marysiazipser
- Nov 11, 2023
- 4 min read

ACT event “Insights into D H Lawrence’s Sardinia” book launch

Updated: Nov 13, 2023

On Wednesday evening of All Saints Day, 1st November, the ACT event “Insights into D H Lawrence’s Sardinia” book launch took place at the Angear Centre, Djanogly Gallery, Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham.

All photos by Nigel King.

L-R, Sebastian Buccheri, musician, Daniele Marzeddu, photographer & filmmaker, Nick Ceramella, VP of DH Lawrence Society of GB, Marysia Zipser of Art Culture Tourism, Carolyn Melbourne, curator of DH Lawrence Birthplace Museum, Dr Andrew Harrison, Director of the DH Lawrence Research Centre in the School of English (part of the School's Centre for Regional Literature and Culture), University of Nottingham.

It was a culturally celebrated evening organised by Marysia Zipser, Founder of Art Culture Tourism, writer and ACT Ambassador for Nottinghamshire, which was very well attended and enjoyed by guests who came from all over the county. Marysia introduced herself, her Nottingham/Polish parents and their passions influencing her own, and how her working career began as a promoter & talent spotter. Sir Terence Conran became her biggest influence on her career and mentor. Starting out in the early 1970s at Habitat Nottingham, Victoria Centre, she was then promoted to London’s H.O. press office of Conran Associates/Habitat Designs. She then left to join BBC Publications sales dept including their book shops, and onto BBC Radio Two production offices leading into specialist PR/Marketing. ACT has always promoted the Arts with the Sciences, Nature & the Environment, People & Places, all embracing. ACT’s 10th anniversary is in December.

Taking active parts in the evening were Nick Ceramella (from Rome), VP of the D H Lawrence Society of Great Britain, and Daniele Marzeddu (from Northampton), award-winning photographer and filmmaker. Both are authors/editors of the book which followed on from Daniele’s black/white feature film ‘Return to Sea and Sardinia’ retracing the steps of D H Lawrence a hundred years on since the publication of ‘Sea and Sardinia’ in 1922. This film had its UK premiere at the ARC cinema Beeston in February 2022 which was excellently received and reviewed. The whole project was initiated by Nick and Daniele. https://seaandsardinia.org

Following Marysia’s introduction, Nick Ceramella then spoke about his part in the project and how he and Daniele Marzeddu developed the idea into each format. The filming took Daniele and his team over three months to complete in Sardinia during lockdown of 2020. Nick has been a literary authority and essayist of D H Lawrence’s works for a long time. He taught English literature and language in the Italian universities of Rome ‘La Sapienza’ and ‘Tre’; Naples l’Orientale’; Perugia ‘Uni. per Stranieri’ ; Trento, and others. He was visiting professor at the University for the humanities’ Moscow; Universidade of Alagoas (Brazil); University of Montenegro; University of Bucharest.

Daniele gained a Masters Degree of Conservation of Cultural Heritage at the “Ca’ Foscari” University of Venice. In 2004 he relocated to Lisbon with a Leonardo EU Social Funds grant, specialising in photography and film production at the Cinemateca Portuguesa-Museu do Cinema of Lisbon. Over the last two decades he has managed cultural projects for private and public organisations across Portugal, Spain, Italy and the UK. An award-winning photographer and filmmaker, he is a member of the Royal Photographic Society, documentando.org - Documentary Filmmakers Italy, and A-N > The Artists Information Company.

The book by Cambridge Scholars Publishing can be purchased on Amazon and Google Books. You can ask the authors for a discount voucher for a physical book.

Daniele then recited an extract from ‘Sea and Sardinia’ to the accompaniment of musician

Sebastian Bucchieri (from Leicester). Sebastian is a guitarist and composer who specialises in ambient music and jazz.

Between each session Lakeside Arts catering provided lovely food and drinks to the guests. Also from Northampton, Adriana Staniscia of Hample hampers offered her Italian products to sample and order which were displayed on a separate table.

The evening was rounded off by the showing of the re-edited ‘This is Beeston’ film produced by Eastwood filmmaker and drone photographer Philip Francomb with music by Steve Benford. The film was executive produced by Marysia Zipser and Mervyn Brown of the Beeston Civic Society.

“Excellent work! Thank you for this evening’s offering.” Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Nottingham City Council.

“How lovely that the project continues…” Carolyn Melbourne, curator, DH Lawrence Birthplace Museum, Eastwood

“Thank you Marysia, you did a great job. The event was simply successful!” Nick Ceramella

“Thank you Marysia for the fantastic event you have organised at the Lakeside Arts centre. It’s been truly magical!” Daniele Marzeddu

The event was kindly sponsored, funded and supported by: The D H Lawrence Society, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, the Region of Sardinia, Fletchergate Industries, Nottingham City of Literature, Nottinghamshire County Council, D H Lawrence Birthplace Museum, Visit Nottinghamshire, Lakeside Arts, University of Nottingham, DM Photography & Film, and Hample Italian hampers.

For more details about ACT https://www.artculturetourism.co.uk/

All photos credited to Nigel King https://nigelking.photography/

Overview of the book https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-8983-4 for Description, Bios, Contributors. See Extract, scrolling down to sample pages https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-5275-8983-4-sample.pdf

Founder, writer, Travel/Event formats & ACT Ambassador for Nottinghamshire

https://www.artculturetourism.co.uk/

LinkedIn profile - Working background from 1970s - See About

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysia-zipser-b4b89668/

07899 798487

Lakeside Arts: Deputy CEO, James Parkinson

https://www.lakesidearts.org.uk/

0115 846 7777

Daniele Marzeddu

https://www.danielemarzeddu.com/

07818 784797

Nick Ceramella