The Ghost Bus project is certainly something different and unique and delves into a history I could not believe, along with stories and stunning visuals created by Roberto Alborghetti, with the event in collaboration with Marysia Zipser, Founder of Art Culture Tourism & ACT Ambassador. It was incredibly interesting as a photographer for the event and observer to get an insight into the story.
The event was held at Beeston’s stunning St John the Baptist Church, delighting attendees with a captivating visual and musical arts experience. It is an iconic landmark in Beeston which fits the town's charm and interesting history, especially as Beeston is now recognised as the UK’s Art Culture Tourism Capital.
Click photos to enlarge
Arriving at St John the Baptist Church - Mayor of Broxtowe Cllr Sue Paterson with Roberto & Marysia - Beauty car owned by Jeanie Barton
Roberto Alborghetti, an Italian author, journalist, visual artist, and official biographer of Pope Francis, visited Beeston and Nottingham for the eighth time since 2014. His initial inspiration came from an old rusty bus at Bartons Garage. During this visit, Roberto showcased a series of short videos, including three new ones: the JCidel Collection of handbags, created in the USA and Italy from his macro photo images and featured at London, Paris, and Miami Fashion/Art Weeks 2023; Lacer/Actions in London Special Edition; and BEESTON is ABSTRACTIVE, a video dedicated to Beeston 2014-2022.
I was asked by Marysia to photograph the event along with other photographers too where we got to capture important moments behind the lens. It was a great opportunity working alongside Nigel King and Christopher Frost. I also had the pleasure of meeting Jeanie Barton, the talented singer whose vocals had me in awe when hearing them on some of the videos that were shown at The Ghost Bus Show.
The Ghost Bus project, part of Roberto’s Lacer/Actions multidisciplinary project, has been touring the world for ten years. This Lacer/Actions project, which he began over 25 years ago, focuses on macrophotography (and street macrophotography) of decayed and torn publicity posters, natural cracks and scratches, and urban/industrial elements.
Roberto revisited Nottingham after two years and I was very excited to meet him after hearing of his exciting projects. As a lover of history and photography I felt that mine and Roberto’s interests aligned and we could have a lot to talk about.
Upon meeting at the Market Square in Nottingham, myself, Roberto and Marysia made our way to Nottingham castle where we met with Robin Hood, his Merry Men and Maid Marian. At that moment I felt proud to be from Nottingham as it is a delight seeing the representatives of Nottingham’s most well-known historical figures take part in the buildup of the Ghost Bus event In Beeston. The actors often participate in a lot of promotional events, keeping the history of the city alive, everyone loves to see them. I also snapped some photos along with Christopher of the actors with Roberto and Marysia in front of the Robin Hood statue. After that we walked down the road to Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, where we had a few drinks, taking in the unique architecture of England’s oldest inn.
Later on when In Beeston, I had the chance to walk around the town with Roberto where we bonded over our similar backgrounds of culture as originally I am from Cyprus and Roberto Italy, both Mediterranean countries that share a lot in common from cuisine, food, language, values and history. I also showed him some of the photography projects I worked on, with one including photographing an abandoned vehicle graveyard with hundreds of buses, cars and motorcycles.
I arrived before the start of the event where I met the other photographers and videographer Lewis Wheatley-Smith for the evening and also helped set up the event with Marysia. People gradually arrived, including the Mayor of Broxtowe who, just like everyone, was excited to watch the videos that are only shown publicly as part of the Ghost Bus Show.
While I moved along the room photographing the event, I spent time also observing Roberto’s artwork on display through videos that were strikingly beautiful, close up photography full of colour and deterioration. More interestingly, the close ups were of locations across the city centre where I have probably walked by many times but never stopped to look around my surroundings and see beauty hidden in plain sight. Since that realisation, on my way to places I try to stop and take in my surroundings, appreciating large classical buildings to the patterns on a railing. My favourite part of the event was seeing footage from Roberto’s artwork printed onto clothing and accessories by fashion brands in Italy and America. The materials gave the artwork a different perspective which was really interesting to see.
Andreas Avraam
Photos below by Marysia Zipser. Click to enlarge.
Beeston’s beautiful St John the Baptist Church hosted the spectacular Ghost Bus Night Show to a delighted audience. It was truly a visual and musical arts immersive experience.
Roberto Alborghetti, Italian author, journalist, visual artist and official biographer to Pope Francis, came to Beeston, and Nottingham, for his 8th time since 2014 when he first set his eyes on the old rusty bus at Bartons Garage. Roberto produced and presented a series of short videos including three new ones: the JCidel Collection of handbags created in USA and Italy taken from his macro photo images, shown at London, Paris & Miami Fashion/Art Weeks 2023; Lacer/Actions in London Special Edition and BEESTON is ABSTRACTIVE, a video dedicated to Beeston 2014-2022.
The Ghost Bus project has been travelling around the world for 10 years. It is part of Roberto’s Lacer/Actions multi disciplinary project which he started over 25 years ago concerning macrophotography (and street macrophotography) of decomposed and torn publicity posters, natural cracks and scratches, and urban/industrial tokens. Please read about the Ghost Bus story here https://www.artculturetourism.co.uk/ghost-bus
Roberto also visited the Chillwel Garage again, where the Ghost Bus is parked, welcomed by Simon Barton and his son Richard. He also walked through the new Barton Quarter, commenting in very positive terms on the building solution of the Georgian style housing unit built in Chilwell.
