He waves five Americans into his shop. Framed photos of bikini-clad models stare from the walls. A Playboy bunny logo reflects
in the mirror. He scurries toward the back, pushing aside a beaded curtain, returning with a smile and a
handful of candy--tokens of appreciation for his visitors who huddle in the corner. They are careful not to
get in his way. In his chair, a client named Andrea waits patiently with a lathered face. As the Americans snap
pictures, the barber grins broadly and plasters shut Andrea's eyes and mouth. With Andrea immobilized, Mario Agapanti is free to speak
for his friend. Everyone in the shop learns that 26 year old Andrea is studying to be a chef, has a steady girlfriend,
and will trust only Agapanti to shave his goatee. The razor sweeps the last smidgen of cream from Andrea's face,
revealing a flushed visage. Clearly, Mario and Andrea are good friends despite a 25 year age difference.
The Agapanti family moved to Cagli from a small town four miles away when
Mario was five years old. He apprenticed at the barbershop for five years
before earning his own "chair" at the barberie in 1972. Mario's
two-chair shop is a stage for daily exchanges of camaraderie in Cagli.
He loves this city, he says, because it is "tranquil and everything here
is good."
After shaving the faces of Cagli's men for more than three decades, Agapanti will probably be the
last barber to wield scissors at his shop in the piazza. For the first time, Mario's smile retreats and
his brow furrows as he talks about his son who will not follow his father into the business. Agapanti shakes his head from side to side
as he refers to his occupation as a "dying art." Without anyone to carry on his legacy, Agapanti will continue to shave with a smile.
|
Graphic Design: Alexandra Samet |
Design Production: Alexandra Samet |
Writing: Ellen Pittoni |
Photography: Anna Yost |
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Jeweler
Pizza
Bookstore
Cheese Shop
Caffe del Commercio