In the small village of Casaluna, time seems to pass without effect. And yet, like everywhere else, San Lorenzo is not spared from the hectic passing of seconds, days and years. Epochs pass, change and leave behind nostalgia and the memory of moments and faces on the albumen paper of old photographs.
In dusty chests forgotten in attics and basements, in the creaking drawers of some closets, dressers and silent desks, these testimonies of yesterday’s life patiently wait to see the light of day again thanks to a family dinner or other annual visit. Until the day when, weighed down by the dust of inevitable oblivion, they will no longer tell stories to anyone. WHO? Or ? When ?
So many questions to which the answers become less precise and rarer over the course of generations.
Downloadable storage
And like everywhere else, the desire to remember prevails in San Lorenzo. But how can we preserve this collective memory and, above all, keep it alive for as long as possible? To this universal question, Mayor Jérôme Negroni gave a timely answer: a website dedicated to the photographic memory of his village. “For six months we collected the photos that the residents kindly lent us in order to digitize them and put them online,” he explains.
As a result, almost 600 photos were shared, tracing daily life in the village’s twelve hamlets. “The oldest dates back to the end of the 18th century. The most recent from 2010,” explains Jérôme Negroni. The aim was to expand the spectrum in order to leave a legacy of memory for future generations. “The digital medium not only makes it easier to exhibit photos, but also allows them to last,” he emphasizes, hoping that the rule also applies to photos taken today, “because we take photos with our smartphones, but as soon as we change them, they are it.” lost.
The website was presented a few days ago in the village school to around forty people and, thanks to the work done by Norma, offers information about each photo. For six months, the young girl performed her civic service in the heart of the village. It has penetrated the memory of its residents so that every photo tells a story. She left her mark there. “Thank you for welcoming me and sharing so many things with us. It was great to delve into the memories of the village with you,” she breathes, before letting out a light sob.
Next Step ? “A work and long-term exhibitions in all districts,” admits the mayor.
The internet address of the website: https://sanlurenzuvillage.wixsite.com/monsite