The girls in Gela have been sleeping around for years. Like many here, the man isn't offended by Petta's show, but he is more than a bit mystified over what the convoluted stew of images means. The Gela that Petta seeks to expose was carved centuries ago from the southern Sicilian coast. Petrochemical plants arrived later, scattering oil derricks across the Mediterranean Sea. The industry survived, and the skies over Gela are still smeared with smoke.
Churches creak and heave.
At the Mother Church, broken glass glitters around a statue of Jesus. Father Cavallo used to celebrate Mass in a garage. A few years ago, he and the parishioners built St. Sebastian's, rising like a shiny tent from a weedy lot in the flat part of town. During construction, thieves stole bags of concrete. So these days, the church stays locked behind a gate.