New York, March 26--In conjunction with the Mayor of New York’s Immigrant
History Week, the Italian American Museum will host a photographic exhibition
in black and white by Italian photographer Salvatore Sparavigna on April
16th extending through June 29, 2007. Opening reception will be held on
Tuesday, April 17th at 6 p.m.
Through various moments of New York’s Italian American communities:
from Brooklyn’s playful processions, the elegant women of mundane
nights, to the ball room dancing couples of lavish dinners, Sparavigna,
through the photographer’s lens focuses on the Italian American “faces”.
The enchanting mix that develops when, with an appropriate planning and
wise use of a wide-angle lens, the right meeting of different faces is caught.
One detects the expression of an ancient cultural identity highlighted through
the photographer’s eye, undertaking moves typical of Italians.
Photographer and Journalist Sparavigna states, “In my recent visit
to New York, I noticed that in the moments and in many Italian-American
community gatherings from the religious processions to festive gatherings,
there is an Italian way in meeting, in seeing each other. Showing,
in a glance, our way to be together! Their glances, the way their faces
meet and cross reflects their ancient spirit. These stills are moments when ‘real
Italian’ mixes between ‘Italian joy’ and ‘American
style’. With a ready and fast lens, I wanted to capture those
moments that, isolated in their own quickness is a throwback to a ‘Fellini
moment’, showing all that innocent, theatrical soul, typical of the
Italians. This exhibition, in fact, is an opportunity to exhibit exactly,
these brazen faces, this "italianità", owners of our origins
and our ancient culture.”
Last October, Salvatore Sparavigna displayed a most anticipated photographic
exhibit sponsored by the Region of Campania and hosted in New York’s
Regione Campania Office entitled, “Il Pose del Café`…a
New York” , the third part of his series highlighting famous
and known Italian Americans, expressing their Italian identity and their
love of espresso coffee in the Big Apple.
Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, President of the Italian American Museum said “We
are most please that this talented photographer has come back to share the
images he has captured in the Italian American community of New York.”
The Italian American Museum is the first museum dedicated to preserving
and presenting the cultural and social contributions of Italian Americans
to the American way of life. The exhibit
Faces of ItaliaNY is
free
and
will be open to the public from
Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment (212-642-2020)
at 28 West 44th Street, 17th floor between 5th and 6th Avenues. Major funding
for this exhibit has been provided by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. Please
visit our website
www.italianamericanmuseum.org.
