Makers Series
Stromboli Island, Sicily, Italy
Salvatore Russo
What does it feel like to live in the shadow of an active volcano? Artist Salvatore Russo was born on the remote island of Stromboli, one of the seven volcanic islands that make up the Aeolian archipelago that’s situated off of mainland Sicily’s northern coast. Stromboli reigns as one of the world’s most active volcanoes — a constant glow of hot lava lights up the island, almost like fireworks against the black sandy beaches and dark night sky.
There’s an energy found in Stromboli that resonates with residents like Salvatore, a self-taught artist who has found great inspiration in what the island offers. Trekking up the volcano to gather lava rocks and hand-carving them into one-of-a-kind sculptures in his studio, we follow along with Salvatore as his creations come to life before our eyes, each molding themselves into unique “spirits” as each face reveals itself to him as he chisels. The connection that he feels to nature and to the lava rock that he's carving is truly captivating. Innately, Salvatore’s art form is rooted in the wildness and power of this extraordinary place.
Rome, Italy
Atelier Bomba
As a multi-generational family business, Atelier Bomba was born in 1980 out of the vision of designer and artist Cristina Bomba. Her original fabric-focused store evolved into a master tailoring shop, which is today run by her son Michele Am Russo and his wife Julia Frommel. Located on Rome's historic Via dell'Oca, the shop has never strayed from Cristina's original vision of refinement, mastery, and sustainability.
With precision and care, Michele and his master tailors infuse artistry into every detail. Each piece is chalked, cut individually by hand, and sewn by one of the skilled seamstresses in the shop. Patterns are sized and scaled by hand, and even the buttonholes are fashioned with silk threads. Some garments can take months to complete, which in today's world of fast-fashion feels like such a testament to their commitment to quality and craftsmanship that lasts generations.
Entering into the shop is like stepping back in time. We follow Michele as he talks us through his philosophy on design, while sewing a bespoke menswear garment in the tailoring room. Atelier Bomba's soulful and traditional aesthetic is captivating, and it's one that Michele and Julia also seem to convey: a nod to effortless elegance.
Rome, Italy
Nona Nerina
Cuisine has the power to offer a window and a specific glimpse into a culture. For AirBnB’s experiences, we worked to capture the spirit of Italy through our afternoon of making pasta with Italian Nonna Nerina. As Nonna gathered all of the ingredients, she began to teach the group how to hand-craft their own pasta from scratch, inviting us to use her century-old pasta recipe that had been passed down through her family for multiple generations.
For many people, recipes are like secrets. They’re very special parts of the fabric of their identity and are often held close. As Nonna Nerina shared her family legacy with us, she invited us to assist her in rolling out the dough and making the sauce for her very traditional recipe. While cooking, her youthful spirit and vibrant personality came to the surface. And in the end, she taught us that food is love.