Marble Workshop

Edition Five Feature
Words by Kyle Ann Smith
Location: Pietrasanta, Italy
Photo Credit: ©Kyle Ann Smith @marbleworkshop & ©Karen Miranda Abel

Sometimes while following our dreams, we inadvertently find ourselves taking part in a much larger context than expected – which is what happened to me. In 1973, as a young woman aged 20 years, following my dream to be an artist making sculpture in marble, I discovered Pietrasanta, Italy, the home of marble carving, which became my lifelong home too. Here, not far from the Carrara marble quarries, families of artists and artisans carried on the age-old traditions encompassing all aspects of marble production. 

I found myself in a fervent wonderland, where master artisans generously shared their knowledge, expertise and life stories. Being able to learn and work with them was incredible. It was here that I eventually realised that I was participating in a unique moment of inevitable changes. Mechanisation, new technologies, and the ageing of artisans was leading to the loss of knowledge and traditions once passed from generation to generation.

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