L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano T h e I t a l i a n A m e r i c a n Museum of Los A n g e l e s ( I A M L A ) p r e - sents a new exhibition: A R e a l B o y : T h e M a n y Lives of Pinocchio, which explores the cultural origins, adaptations, and enduring appeal of one of the most popular characters in chil- dren's literature. Written in 1883 by Italian author Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio delighted genera- tions and occupies a revered place in the canon of chil- dren's literature. This original exhibition explores Collodi's work as well as its literary, and his- t o r i c i n f l u e n c e s . A R e a l Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio also examines Pinocchio's ascent to the sta- tus of cultural icon and his enduring appeal in the post- modern era. Pinocchio's impact is ever- lasting and Hollywood pro- ductions still remain fascinat- ed with the marionette to this day; his growing nose is a symbol of political deception in the Washington Post Fact Checker Pinocchio Test and on smartphones. Pinocchio inspires musicians, from hip- hop and jazz to boy bands. He is constantly reinterpreted in an array of merchandise and advertisements. "The exhibition is a won- derful opportunity to discover and rediscover Pinocchio's humanity," Pier Francesco Bernacchi, president of the Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi said. "Pinoc- chio has been inspiring and touching readers around the world for 140 years." Among the exhibited items at the Italian Hall is a first- edition Italian-language ver- s i o n o f L e A v v e n t u r e d i Pinocchio, one of only six c o p i e s o f t h e b o o k t h a t remain in the world. Artwork from Walt Disney's animated feature film, vintage toys, cos- tumes by Oscar-nominated designer Massimo Cantini Parrini, Pinocchio ephemera, and publications of the book in languages ranging from Polish to Vietnamese are also showcased. The exhibition, designed to engage visitors of all ages, is a journey into the m a n y i n c a r n a t i o n s o f a beloved character who left an indisputable mark on our col- lective imagination. L'Italo-Americano had the pleasure to speak with Marianna Gatto, IAMLA director and cofounder, about the exhibition, but also about Pinocchio and its meaning: "Pinocchio is a story for all people, all places, and all times," she tells us, "It is a story about love, moral identi- ty, redemption, and submit- ting to the fire of transforma- tion in order to self-actualize." T h e i d e a t o h a v e a n exhibition about Pinoc- chio goes back to 2020 a n d i t h a d t o b e p o s t - poned for the pandemic. What was the main goal behind the project? The exhibition was first conceived in 2018, and we w e r e p l a n n i n g t o o p e n i n 2020, but the universe had other plans! Pinocchio is one of the most iconic characters in children's literature: the story is timeless. The Adven- tures of Pinocchio has been t r a n s l a t e d i n t o 2 6 0 l a n - guages, more than any other book besides the Bible. We wanted people to consider why, and what lies behind Pinocchio's enduring fame. While many people believe he was created by Walt Dis- ney or the Grimm Brothers, it was in fact a Tuscan author, Carlo Collodi, who conceived h i m . W e a l s o h o p e d t o encourage appreciation for literature and reading among youth and set out to produce a n e x h i b i t i o n t h a t w o u l d engage the general public, as our visitors are incredibly diverse. Not many know about Pinocchio's author and, in the museum, there's a section about him. What are the highlights of his life? C a r l o C o l l o d i w a s b o r n Carlo Lorenzini in Collodi, Italy. He assumed the name of his town as his pseudonym. Collodi was writing at the time of Italy's unification. He f e l t t h a t i t w a s o f u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e t o s h a p e t h e minds and hearts of the newly created Republic as he recog- nized that youth were the future. Pinocchio was intend- ed to be a morality tale, to teach children the conse - quences of bad behavior. It was incredibly popular after its publication, but Collodi did not live long enough to wit- ness the book's immense suc- cess. Among the beautiful puppets, there's one that was made by famous LA p u p p e t e e r B o b B a k e r . Can you tell us something about it? In 1963 Bob Baker, a leg- endary marionette maker, opened a theater near down- t o w n L o s A n g e l e s . I n t h e years that followed, the the- ater would welcome over one million children. The mari- onette showcased in the exhi- bition at IAMLA was commis- sioned by Walt Disney. It has both the studio's stamp and Baker's signature. It stands approximately four feet tall and you can't help but smile when you see it. I brought my son Damian, who is now 28, to see shows at Bob Baker Marionettes when he was young, and it makes me so happy to see children, who now receive a steady diet of technology and screens since t h e t i m e o f t h e i r b i r t h , delighted by this centuries- old tradition of marionettes. Bob Baker padded away at the age of 90, but he continued to make marionettes well into his advanced age. The theater is one of our region's cultural treasures and we are honored to highlight their work at the IAMLA. T h e r e ' s a v i d e o t h a t gathers all the movies, ads and so on dedicated to Pinocchio. What made Pinocchio so likable and, t h e r e f o r e , w o r l d w i d e famous? The story of Pinocchio, in my opinion, is a metaphor for life, for our journey toward spiritual growth and self-actu- alization. Pinocchio symbol- i z e s o u r d u a l n a t u r e , o u r material self and real self. He lives selfishly and indulgently, before developing discipline, morality, and compassion. It's not an easy journey, and it's one that many of us would rather avoid. Sometimes we go to great lengths to do just that. But Pinocchio submits to the fire of transformation and he is forever changed. He becomes closer to the divine. I think this is a story we can all relate to. The video demon- strates Pinocchio's enduring appeal, and how he has been personalized and adapted in endless ways. What is, in your opin- ion, the most represent- ing and important piece in the exhibition? This is a challenging ques- t i o n , a s I h a v e s o m a n y favorites. The most obvious is the first edition of Pinocchio that we are exhibiting. It is one of only six copies known to exist in the world. I'm very fond of the Pinocchio faucet by Italian designer Emmevi, the Pinocchio cuckoo clock f r o m G e r m a n y , a n d t h e P i n o c c h i o n e s t i n g d o l l s (Matryoshka), which were made by a Ukrainian artist. We purchased them right as the war was beginning, and I think about the artist who made them quite a bit. The Academy Award-nominated costumes by Massimo Cantini Parrini are also a big hit. I could go on. A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio is pre- sented in collaboration and with the support of California Arts Council; Fondazione Nazionale Carlo Collodi; Walt Disney Archives; University of California Los Angeles; Costu- mi Tirelli S.p.A.; Italian Cul- tural Institute Los Angeles; Italian Consulate General Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Cul- ture and City of Los Angeles D e p a r t m e n t o f C u l t u r a l Affairs. "A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio", exhibition at the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles SILVIA GIUDICI One of the many Pinocchio-related items at the IAMLA exhibition (Photo courtesy of IAMLA) LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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