Sunday, July 13, 2014

Stefano Conti and Giovanni Dimase


Giovanni Dimase:  Artist Biography

 Giovanni Dimase was born in Mildura in the mid 50’s to Italian migrants.

After studying Arts at Monash University, Giovanni worked as a freelance journalist, with his stories appearing in noteworthy publications such as Rolling Stone Magazine, The Age Newspaper and RAM Magazine.

For the past 16 years Giovanni has been working as a bookseller at Blue Guitar, Federation Square, specializing in classic literature. He has also written several film scripts still in development. Giovanni has been writing and performing on the Melbourne poetry scene for the past 15 years and can been seen performing from 2 - 4pm at Federation Square on the third Saturday of each month. Please email poetry@fedsquare.com for more details.

Giovanni once held the enviable role of Les Murray’s driver at the Mildura Writers Festival!

Giovanni has been a participant of several years of Arts Access Victoria’s Artstop SRS Open Studio. “Being part of the Artstop has been a fantastic experience for some one like me, its been a great learning curve and I’ve made wonderful friends.” Through Artstop Giovanni contributed to The Fluid Ink Project short film project and exhibition at The Brunswick Artspace
This is Giovanni’s first solo exhibtion of his visual art works.

Recently, Giovanni was invited by the Baker Street Synagog in Caulfield to recite his poem titled White Clay, a memorial for French-Jew, Leon Saper, a much loved and respected local potter.


Poetry by Giovanni Dimase

White Clay

(for Leon Saper - potter & holocaust survivor; r.i.p.)

In your house devoid of straight lines
You give the world colours never seen before
Dragons and butterflies; fabulous beasts
Art created from white clay
Your hands at the wheel, expert in motion.

Memories recorded in museums
Tormented dreams haunt us still
When everyone and everything was stolen from you
A new country and a new dream
In your house devoid of straight lines
Art created from white clay
Dragons and butterflies.

All that a man can hope to achieve
To find your freedom in a prison cell
Ashes will swirl amongst the stars tonight
Art created from white clay
Now displayed
on a simple hessian backdrop
You give the world colours never seen before.
  
 © john dimase.


Kafka's Motorbike

He works in the insurance office by day
Writes The Trial at night
An innocent man is arrested
Assassinated with a knife

Father asks,
How can a boy lead such a life?’
His sisters run and play
For everyone knows Franz is strange

On weekends he rides his motorbike
Through the streets of Prague
He has seen the signs
Knows his world will come to an end

They wait out there
for the gypsies and the Jews.

Lungs are weak; his days are numbered
And for one last time
he explores ancient Prague.
Carefree as he transcends gravity-
lost in the skies.

Nazi bonfires will consume his works
In the camps of Poland his sisters doomed to perish
Do they think of Franz as the gasses rise?
On his motorbike, for several seconds airborne

As he falls through the incandescent universe
Escapes father, factory and Third Reich
Hurtles through the streets,
Smiles in the sunlight
Franz Kafka in his one
true Prague moment.

  © john di mase.


_____________________________________________________________________

Stefano Conti:  Artist Biography

“I see myself first as a writer, poet and singer. I had skills in creating works of art or so long now, I was a dreaming boy thirteen years old when I started my poetry and my artworks. I like to give to people images, words, shapes that can encourage them to see something not easy to see.
Here in Australia, Melbourne, I grew up to be what I am… I welcome you into my world! “

Stefano has been a participant of Artstop SRS Open Studio for the past four years, where he has worked steadily on his visual arts practice. In 2011 Stefano was involved in The Fluid Ink Project, short film and exhibition at Brunswick Art Space.
A well known character around Melbourne’s north, Stefano often performs poetry readings at Dan O’Connell Hotel, Saturday afternoon’s. An intimate venue frequented by poets from Melbourne.


Stefano is also involved in The Exchange Program, run by Merri Community Health Services Limited. Most recently Stefano has joined Writability a partnership between Writers Victoria, Wheeler Centre and Arts Access Victoria. Stefano is also a key contributor to the ongoing Brunswick Lodge Outdoor Art Project.

Poetry by Stefano Conti


Answers

I waited so long
To see the light of a new day coming
Giving me a hint of wisdom,
An insight; my eyes captured reality,
The games of love, the words,
The music of the world
Made me happy, elated,
Amazed of beauty, so, with time
I have established my identity,
I know what I am; days and nights came
To shape myself into a sacred being,
A simple man
Watching the movements of existence,
Left to see the truth,
The passionate game of love,
New days with the golden scenarios
Coming in a familiar way; moments unfolded
To discover my defeat,
My true sorrow, my heart beating
I change to a thousand of selves,
Into this passionate man alive;
The man smiles, I smiled
Trying to convey love, to express
The sweet taste of life,
I smiled to be in touch with humanity,
I smiled to discover joy… After so long
Answers came, it is clear
I am alive and had lessons
Through many seasons of search; my senses
Awaken I had this life
As a sacred gift,
And in the light I maintained a sort of wisdom,
Trying to be gentle
I am here in this world
Complete and whole, realized,
Close to glory,
Just alive in a graceful state…

Stefano Conti
Melbourne, May 10, 2013


Sacred Day

It was autumn coming; dry days
Over dreaming reality; I conquered my mind,
I have established myself… And more and more
Of love, mesmerized of the simple truth, love,
And love was my way; simply
Working out I was happy; days and nights
Started with joy; then, I was the poet,
I was the one dreaming so often,
Having a vision, one world,
Fighting back the demons, being good,
Just trying to love music; one moment
I will vanish, I am left without any power,
Powerless I strolled the avenues,
I’ve walked on empty pavements… I was the man
Angry at times, I had passion for life, now
Close to die I just cry,
Shed tears, be in anguish; the moment
Came I used to know myself
Only one sacred day
Came and I understood my fate,
And the secret is nested in my heart.


Melbourne April 12, 2013 

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