RENOVATING THE ARANDORA STAR MOSAIC

My name is Raffaello Gonnella and I chair the Italian Garden Improvement Group (IGIG) based in Glasgow.

IGIG is a small group of volunteers established to maintain and develop the Italian Garden and Arandora Star Memorial on Clyde Street next to St Andrew’s RC Metropolitan Cathedral.

In 1975, artist James Selbie produced an original and unique memorial mosaic. It was commissioned by Renzo Serafini from Inverness and gifted to the Scottish Italian Community.

The mosaic, pictured below, commemorates the tragic sinking of the Arandora Star on 2nd July 1940. Over 800 men lost their lives in the tragedy including 93 Scottish-based Italians.

Further information on the tragedy can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Arandora_Star

Renzo Serafini and James Selbie – 1975

Arandora Star mosaic (How it looked originally)

The mosaic holds important personal, cultural, and historic significance to the Italian community across the UK, but sadly it is showing the effects of time.

Now in a poor state of repair it requires considerable restoration to return it to its original condition. IGIG has taken on the important responsibility of managing the restoration to ensure this important work of art can be displayed in all its former splendour.

Our primary objective is to respect the integrity of Selbie's original work and to honour the memory of all those affected by the Arandora Star tragedy. Restoration will allow present and future generations to share in the historical and emotional impact of the mosaic.

We have already contacted a mosaic specialist from the British Association of Modern Mosaics and she has agreed to co-ordinate the various stages of the restoration on our behalf.

On completion we hope to arrange talks and visits throughout the UK so that the current generations of British Italians and others can experience a tangible and personal engagement with this unique and impressive artwork. We are also in discussion with a number of institutions who have expressed an interest in displaying the mosaic.

Our Just Giving target of £10,000 will allow IGIG to cover all the costs of repairing and cleaning the mosaic and provide some surplus funds for other related IGIG improvements and projects.

We kindly invite you to help us by making a donation.

Thank you,

Raffaello Gonnella

(on behalf of IGIG)

Rez Filippi

Angela Mazzoncini

Hilda de Felice

Michael Donnelly