the war, i.e. Vinicio Saroldi, Ric- cardo Richebuono, Aldo Buz- zone, Attilio Brondi and Marco Briano. During an excursion to the Santuario dell’Eremita in Mallare, they decide to start a mountaineering association they name Associazione Alpi- nistica Altarese, abbreviated as 3A. That very day an exceptio- nal frost burns the new leaves side, previous page: top Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of 3a-CAI and inauguration of the memorial on the Burot Mount, 1970 side bottom, previous page: : Excursion of 3A-CAI to Pian dei Corsi, 1946 side: Excursion to the Beigua Mount, 22-24 September 1945 last page: Draft of the cover for the narrative “From Altare to Santa Fe, the Way of Glass” on chestnut trees. temperament lead him to other Altare and trade union repre- From Altare Vinicio is the chair of the activities but he never forgot sentative for CISL. Association, Riccardo draws his 3A. Further to his merits, he up the statute containing He founded in Altare a scout became the manager of a to Santa Fe, poetic features, Emma is the movement and his scout nick- travel agency in Corso Ricci female delegate, Mario Briano name was White Eagle. in Savona and later became the Way of (aka Pucci) the cashier and When in 1949 he married Elide chair of the Travel and Tourism Ferruccio its active technical Pizzorno, coming out of church Board of Noli. Glass secretary. they passed under the arch of He was awarded the title of At the beginning, Ferruccio the scout pennants. Grand’Ufficiale della Repubbli- takes an active part in the He later on founded a folklore ca. As if this was not enough, activities. association named Famia under the watch of the Mayor Back then, I was a teenager Altaraisa, whose many accor- Olga Beltrame, he was appoin- but I remember the frien- dion players would play in the ted Deputy President of the dly and joyful atmosphere carnivals in Savona and other Istituto per lo Studio del Vetro A s a young man, characterizing meetings and events. e dell’Arte Vetraria Altarese by Ferruccio Billò studied the excursions alike. He was chair of the Proloco the Town of Altare. adventurous story of the TOVA Many people from Altare of Altare and of Casone, i.e. This organisation ran the Group, i.e. a group of participated in the excursion of a leisure association of the museum then hosted in the ex- glassmakers from Altare who 1st May 1946. Società Artistico Vetraria. oratory of San Sebastian. in 1947 migrated to Argentina When we were about to enter He organised sports events He played this a role with to start five glass factories in the hamlet of Naso di Gatto and dancing events during passion and expertise. Let us San Jorge and San Carlos we formed a line. which prestigious bands honour his memory. Centro, in the province of Ferruccio with his accordion he played. Santa Fe. In 1987, forty years had carried on his shoulders He himself played the drums in Gino Bormioli on, while crystal factories in from Altare was at the front the band of Maestro Enfi, Bui- Argentina were in full swing, and Giuliano Brondi with his na’s son, who taught music to Billò organised important clarinet and Aldo Buzzone with very many people from Altare.