Chi Siamo (who we are)

Melinda Borysevicz
Director

Melinda Borysevicz is an internationally recognized Italian-American artist who arrived in Vallo di Diano in 2015. She is an Italian citizen thanks to all four of her maternal great-grandparents, farmers from Benevento. She currently lives in Padula. She graduated cum laude in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design and later founded The Studio School in Savannah, Georgia (United States), a school of drawing and painting. Borysevicz's narrative paintings have been exhibited at the European Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, ​​RJD Gallery in New York, Abend Gallery in Colorado, and other locations in the U.S. and Europe.
Website: https://www.melindaborysevicz.com

Astrid Meijer
Director of Operations

​Astrid Meijer is a Dutch freelance consultant. Graduated in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Amsterdam in 2003, she worked until 2019 in information technology, specializing in the development of new projects and services. Resident of nearby Sassano since 2017, she currently deals with consultancy for the export of traditional products. She works mainly with medium-sized companies and start-ups in the Vallo di Diano and Cilento area.
Website: https://www.consulenzameijer.com

Darcy Melton
Artist-in-Residence Ass't Director

Darcy Melton is an American oil painter who splits her time between Savannah, GA and Italy. She is the Co-Founder and Art Editor of Pigeon Review as well as co-host of the travel podcast Only a Bag, along with her partner. The 2021 recipient of Bonfire’s Best Design Empowering Women Award, Melton's work has been shown in galleries including the Jepson Center, Savannah, GA, Las Laguna Art Gallery, Milostka Center for Exhibitions, and Savannah Gallery of Art, as well as featured in publications such as Masks Literary Magazine and Dishsoap Quarterly.
Website: https://www.darcymeltonfineart.com

While it makes sense that we should have initiated this project, it would be impossible to take it forward without the kind support of so many people from Padula and the neigboring towns. Padula Art Center has been received with much enthusiasm and will continue to grow, thanks to what is becoming a true network of supporters. We are proud to work with them and to introduce them here:

Michele Cartusciello

Born and raised in Padula, lover of local traditions and culture, Michele began to cultivate his passion for genealogy in 1984, when he entered the municipal archive of his town for the first time. Currently that same love is expressed in his Museum the Museo del Cognome, with which he helps people from all over the world to reconnect to their Padulese roots.
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https://museodelcognome.it/

Luigi Pandolfo

Born and raised in Sant’ Arsenio, Luigi graduated with honors from the Faculty of Architecture of Naples before moving to Porto where he studied and worked for 8 years. Back in Italy, he founded the association Gruppo Architetti di Vallo di Diano together with other colleagues, active in the organization of events and in the research and enhancement of a “new rurality”.

Settimio Rienzo

Born and raised in Padula, Settimio studied political science in Naples before moving to South America to work in various projects centering around land access for indigenous people. Since his return, Settimio has served on Padula’s town council and continues to use his talent for connecting dots to help create cohesion between the many projects he is involved in.
https://camminibizantini.com/

Michele Sanseviero

Born and raised in Padula, Michele finds his professional inspiration in the rich heritage of the Valdiano area and in particular Padula. Since his degree in Architecture, he continues to develop his work on sustainable construction, to give shape to a philosophy of ethical balance in building in harmony with the natural and social environment. He works as a designer and consultant for private and public entities.