Wood Sculpture Symposium

Wood comes to life in the square of Sillano

There is a moment in the Garfagnana when the sound of chisels and chainsaws turns into music: it is when wood sculptors gather in the main square of Sillano, a village in the municipality of Sillano Giuncugnano, in the Province of Lucca, at the foot of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. The Wood Sculpture Symposium is one of those events that transforms a mountain village into an open-air workshop, where art is created before the eyes of passersby and every log becomes a finished masterpiece in just a few days.

A competition dedicated to Luciano Bertolini

The symposium was born and continues in memory of Dr. Luciano Bertolini, a beloved figure in the community who served as mayor of Sillano and vice president of the Banca della Versilia, Lunigiana e Garfagnana. A special prize is awarded in his honor, marking a deep bond between the event and its people.

The heart of the event is a true sculpture competition: nationally recognized wood artists compete by creating their works live based on a theme set each year. A jury evaluates the pieces and awards the best-executed work most consistent with the proposed subject. In past editions, the square has seen prominent sculptors at work, creating pieces inspired by themes such as Christmas fairy tales.

Art, school, and the environment

The Wood Sculpture Symposium is not just a professional competition; it is also an educational project. The initiative involves schools of all levels with educational workshops and training activities designed to introduce young people to wood craftsmanship and raise awareness about the crucial issue of environmental protection. There is also a dedicated prize competition for children, using creativity as a tool for awareness.

Wood, a living material deeply tied to the Garfagnana territory and its forests, thus becomes the common thread for a collective reflection on the relationship between man and nature.

An event for the village and the Garfagnana

Choosing the square as a stage is no coincidence: the public can closely follow the entire creative process, from raw material to finished work, in a direct dialogue with the artists. At the end of the symposium, the sculptures remain as a testament to the event and enrich the village's heritage.

Included among the cultural events of Sillano Giuncugnano, the symposium is an opportunity to discover one of the most evocative municipalities in the Garfagnana, a land of mountains, chestnut groves, and traditions, and to experience a day of authentic art in contact with the local community. Admission is free.