Piscu, June 19, 2021. The Quadrisphere at Piscu, a multimedia room unique in Romania, was inaugurated on Friday, June 18, at the Museum-Workshop School in Piscu. The creation of this kaleidoscope-type installation makes the pottery craft of Piscu attractive and memorable for visitors, and especially for children. Thus, through technological means, the heritage of an old community of potters is highlighted: gestures, specific tools, types of decoration, and forms. The “Quadrisphere at Piscu” project is co-funded by the Orange Foundation with the amount of 35,000 lei, through the “Support an NGO!” program, which encourages the active participation of the company’s employees in social projects and is implemented by the Gaspar, Baltasar & Melchior Association/ School of Piscu. The museum event was organized by the School of Piscu in collaboration with the Museo della Ceramica di Savona under the patronage of the Accademia di Romania in Rome.
“We want a living and contemporary museum where heritage is highlighted with the help of technology, in a creative and spectacular way. We want to offer memorable experiences, especially to children. Therefore, the Quadrisphere at Piscu is an important step for us in the educational optimization of the exhibition. The Quadrisphere is a display method invented in Italy by physicist Paco Lanciano, and present in various versions in several Italian museums: monitors, mirrors, and filmed heritage, which generate a kaleidoscope with a specific image.” – Adriana Scripcariu, President of the School of Piscu/Gaspar, Baltasar & Melchior Association.
Children with disabilities also took part in the inauguration of the Quadrisphere multimedia room, who, together with typical children, were able to participate in several workshops on the traditional craft of pottery. In the multimedia room, the story of clay pots was unfolded in the kaleidoscope installation through a film made by Diana Iabrasu, with music by Madalina Pavăl & Alexei Turcan and the Anton Pan Ensemble. Narrators in the film: Dumitru Constantin, Georgeta Ionita, and Constantin Sotir – master potters from Piscu; Adriana Scripcariu – art historian; at the potter’s wheel, Gheorghe Nicoi; Virgil Scripcariu, visual artist, was responsible for project coordination and the construction of the installation.
“I have been following the activity of the School of Piscu with pleasure and interest for several years. I believe their work deserves to be supported and promoted. I was impressed by the diversity of educational resources they have created and, in the last year, by the rapid development of the Museum-Workshop School of Piscu project. I have confidence in their ability to fulfill their mission – promoting cultural heritage – in a dynamic and creative way, through the Quadrisphere Project.” – Monica Lia, Business Solution Analyst, Orange Services.
The Quadrisphere can be visited every weekend (Saturday and Sunday). For more information and contact, visit www.piscu.ro and the School of Piscu (Facebook and Instagram).
About the School of Piscu
The School of Piscu is a place, a state of mind, and a challenge for anyone who wants to feel the beauty of Romanian cultural heritage and become familiar with its values. It was born from the projects of the Gaspar, Baltasar & Melchior Association, a cultural-educational NGO working since 2006 in the village of Piscu/Ilfov, a former pottery center. The Museum-Workshop School of Piscu is a cultural space recently opened in a former pottery village, catering to the younger generation. It is a place where understanding and knowledge of cultural heritage are cultivated through discovery actions, modeling, drawing, and engraving. The “Gaspar, Baltasar & Melchior” Association is an NGO with cultural-educational goals that has initiated projects in the following areas: education, artistic activities, contemporary art, traditional art, heritage, research in history and art history, and cultural exchanges. www.piscu.ro
About the Orange Foundation
The Orange Foundation is a non-profit organization involved in community life through philanthropic projects aimed at bringing positive changes to the lives of disadvantaged people. In over 9 years of activity, the Orange Foundation has invested over 6 million euros in digital education projects for disadvantaged people and in health, education, and culture projects for the benefit of people with visual and/or hearing impairments, for their social integration. For details, visit www.fundatiaorange.ro
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Quadrisphere at Piscu?
The Quadrisphere is a unique kaleidoscope-style multimedia installation that uses technology to showcase the traditional pottery heritage of the Piscu community.
When can I visit the multimedia room?
The Quadrisphere is open to visitors every weekend, on Saturdays and Sundays, at the Museum-Workshop School in Piscu.
Who supported the creation of this installation?
The project was co-funded by the Orange Foundation through the “Support an NGO!” program and developed in collaboration with international partners.