Italianità : Contemporary Art Inspired by the Italian Immigrant Experience
In 2023 I immersed myself in italianità , the essence of Italian character, to produce a book. The result was a 296-page hardcover volume featuring the work of 59 artists--all drawing in some way, from their Italian American, or Italian, or Italian diasporic 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.
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