Italianità : An Exhibition, a Book
In 2023 I immersed myself in italianità , the essence of Italian character, to produce a book and co-curate an exhibition. The result was a 296-page hardcover book with the work of 59 artists--all drawing in some way, from their Italian American, or Italian, or Italian diasporic experience--and a long-running exhibition featuring the work of 21 artists from the book.
Let's start with the exhibition, A Legacy of Making
A Legacy of Making: 21 Contemporary Italian American Artists is on view at the John D. Calandra Institute in Midtown Manhattan until the end of April, 2024. Curated by Joseph Sciorra and me, it features 21 artists from the newly published book, Italianità : Contemporary Art Inspired by the Italian Immigrant Experience.
At the John D. Calandra Institute in Manhattan: A Legacy of Making: 21 Contemporary Italian American Artists, up through January 12
Three evenings of artists talks took place in the Fall. Another two will take place this spring--one on March 12, the other on April 8. Both events will take place 6:00-7:30 at the Calandra Institute, 25 W. 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, 17th floor.
. On March 12: A Conversation About Identity and Art with John Avelluto, Timothy (Macellari) McDowell, Sheila Pepe, and me
. On April 8: Immigrants and Diasporic Italians with Angelica Bergamini, Gianluca Bianchino, and DIana González Gandolfi
Two Coats of Paint:
An Italian American Colloquy
with Joanne Mattera and John Avelluto
La Repubblica
Translation: Emigration and Integration:
Two exhibitions in New York give voice
to Italian American Art
The book, Italianità : Contemporary Art Inspired by the Italian Immigrant Experience
Originating from an online curatorial project that I conceived in 2020, Italianità , the book, features new artwork and personal narratives by 59 artists who were part of the original website. All have stories whose threads connect to the language and traditions of their immigrant forebears. The narratives are familiar, but the particular threads are unique to each artist, as we came of age in the conservative Fifties, the rebellious Sixties, the disco Seventies, even the MTV Eighties.
"We carry the history of our families and our cultures in our psyches as well as our genes," says B. Amore, who has traced seven generations of her family and whose work is included in the book. At a time when ethnicity and cultural legacy are a big part of the art world conversation, Italianità makes a relevant contribution.
These four images are a
feature in Artscope magazine
JanuaryFebruary 2024
Right click to open new tab
A peek at some pages, below
Foreword by Joseph Sciorra: Musings on Contemporary Italian American Visual Artists, which features Due Facc', a painting by John Avelluto. The book was designed by Karen Freedman
Opening to the section, Navigating, which features work by Angelica Bergamini, B. Amore, Diana González Gandolfi, Pasquale Natale, John Avelluto, and Jeanne Brasile
Opening to Needlework & Textiles, which features work by Jennifer Cecere, Patricia Miranda, Milisa Galazzi, Sheila Pepe, Chris Costan, Lorenza Sannai, Antonietta Grassi, Cianne Fragione, and me
Opening to Sculpture, which features work in a variety of mediums by Laura Moriarty, Nancy Azara, D. Dominick Lombardi, Lisa Zukowski, Don Porcaro, and Gianluca Bianchino
Opening to The Natural World, which features work by Debra Claffey, Margaret Lanzetta, Paula Maenza Roland, Sandi Miot, Denise Sfraga, Tracy Spadafora, Patti Russotti, and Brian Alterio
Opening to The Aesthetic Influence of the Church, with Baroque-inspired work by John Monti and Charyl Urbano Weissbach, and paintings by Grace DeDennaro, inspired by quietude and asceticism
Opening to Still Life, Architecture, and the Figure with work by Victor Pesce, Robert Maloney, Timothy Macellari McDowell, and Wayne Montecalvo
Geometry & Abstraction with Mark Wethli, Lloyd Martin, Lucio Pozzi, Karen Schifano, Paul Fabozzi, Carleen Zimbalatti, Roberta Tucci, Aldo Longo, Michelangelo Giaquinto, Mary Schiliro, and Hugo Rizzoli
Opening to Gesture & Materiality with Len Bellinger, Serena Bocchino, Carolanna Parlato, Assunta Sera, Josette Urso, and Anna Patalano
Opening to Part Three: Two Worlds/Due Mondi, my essay contextualizing the work of each artist within the structure of the book
To buy, click here or scan