L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano SEATTLE ITALIAN COMMUNITY N a t a l i a D i P i e t r a n t o - n i o h a s d e v o t e d h e r c a r e e r t o South Asian art but her fam- ily comes from very differ- ent parts of the world -- her father is from Italy and her mother from Mexico. Attracted by art from an early age, Di Pietrantonio majored in art history at the U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a Davis. During her studies, s h e h a d t o t a k e a s u r v e y c o u r s e o n A s i a n a r t a n d found she loved it. "It was completely unexpected," she s a i d . " I h a d n o t b e e n exposed to South Asian art b e f o r e t h e n , b u t s t a r t i n g w i t h t h a t o n e c l a s s i t became my career." She furthered her exper- tise by pursuing a master's d e g r e e a t C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y f o l l o w e d b y a d o c t o r a l d e g r e e f r o m C o r n e l l , a l o n g w i t h t w o postdoctoral positions in South Asian and Islamic art history. In 2020, she joined t h e S e a t t l e A r t Museum as its first-ever assistant curator of South Asian art. "My mom in particular was unsure of my chosen p a t h i n t h e a r t s b u t s h e remained supportive," said Di Pietrantonio. "She sees the value in my work bridg- ing scholarship with com- m u n i t y e n g a g e m e n t a n d education through the arts." D i P i e t r a n t o n i o ' s f i r s t s h o w a t S A M o p e n e d i n mid-January and will be on v i e w t h r o u g h J u l y 1 0 . C a l l e d " E m b o d i e d Change: South Asian Art Across Time," the exhibit centers on art that focuses on the human body and the many ways it can be trans- f o r m e d , f r o m j e w e l r y t o clothing to tattoos. On dis- play are paintings, photog- raphy and video, along with works made of wood, metal and terracotta. Her second exhibit opens March 18, co-curated with t w o m u s e u m c o l l e a g u e s . The trio wanted an exhibit that would take advantage o f t h e m u s e u m ' s h i g h l y regarded global collection and also tackle a topic that was both urgent and rele- v a n t . T h e r e s u l t i s " O u r B l u e P l a n e t : G l o b a l Visions of Water," which runs through May 30. Joining Di Pietrantonio on the curatorial team are Barbara Brotherton, curator of Native American Art, and Pamela McClusky, curator of African and Oceanic Art. " O u r B l u e P l a n e t " e x p l o r e s t h e m a n y w a y s a r t i s t s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d h a v e e n g a g e d w i t h t h e theme of water, examining its pleasures and perils, and i t s c h a n g i n g r o l e i n o u r l i v e s . I t ' s a p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e t o p i c f o r a region like Seattle, which h a s b e e n s h a p e d b y t h e waterways that surround it. More than 80 works of art from 16 countries and seven Native American tribes are on display, drawn from the museum's own collection and three local lenders. A s v i s i t o r s m a k e t h e i r w a y t h r o u g h t h e e x h i b i t , they're encouraged to con- template their relationship with water, perhaps remem- bering a journey across a stormy sea, fishing in pris- tine rivers, or splashing in a swimming pool. But the pic- t u r e i s n o t a l l r o s y . T h e exhibit also makes clear that global warming, rising sea levels, human development, and altered waterways are causing great damage to the planet. Visitors to the "Our Blue P l a n e t " e x h i b i t a r e w e l - c o m e d b y a g r e e t i n g i n Lushootseed, a Salish lan- guage. The first gallery high- lights some of the activists and cultural workers around the globe who are trying to p r o t e c t t h e e a r t h ' s w a t e r and water systems. A sec- tion on rivers displays some of the ceremonial regalia used by Native Americans for tribal canoe journeys. I n a s e c t i o n o n r a i n water, viewers can watch a video of a massive sculpture i n s t a l l e d i n 2 0 1 8 i n T r e n t i n o , I t a l y . Called Reservoirs of Rain Water, the sculpture was c r e a t e d b y S e a t t l e a r t i s t John Grade, who specializes in large-scale installations that explore the imperma- n e n c e o f n a t u r e . G r a d e ' s dazzling work was installed i n t h e A r t e S e l l a Sculpture Park in Borgo V a l s u g a n a , k n o w n f o r i t s dramatic river scenery. Composed of 5,000 clear plastic droplets, each deli- cately affixed to translucent nets strung between trees, the sculpture changes shape depending on the weather. In the video, viewers can see how water, or lack of water, alters the sculpture's move- ment and shape. If it rains or snows, the water accumu- l a t e s i n t h e t i n y p o u c h e s that make up the droplet s h a p e . A s t h e r a i n w a t e r accumulates, the installa- tion gets heavier and heav- ier – it can weigh up to 800 pounds – and sinks lower and lower. In sunny weath- er, the sculpture rises back into its original shape. When Reservoirs of Rain W a t e r w a s i n s t a l l e d i n Trentino, Grade collaborat- ed with Italian dance artist A n d r e a R a m p a z z o w h o choreographed an original interactive performance. As four dancers moved around the installation, they created movement that affected the sculpture's appearance. " O u r B l u e P l a n e t " a l s o explores artistic interpreta- t i o n o f o c e a n s , s e a c r e a - tures, and water pollution. Among the 80 works of art o n d i s p l a y a r e f o u r Australian Aboriginal paint- ings of natural pigments on eucalyptus bark; a work on p a p e r b y R o b e r t Motherwell, a painting by t h e G e r m a n a r t i s t A l b e r t Bierstadt, and a photograph b y E t h i o p i a n a r t i s t A i d a M u l u n e h s h o w i n g t w o w o m e n c a r r y i n g w a t e r through a desert landscape. Di Pietrantonio admits it was tough to take on a new job and move to a new city during a pandemic. But the former Californian took it in stride, spending time out- doors exploring the natural b e a u t y o f S e a t t l e . " M y favorite place in Seattle so far is Golden Gardens Park," she said. "Any place where I can see and hear the ocean will usually be my favorite place to be." I n a p o s t - p a n d e m i c w o r l d , s h e b e l i e v e s t h a t e x h i b i t s l i k e " O u r B l u e P l a n e t " w i l l h e l p f o s t e r greater collaboration and community partnerships. "We have all been starved of art and haven't gathered in groups in a while," said Di Pietrantonio. "I imagine we a l l w a n t t o b e i n a s p a c e t o g e t h e r a n d b e i n s p i r e d once again by art." "The Boat People" by Tuan Andrew Nguyen is a video projection set in the post-apocalyptic future (Photo: Seattle Art Museum) New curator at Seattle Art Museum explores the world of water through art RITA CIPALLA

• Cover