Founded by artist and priest Tito Amodei in 1970, Sala 1 is Italy’s oldest non profit for contemporary experimental art gallery that includes diverse media ranging from sculpture/installation to performance and video, from music to architecture. It presents work by internationally-established artists as well as emerging artistic identities and collaborations over 6 continents with a content of both regional and international significance. The organization is interested in producing artists’ projects, exhibitions with guest curators, and innovative concepts, often for the first time in Italy. Sala 1’s role in education and public outreach offers student interns the possibility to learn on site, and our programs are funded by a wide range of public & private entities. Located in the magnificent ex-basilica behind the Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs, in the center of Rome, it’s directed by Mary Angela Schroth together with a team of young art historians and curators.
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Art, whatever it takes – RomeArtProgram has made interviews with people involved in Art, living in Italy, the USA and the UK, to know their feelings during these hard times.
-> Mary Angela Schroth (on the right in the photo) interview:
RomeArtProgram: When and how was the Gallery founded? Which are its special features?
-> Mary Angela Schroth: Sala 1 was founded at the end of the 1960’s by priest-sculptor Tito Amodei, who was transferred from Florence to the Scala Santa in Rome. The spaces were part of the extra-territorial domain of the Holy See in Piazza di Porta S. Giovanni and were part of an uncompleted church building. With artist volunteers, Tito began to renovate the complex for use as his studio, a non-profit art gallery (2 major spaces called Sala 1) for experimental art that was outside the museum/commercial system, and an office for conservation and architecture. The gallery opened in 1970 with Enrico Accatino, a well-known sculptor. The program quickly became known for the high level of the artists and curators, and in 1985, under the direction of Mary Angela Schroth, became a dynamic international venue debuting artists such as William Kentridge, El Anatsui, Huang Rui, Orlan, Susanne Santoro, Bertina Lopes, Ken Friedman, Marco Maggi, Tadashi Kawamata and many more. It’s special because of its artistic independence and innovative programs, which include architecture, video, performance, contemporary music and especially art conceived for the Sala 1 space.
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RAP: What is your definition of “Art” today?
-> Mary Angela: Art is what the artist wants to do. Duchamp said this differently so the idea is not new but it is more difficult that it seems. It is literally 360 degrees.
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RAP: Art is dynamic and regenerates itself… how does it change, and how did it change us?
-> Mary Angela: Art has certainly changed all of us who are part of this world. It’s indeed constantly changing but in an ever more inclusive way and teaches us to travel, to grow, and to appreciate the entire global community.
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RAP: What role does Art play today? Are there “great figures”, or institutions, who have recently changed it?
-> Mary Angela: I count the Biennale of Venice (not only Art but Architecture, Theater, Dance and Music) and Documenta in Kassel as major contributions to the field. Sala 1 has produced 3 national Biennale pavilions for art (challenging the status quo of the time and featuring South Africa (1993), Iraq and Bangladesh (both in 2011). Sala 1 also produced, with Shenandoah University, the first concert in Europe of five Native American composers for Biennale Musica in 2022, very few “galleries” have been able to do this, especially give the limited resources of our institutions.
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RAP: How have the new technologies & media changed Art today, improving or worsening it? …challenges?
-> Mary Angela: Sala 1 has always been in the forefront of new technology, we were the first to explore the domain of “net art” in the late 1990’s, with the exhibition “Netizens” curated by Valentina Tanni. We curated the only exhibition of “CD Rom d’Artist” for Palaexpo in Rome in the 1990’s, a medium that no other gallery was interested in because of the non commercial aspects. All these artists have made a tremendous impact on contemporary art. These new approaches are positive, always.
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RAP: Which is the real role of Academies and Art schools today? What can artists learn from these institutions today?
-> Mary Angela: This is a loaded question, because there has been an explosion of this construct in the last 20 years. I firmly believe that a humanist approach to education is always the best path.
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RAP: How do Art Galleries and Museums position themselves today, and, in your opinion, how should they?
-> Mary Angela: The process begins with pioneer spaces like Sala 1, then the private commercial galleries use this information to promote and sell the artists. The museums and especially important collectors of art, make the final steps to consolidate the situation. All these elements are important to be understood.
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RAP: …will Art save us?
-> Mary Angela: The artists can save the world!
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@sala1galleria
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