The event was directed and curated by Marysia Zipser – Art Culture Tourism, promoted by Visit Nottinghamshire and The Beestonian magazine; supported by Broxtowe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Confetti Media Group, Nottingham Trent University, University of Nottingham, Jeanie Barton Music.
After ten years of ACT, it was announced that now Beeston is the UK’s Art Culture Tourism Capital.
The Ghost Bus Night Show received numerous interesting comments. We present some of the many sent also through social networks.
“Being a budding photographer It was my pleasure to attend. I found the event fascinating, learning about Roberto’s work and his talent for transforming decay into abstract art, revealing the hidden beauty in everyday surfaces. The experience was further enhanced by the accompaniment of Jeanie Barton’s original music. It really showed that there is beauty all around us, if we only opened our eyes more.” – The Mayor of Broxtowe, Councillor Sue Paterson.
“The Ghost Bus Night show was a great event, well done! I was particularly impressed with your fashion designs and seeing your artworks on bags! The music composed and recorded by Jeanie Barton-O’Shea in 3 of the videos was excellent.” – Marcus Gilmore, designer
“So very interesting. The photos are beautiful. Really extraordinary eye for detail. I could see many images untold. Thank you.” – Liezel Magill
“Congratulations, Roberto! A lovely evening with memories of my experiencing your first reaction, Roberto, to the Bartons old bus where I and others first saw your fascination with the deteriorating surface and which you later named The Ghost Bus. Yesterday evening, it was great to see, once again, the journey you had been on, developing macro photography into fascinating visual imagery, made into short films; I, also, enjoyed seeing, for the first time, the film of your macro images as the J Cidel Collection – handbags shown in London, Paris & Miami Fashion Art Week 2023. One new film (special edition) that made a lasting impact on me, also, was LaceR/Actions in London, capturing abstracted imagery of the peeling posters on the underground, with its punchy accompanying music and intermittent visual and sound tracks of members of the public as they passed by, creating a real contemporary feel. I left the evening with the beautiful voice of Jeanie Barton O'Shea ringing in my ears and the variety of abstraction you had created, Roberto, from such simple source material. Thank you for an interesting evening and to Marysia Zipser, Simon Barton and all involved in the creation and organisation“, Pam Miller, artist
“I really enjoyed the evening!! Well done to all involved. There are some very creative people out there!” - Lesley Grand-Scrutton
“L’originalità e la perspicacia degli Alborghetti di Ambivere, oltre che con Enrico VII di Lussemburgo, che li ha fatti signori di Bergamo, con tutti I discendenti con il suo diploma storico del 29.07.1311, riprende terreno con te, grazie alla tua creatività e profondità umana. Bene!“ - Maria Cristina Corti
Translation:
“The originality and perspicacity of the Alborghetti of Ambivere, as well as with Henry VII of Luxembourg, who made them lords of Bergamo, with all their descendants with his historical diploma of 07.29.1311, regains ground with you, thanks to your creativity and human depth. Good!“ - Maria Cristina Corti
“Bellissimo il progetto del Ghost Bus che rivive e viaggia ancora nelle “Lacer/azioni” di Roberto Alborghetti. Un vero ponte di cultura che unisce l’Italia alla Terra di Nottingham, ma anche a Byron, di cui Ravenna è sede della Italian Byron Society affiliata alla prestigiosa International Association of Byron Societies, che promuove in tutto il mondo la diffusione della cultura byroniana attraverso conferenze, dibattiti, eventi, mostre, borse di studio, ecc.“ - Patrizia Poggi, organizzatrice e curatrice di eventi d’arte Translation:
"The Ghost Bus project is beautiful and still lives and travels in Roberto Alborghetti's “Lacer/Actions”. A true bridge of culture that unites Italy to the Land of Nottingham, but also to Byron, of which Ravenna is the seat of the Italian Byron Society affiliated to the prestigious International Association of Byron Societies, which promotes the diffusion of Byronian culture throughout the world through conferences, debates, events, exhibitions, scholarships, etc.“, - Patrizia Poggi, organizer and curator of art events.
“Thank you for organizing this fantastic event. I love the talks, the videos and colours! Very interesting journey”. - Carla Chiericallo
“Interesting and inspirational evening. Many thanks to Roberto, Jeanie and Marysia”.. - Wesley and Anne
“Very interesting perspectives! Thanks“. From The Guests Book
“Fabulous!“, Lulu and Silina, From The Guests Book
“Roberto’s talent lies in taking macro photographs of chipped paint, scratches, torn posters and splashes of paint and turns them into mini works of art. Look closely and they could be maps of strange lands. Mini multicoloured countries skimmed by unusual coloured seas. Earlier in the day he met up with Robin Hood and his bunch of outlaws near the castle and visited Britain’s oldest pub, the Trip to Jerusalem. Tomorrow he plans on visiting his old friend the Ghost Bus at Bartons bus depot in Chilwell…” Christopher Frost, From “The Beestonian” magazine.
Earlier in the day we met up with Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet and Maid Marian by the Robin Hood statue at Nottingham Castle
Marysia Zipser
Founder & ACT Ambassador
Photos by Nigel King Photography, Christopher Frost, Marysia Zipser