L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano L e o n a r d o d a V i n c i w a s a r e m a r k a b l e genius, a man of far-reaching and e x t r a o r d i n a r y t a l e n t s . Although we often think of h i m a s a n a r t i s t , h e p r o - duced only about 20 paint- ings before he died in 1519. The majority of his career was spent in thought and exploration – whether he was stargazing, designing weapons, envisioning canals or multileveled cities. He filled thousands of notebook pages with tiny diagrams, m i n i a t u r e s c r i b b l e s a n d mysterious texts. Now in a West Coast pre- m i e r e , a n e w e x h i b i t a t S e a t t l e ' s M u s e u m o f History & Industry, "Da V i n c i – I n v e n t i o n s , " delves into the creative mind o f t h i s q u i n t e s s e n t i a l R e n a i s s a n c e m a n . T h e exhibit, on display through J a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 2 2 , w i l l i m m e r s e v i s i t o r s i n L e o n a r d o ' s b r i l l i a n c e through interpretations of his inventions and studies of his art. In 16 themed areas, "Da Vinci – Inventions" looks at some of the Leonardo's most important concepts, which stood without peer in his own time and were striking- ly prescient for the future. H i s c o n c e p t s l a i d t h e groundwork for many mod- ern-day machines, including the helicopter, airplane, sub- marine and automobile. Some of his inventions and studies were smaller in s c a l e b u t w e r e n o l e s s important. For example, he completed a detailed study of a rope and pulley system, noting it was a safer way to lift heavy weights because it spread the load evenly, as opposed to a toothed wheel and chain device that could break under the strain. As a boy, he observed the e b b a n d f l o w o f a s t r e a m near his village of Vinci in T u s c a n y w h i c h l e d t o h i s l i f e l o n g f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h w a t e r . A m o n g h i s m a n y water-based inventions were a hydraulic saw, diving suit, double-hulled vessel, paddle boat and a lifebuoy. The exhibit includes 60 c a r e f u l l y c r a f t e d m o d e l s based on da Vinci's scientific concepts. The models are not from da Vinci's time but were replicated by contem- porary Italian artisans who used some of the same tech- niques and materials that would have been available during his lifetime. Some of the inventions were useful in battle as well a s d u r i n g p e a c e t i m e . Included in the exhibit is an e m e r g e n c y b r i d g e ( p o n t e salvatico) which soldiers could build on the spot using s m a l l t r e e t r u n k s o f t e n found along a river's edge. His ideas for a multilayered c i t y w e r e i n s p i r e d b y t h e p l a g u e o f 1 4 8 4 , w h o s e spread was accelerated by the narrow, dirty, crowded s t r e e t s o f a n c i e n t I t a l i a n towns. S c o u r i n g m o r e t h a n 6,000 pages from da Vinci's personal notebooks, model builders and historians had to decipher hidden clues, u n r a v e l i n t e n t i o n a l m i s - t a k e s , a n d d e c r y p t Leonardo's famous mirror- image writing -- all tech- n i q u e s L e o n a r d o u s e d t o keep his work top secret. T h e e x h i b i t m o d e l s a r e beautiful works of art in and of themselves, providing an elegant, old-world feel to the exhibit space. "We're delighted to bring this exceptional project to S e a t t l e , " s a i d L e o n a r d Garfield, MOHAI's execu- tive director. "It's the perfect exhibit for our community, which has its own share of amazing inventors who con- tinue to make advances in t e c h n o l o g y , a v i a t i o n a n d other frontiers." Visitors can engage with the exhibit in several ways. Just inside the entrance are a row of interactive displays that help explain some of the scientific principals behind da Vinci's concepts. You can push, pull, crank and inter- act with these machines to see how hoists, ball bearings and flywheels work. Touch- s c r e e n v e r s i o n s o f Leonardo's codices are also o n d i s p l a y , p r o v i d i n g a g l i m p s e i n t o h i s c r y p t i c alphabet and writing tech- niques. Education is one of dri- v i n g f o r c e s b e h i n d t h i s e x h i b i t , s a i d S o n d r a Snyder, MOHAI's director of education. "We're excited to share Leonardo's ideas with students," said Snyder. "We want them to realize RITA CIPALLA that he noticed many things and continually tested his ideas. Often, he did not get things right the first time so he would keep on designing and keep on testing. That's a n i m p o r t a n t l e s s o n f o r young people to learn -- to accept failure as a learning opportunity." The exhibit includes an alcove devoted to da Vinci's anatomical studies. Twenty- four large panels show his d r a w i n g s o f t h e h u m a n body, focusing mainly on the skeleton and muscles. Da V i n c i p r o d u c e d t h e f i r s t a c c u r a t e d e p i c t i o n o f t h e human spine and he was fas- cinated with the workings of the heart. Created with the assis- t a n c e o f t h e M u s e o Leonardo da Vinci in Rome, the touring exhibit was pro- d u c e d b y G r a n d e E x p e r i e n c e s , b a s e d i n Melbourne, Australia. The local installation was made possible by Laird Norton Wealth Management, the estate of Harold & Mary F r a n c e s H i l l , M i k e Repass and the MOHAI exhibits fund. " T h e d a V i n c i e x h i b i t offers visitors of all ages and backgrounds an entertain- ing, educational and enlight- ening experience, whether they are art and history afi- c i o n a d o s o r e x p l o r i n g Leonardo da Vinci's work for the first time," said execu- tive director Garfield. As part of its educational o u t r e a c h , M O H A I h a s scheduled two virtual lec- t u r e s c o n n e c t e d t o t h e exhibit. On September 9 at 7 p.m., senior curator Peter J a k a b f r o m t h e Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum will pre- sent a virtual lecture explor- ing one of da Vinci's greatest fascinations – human flight. A s e c o n d l e c t u r e o n September 29 at 7 p.m., pre- sented virtually by museum d i r e c t o r L e o n a r d G a r f i e l d , e x p l o r e s t h e intersections of technology, nature and civic life, and looks at some of the most transformative innovations that have emerged from the Northwest. For updated hours and a d m i s s i o n p r i c e s , g o t o : www.mohai.org. In an alcove displaying 24 large panels, "Da Vinci --Inventions" allows visitors to explore da Vinci's detailed and surprisingly accurate anatomical studies (MOHAI). MOHAI celebrates Leonardo da Vinci and his inventions SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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