Holy Book

Performance of the visual artist Rita Lazzaro done at the Residence garden, with collaboration of the 13th Improviser in Residence Mariá Portugal. Recorded on December 19th, 2020. 
Video: Manuela Martelli Audio: Mariá Portugal "Seeds represent libraries of genetic information; each seed contains the entire history of evolution, a concentrated message about how to grow, live and die. It is the interlude of life - death - life and contains the information for its replication and reproduction." - Rita Lazzaro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FriHsoYF54

WE

https://www.moers.de/de/aktuelles/riesiger-begehbarer-patchwork-wuerfel-im-bildungszentrum/
The difficult times of the coronavirus pandemic have enormous consequences, one of which is the distancing and the resulting fear of being alone. My goal was to unite all the inhabitants of the city of Moers in one big project, like one big hug.
While countries waited for a vaccine or cure for Covid-19, they had to take preventive measures that relied heavily on limiting social contact; these included:
Distancing, domestic isolation/confinement and quarantine.
Research conducted during this pandemic period has shown that distancing and isolation can contribute to the development of another deadly 'epidemic': seclusion and loneliness.
To respond to isolation, I have developed this project, using digital
support networks such as Facebook and Instagram. 
It has become a social project, and day after day I shared my work with many people who enthusiastically participated because they wanted to promote the growth and success of the work that is no longer mine, but "ours". 

I find it a joy to encourage resilience through my art, both personally and collectively.

Art books

In my art project I would like to start a new dialogue about our perception of the environment nature to start a new dialogue about our perception of the environment. It arises the need to protect life and the desire to sow hope, are born; my hope is contained in a seed. It is sacred
because it represents the beginning of all life, it embodies the elements of life, it contains valuable and unique information.
It contains valuable and unique information for growth.
Seeds are libraries of genetic information; each seed contains the entire history of evolution, a concentrated message about how to grow, live and die, It is the interlude of life - death - life and contains the information for its replication. In my work I make myself the guardian of the wisdom of the seed, 
I have collected and selected different seeds and have used
ecological material such as cotton paper (out of respect for the trees I have avoided cellulose paper) I have created book covers,
using natural pigments (iron oxide, but also coffee and fruit juices,
vegetables and roots, such as turmeric, pomegranate, etc.). 
For the I used tissue paper and rice paper for the pages, sandwiched 
between two sheets of paper glued together with flour glue.
each book contains a variety and can become a field of wheat, cherry trees, pomegranates, etc. Each book is the macrocosm in the microcosm.

Italian art courses

Children's painting courses are scheduled for ages 3 to 14 years. They are divided by age on different days of the week.
They go through experiences on sign, shapes, colour, light and music with various artistic techniques and their tools; they develop different themes with a focus on portrait, figure, still life, landscape and abstract with always different themes.
From the youngest to the oldest children slowly enter the world of art with learning adapted to their age according to a different educational project each year. They will be stimulated by a number of art history courses by important artists. The aim is to develop observation, creativity, skills, self-esteem and socialisation, also through play.
The pottery courses bring children closer to the language of art through manipulation. The children learn the various techniques for modelling clay, which is first made into an object and then decorated. This gives them the opportunity to develop operational and organisational skills, enhancing personal autonomy and decision-making.

Orizzontale mobile

Sound installation by  Rita Lazzaro & Ingo Borgardts

The ceramic bowls by Rita Lazzaro are completely handmade and are used exclusively for the sound installation.

"E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle..."

It is the last verse 139 of Canto XXXIV of the Inferno of Dante Alighieri's Comedy which, paradoxically, is so close to us today, at this time when the whole world is being ravaged by the hell of the coronavirus. With Dante, therefore, we would like to express the still current wish to soon see the stars again, to come out and see the light again.

