The “focolare” (family hearth) represents one of the most intimate dimensions of the family context. Reflecting on this space -not only physical- and its original forms, moves a research that wants to enhance the relationship between objects and memory. The Pignata's family, who lives in Atena Lucana (Italy, Campania region), opens the doors of their kitchen where the sense of “family hearth" has been handed down for generations. Through the individual objects, their documentation and photographic census, the story of the domestic space takes shape, about that kitchen made up of people, objects and memories. “Fuoco, Pignata e Sciuscielli” is a participatory art action. Its main source of energy is the transmission of knowledge: every process, tool, technique or culinary secret is staged to be taught and passed on, protecting the material and immaterial heritage preserved in that place. 

The title of the project “Fuoco, Pignata e Sciuscielli” is composed of three words: Fuoco (the family hearth), Pignata (duble meaning among cooking pot and family surname) and Sciuscielli (typical bread balls). Fuoco, Pignata e Sciuscielli is one of the five projects for the census and valorisation of Atena Lucana's cultural heritage realized in "Archivio Atena" project. Carried out as part of the final workshop of the Advanced Training Course "La fotografia e il patrimonio culturale: progettazione e valorizzazione di archivi di comunità” realised in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome and ICCD. The final result of the workshop is SPASA, the magazine into which the five projects have merged. Fuoco, Pignata and Sciuscielli was realised thanks to the precious availability of Michelina Cestaro, Antonio, Fabrizio and Franco Pignata.