Note autobiografiche

Autobiographical notes

I was born in Milan in 1942.
After my studies in 1961 I begin my career as a company secretary at the
Editors OVER of Milan, and later in 1965 I receive the post as editorial
co-ordinator for the architecture Collection entitled "Orientamenti Moderni
nell'Edilizia" (Modern Tendencies in the Building Industry) aimed at Technical
Institutes. In 1970 I marry Giancarlo Sponga, a professional photographer
and am an assistant to him in his photographic services for Italian and foreign
Editors for features on: architecture, furnishing, art and company treatises.
From an idea of reproducing black and white photographs on velvet, in 1972
the SPONGAdifusione is set up. Thereafter, until 1992 it proposes collections
of textiles and furniture supplements. My research on textiles begins in 1982
and I present a series of tapestries, and in 1986 I obtain my first personal exhibition
at the Galleria Shop Art of Milan and in 1987 another at the Estro of Milan.

In 1990 I encounter Marina Giannangeli, former professor at the Arazzo
sector of the Castello Sforzesco in Milan. Our meeting takes place at the Centre
of Images and Expressions founded by Simonetta Ferrante. Here I attend her
courses on Artistic Weaving until 1994: the use of materials different to those used
in traditional weaving intrigues and stimulates me. Thus I begin a research and
experimental stage of manipulation with threads, textiles, metals, plastic and flexible
materials using a sewing machine to assemble them in a personal fashion. In this
way I create textile works, in the spirit of Fibre Art, with a three-dimensional
effect. Later between 1998-2000 I attend other very interesting courses at the
Natural Dye Association held by Rosella Cilano: these are on shibori, natural dye
and on felt with Helga and Lisa Schwabl. With the support and encouragement of
my husband in 1995 I start to participate in collective art exhibitions and enter
international contests. In 1998 and in 2000 I am selected for the Textile Art
Biennial exhibition in Chieri, Turin and in 1999, my work "Campi Cromatici 3"
(Chromatic Fields 3) is chosen as part of the Textile Art Civic Collection of the
City of Chieri. In 1998 I take part in the European Contest promoted by "Anchor
Award for European Embroidery Design" entitled "Jarhtausendwerde" where my
work "Luce e Inquietudine verso il Nuovo Millenio" is selected.(Light and Anxiety towards the New Millennium).

It is a travelling exhibition and it is displayed again in 1999 at the Textilmuseum of
St. Gallen (Switzerland). The museum curator Dr. Anne Wanner-JeanRichard
invites me to present a one-man exhibition and with the approval of the Museum
Team the exhibition takes place from 25th June to 11th August 2000. In 2000
Nazzarena Bortolaso and Mimmo Totaro, curators of the Miniartextil Exhibition
of Como, invite me to present a work of great dimensions. Again in 2000 at the 1st
European Quilt-Triennial promoted by the Textilmuseum Max Berk of Heidelberg
(Germany), the work "Campi Cromatici 1" is chosen. It is a travelling exhibition and
displayed in four other European Museums. In 2001 the European Art Quilts II° of
Breda (Holland) choses "S-Composizione 2". On this occasion to my pleasant
surprise, the cover of the catalogue, the poster and the invitation are all dedicated
to me. The exhibition will be on tour until 2003.

In 2002 my work “Autunno a Venezia. Riflessi.” (Autumn in Venice. Reflections.) was chosen for the 8th Quilt Expo in Europe in Barcelona (Spain), a travelling exhibition up to 2005. Later I displayed my works in collective exhibitions in Milan, Como and Rome.

In 2003 another of my works “Love in Chaos” was chosen for the exhibition “Spirit and Strength” in Houston USA, touring until 2005. Furthermore I was invited to put up a personal display of 30 works at the Bonetto Design Area in Chieri sponsored by the local Town Council. My two triptychs “Sentieri dell’Infinito” (Paths of Infinity) were chosen for the exhibition arranged by Ornella Piluso at the Museum of Science and Technology of Milan. I was host artist in St. Jean de Luz, French Basque Country, at Villa Ducontenia with 10 works. Later I displayed at Chatillon, Birmingham, Como and Rimini.

In 2004 the Centre of Italian Studies in Zurich invited me to put up a personal display of 25 works. I was host artist for a project at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST): a data base which contains a gallery of images of textile art together with information on the artists and their techniques. My work “Vertigine Metropolitana N°1 (Metropolitan Vertigo N°1) was selected at the 4th Biennial International of Fiber Art in Chieri (Turin), a travelling exhibition, and later presented at the Textilmuseum of St. Gallen (Switzerland) in 2005. While “Vertigine Metropolitana N°2” was selected at the 3rd Biennial European Art Quilts of Breda (Netherlands), touring up to 2006.

In 2005 besides being invited to Chatillon and to Nuremberg, the artist book “Di filo in filo” (From thread to thread) was selected at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Art for the Miniartextil of Como. While the work “K 2004” was chosen for the 5th Triennial International D’Art du Tissu of Tornai (Belgium). To my great satisfaction Professor Mag. Renate Maak art director of the International Tapestry Symposium of Graz (Austria) invited me to take part in the 21st Symposium as artist of Fiber Art representing Italy with three large works; for the occasion a DVD was produced in three languages which shows various phases of the making of the tapestry “Vertigine Metropolitana N°3”. Furthermore I was awarded a prize at the Competition “Italia Invita” in Rimini. Again in 2005 I was invited by the organizer Professor Marisa Cortese to take part in the International Symposium of Contemporary Art in Verbania (Italy) with an exhibition in Villa Giulia of Pallanza. Sponsored by the Town Council of Colico (Lecco) I was invited to put up a personal exhibit at the display area Carpe Diem.

In 2006 I was invited artist at the Textilkunst Gallery of Munich. Furthermore Doctor Bianca Maria Giuganino of the Association Celle Art and Culture invited me to display a personal exhibit in Celle Ligure (Savona) sponsored by the local Town Council. The work “Giorn-Ali in rete” (Papers in the net) was selected for the Miniartextil Exhibition in Como and in the sphere of the same exhibition I was invited artist asked to display four large works. I was also invited artist in Birmingham (UK) by the European Art Quilt Fondation Hollande.

Marialuisa Sponga