FROM FRESCO GAZETTE

Locals audition for Pisa fresco Pisa is about to acquire a new cultural attraction - a huge wall painting covering 500 square metres which will tell the story of the patron saint of Pisa, Saint Ranierus. The artist is Luca Battini. read more... Bacterium Restores Glue-hidden Fresco Art restorers in Pisa have found that a bacterium can do the job no chemical has managed to achieve: reveal part of a vast medieval fresco which was covered with a layer of glue during an unfortunate restoration attempt half a century ago. read more... June 08 - from the world fresco news europaconcorsi - 6/30/08 Painting for Eternity. The Tombs of Paestum With its three large Doric temples, Paestum became a well-known site early on thanks to engravings by Piranesi (1777/78) and Goethe's impressive descriptions in his Italienische Reise (1787). However, many people are unaware that Paestum contains one of the greatest treasure troves of ancient fresco paintings: During excavations in the 1960s, around 200 richly painted tombs from the Lucanian period (4th century B.C.) were discovered. The Martin-Gropius-Bau dedicates an exhibition to these rare examples of ancient tomb art. Around 45 painted tomb slabs of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Paestum will be shown at the exhibition in Berlin, including seven complete tombs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Idaho Statesman - 06/29/08 How are things going at the Capitol? Thousands of square feet of wall space in the Capitol are covered with distemper. More familiar as canine affliction, distemper is also a decorative technique dating back to ancient Egypt. Some call it "the poor man's fresco." Rich men had the real thing, like da Vinci's "Last Supper," where the artist mixed pigment with water, or egg on plaster --------------------------------------------------------------------- read more... Hockney's Pool Restoration at Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel David Hockney made a mural at the bottom of the pool of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel that graced the guests as they were enjoying the wonderful outdoor climate, swimming, and gazing out at the water. There was always a possibility to catch a glimpse of a Hollywood "A- lister" enjoying the comfortable environment along with the guests. Over time, the paint has been deteriorated by the chemicals of the water and the constant contact of the guests rubbing up against the floor and walls. The vibrant blue marks went from being the focal point of the view to being minor stains at the bottom of the pool. The artists of iLia Anossov Design (iLAdesigns.com) have become the saviors of many historical murals all around Los Angeles. read more... Art stirs debate - the color of Jesus. ART: Students walk past the 40-foot-tall mural of Jesus at Biola University in La Mirada on Thursday May 15, 2008. The planned refurbishing of a 40-foot mural of Jesus, called "The Word" has reignited a controversy on campus. Some say it should be allowed to fade away out of existence, while others say the artwork should be preserved. (Staff Photo by Keith Durflinger) read more...