Our aim is to bring people closer to nature through performances in magical places where the elements of water, earth, fire, air and wood harmonise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmsEYnms-60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJf42bp7Cmw

Impermanence

Laughing behind the mask

Kunst macht glücklich und friedlich. Das zeigen auch die lächelnden Gesichter in der Ausstellung von Rita Lazzaro. Zu sehen sind die Schwarzweiß-Fotos der Künstlerin vom 24. Juli bis zum 14. August im Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst M22. Die Italienerin hatte während der isolierenden Pandemielage Menschen unterschiedlichen Alters und verschiedener Herkunft vor ihrer Kamera - ohne Maske. „Unbekannte zu fotografieren war nicht einfach, viele Leute waren misstrauisch", so Rita Lazzaro. Die lockere Atmosphäre am Pfingstwochenende rund um das moers festival, das mit musikalischen Aktionen die Moerser Innenstadt belebt hat, kam ihr als Türöffner zu den Menschen gerade recht. Viele Menschen zeigten sich dankbar, dass Kunst und Kulturprojekte in dieser Zeit eine Umsetzung finden konnten. Lazzaro fühlt sich bestätigt: „Die Menschen waren so aufgeschlossen und dankbar. Da sieht man eben wieder, wie wichtig Kunst und Musik im Alltag und in der Krise sind." Das Museum für zeitgenössische Kunst M22 (Niederstraße 22) bietet in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Kulturbüro der Stadt Moers freien Eintritt zu der Ausstellung „Lächeln hinter der Maske".
https://www.moers.de/de/aktuelles/wer-laechelt-hinter-der-maske/

Hans and the yoga adventures

Yoga for children is a panacea, offering energy, physical wellbeing, psychic balance, constancy, determination, concentration, but also an incentive to behave altruistically, respecting all living beings and the planet. It is no coincidence that the entire series is inspired by the Dalai Lama's thought: "If every eight-year-old child were taught meditation, we could eliminate violence in the world within a generation".

The authors' aim: to bring children closer to yoga and teach them to experience it on a daily basis not only as a discipline for the body, but as a lifestyle and source of energy, without forgetting the magic of fairy tales.
The protagonists of the tales, Hans and Christian (in homage to the Andersen brothers), are the little circus artists that we will get to know by reading these first three delicate and amusing adventures: Hans and the Duck, Hans and the Lamb, Hans and the Tree, all three contained in Hans and the Yoga Adventures. Each story is oriented around a theme (trust, respect, will), guided by a yoga seed (Karma, Dharma, Prana) and accompanied by a short and simple guide to postures that will enable children to take their first steps into the world of yoga, after having been delighted by the fairy tale.

Authors
Rita Ananda Lazzaro, artist and yoga teacher, is the soul and conscience of the Lilaya project. Her idea for the stories and the strong spirituality that runs through them, as well as the technical imprint that makes the book an effective manual for the first steps.
Carla Virzi is a storyteller from Catania. The characters of Hans and Christian (in homage to the Andersen brothers) are her creations, like the circus setting of the stories and the delightful adventures of the first three episodes of "Hans and the Yoga Adventures".
Giambattista Rosini is an illustrator and graphic designer. His are the visual interpretations of Hans and his friends, and the graphic design of the book.

The sacred sowing

https://solidground-media.com/360/lazzaro-kirche/
The need to protect life and the desire to sow hope are born; my hope is contained in a seed. It is sacred because it represents the beginning of all life, it embodies the elements of life, it contains valuable and unique information for growth. Seeds represent libraries of genetic information; each seed contains the entire history of evolution, a concentrated message about how to grow, live and die. It is the interlude of life - death - life and contains the information for its replication and reproduction. In my work I make myself the guardian of the wisdom of the seed, I have collected and selected different seeds and using ecological material such as cotton paper (out of respect for the trees I have avoided cellulose paper) I have created book covers coloured with natural pigments (iron oxide, but also coffee and fruit juices, vegetables and roots, such as turmeric, pomegranate, etc.). For the pages I used tissue paper and rice paper, between two sheets glued with flour glue the seeds are kept; each book contains one variety and can become a field of wheat, cherry trees, pomegranates, etc. Each book is the macrocosm in the microcosm.