Chiaroscuro, rehab-community workshop
The Smell of Mud and the Silence of the Tiber
Flavio is the one speaking. Forty years old, Roman, a former drug addict. He is a guest at the therapeutic community La Torre in Modena, managed by the CEIS group. From June to September last year, within the framework of the “Inclusive Environment” project, sponsored by CSI Modena, our association developed a program together with the residents of the facility, called Two Hours of Fresh Air – initially designed for people in pre-trial detention.
The program involved eight young men and women from the rehab centre. During the ten sessions held at La Torre — interspersed with some preliminary urban exploration outings — the participants engaged in a creative journey reflecting on the city. The methodology was diverse: from group games to creative writing, from drawing to critical mapping, including public speaking exercises.
The final result was the creation of a city-guided tour in which the young participants took center stage, linking places and symbols of the city to their personal life experiences. The itinerary took the form of a narrative performance in acts, with a chiaroscuro tone.
“Seeing the city through different eyes is an exercise in abstraction. It projects us into someone else’s world: their experiences, traumas, fears. But also their abilities, resources, hopes,” says Giovanni Bottari, creator of the workshop. “Every personal story is made of light and shadow. Learning to listen opens us to connection — not only with others, but also with ourselves. This workshop was a deeply meaningful experience for me, and one I’d like to share. I believe it’s also important for the participants to engage with a public dimension. We are finally ready for this big step.”
