L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 7 A journey into 'Silicosophy' with Carla Viparelli SARA KREVOY T his is not Carla Viparelli's first visit to the City of Angels, but it is a crucial one nonetheless. L a s t y e a r , t h e N e a p o l i t a n multimedia artist participated in a f o u r - a r t i s t i n t e r n a t i o n a l exchange show at the Union C e n t e r f o r t h e A r t s i n L i t t l e T o k y o . W i t h h e r p r e v i o u s experience still close in mind, she has now returned to continue her journey. "It is another step," Viparelli said of her latest stay in Los Angeles, "Nothing different, but it is an evolution of course." This month, a collaborative effort between ART1307, LLC a n d S i x t y 2 9 C o n t e m p o r a r y G a l l e r y w i l l b r i n g t o L . A . a collection of Viparelli's work, inspired by her previous visit to t h e c i t y . I n h e r f i r s t s o l o e x h i b i t i o n i n t h e U . S . , entitled Silicosophy, the artist will explore the multi-faceted c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n a r t a n d science. A R T 1 3 0 7 i s a n o n - p r o f i t cultural association based in Naples, Italy. The institution is d e t e r m i n e d t o p r o m o t e a d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n a r t i s t s internationally, with a focus on t h e v i s u a l a r t s – a g o a l i t accomplishes through organizing artist exchanges all over the w o r l d , e s p e c i a l l y i n L . A . ART1307 will host its latest show, Viparelli's Silicosophy, at the Sixty29 Contemporary in C u l v e r C i t y f r o m S e p t . 1 2 through Sept. 28. The exhibit gains its title, Silicosophy, from a combination o f t h e t e r m s S i l i c o n a n d Philosophy, that also double as central themes for the collection. V i p a r e l l i u s e s S i l i c o n a s a foundation for the exhibition, highlighting the versatile role the element plays in a constantly transforming world. She presents w o r k s t h a t c o m b i n e n a t u r a l instances of Silicon with more m o d e r n , t e c h n o l o g i c a l developments of the element. Spectators of the exhibition will find these ideas spread across four different media within the s i n g l e s h o w : o i l o n c a n v a s , sculpture, drawing and video a n i m a t i o n . V i d e o s w i l l b e displayed through the placement of three projectors throughout The Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles is looking for a secretary/archivist to be employed at the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles. All the information concerning the application process will be made a v a i l a b l e t o p r o s p e c t i v e a p p l i c a n t s f r o m T h u r s d a y , September 17, 2015 at the following sites: 1) Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles (during working hrs) 2) Italian Cultural Institute (during working hrs) 3) Web site of the Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles: http://www.conslosangeles.esteri.it 4) Web site of the Italian Cultural Institute in Los Angeles: http://www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it t h e s p a c e , e a c h i n s p i r i n g a unique mood. Two will project onto works hanging from the walls and one onto a bench at t h e c e n t e r o f t h e g a l l e r y , drawing viewers into the exhibit themselves. "The first sight, the base of the painting is nature," said Cynthia Penna, the art director a t A R T 1 3 0 7 a n d c u r a t o r o f Silicosophy. Yet, within the same work, subtle references to the technological world can be seen within the natural element. " M a n k i n d t r a n s f o r m e d t h i s Silicon into something that is e x t r e m e l y s c i e n t i f i c a n d e x t r e m e l y m o d e r n , l i k e t h e cellphone for instance. All the chips inside computers and cell phones are made with Silicon." During her visit to L.A. last year, Viparelli was impressed by a museum exhibition she saw d u r i n g h e r f i r s t t i m e a t a university in California. The starting point for the idea behind S i l i c o s o p h y w a s t h e S i l i c o n Valley, but the artist did not fail to recognize the involvement of S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a i n t h e development of science as well. "This neighborhood between art and science is something very interesting, and I think that it is more present here than in Italy," she said on her inspiration for the L.A. exhibit, "Here it is a reality." Having received a degree i n P h i l o s o p h y , V i p a r e l l i i n c o r p o r a t e d h e r s t u d i e s intrinsically into the exhibition through exploring "aesthetic, p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c features of silicon," according to a press release. T h e e x h i b i t i o n a i m s t o demonstrate to viewers the way i n w h i c h a r t , s c i e n c e a n d philosophy act as reflections of each other in our voyage into the future. It is a connection that has existed throughout time, from as f a r b a c k a s t h e d a y s o f t h e Ancient Greek philosophers. Silicon's presence in both the n a t u r a l a n d a r t i f i c i a l r e a l m s makes it a prime center point for the project. " W h a t I l i k e d a b o u t reflection on this matter, is just t h i s : w e h a v e t o a c c e p t everything in the same way. It is not a question of bad and good absolutely, but everything has its own reason of being," the artist said. "Beauty is the first bridge b e t w e e n a r t a n d p e o p l e w h o look at art," she said when asked about the message she hopes to inspire in visitors. Then the next layers can begin to unfold. "I t h i n k t h a t a r t c a n o p e n a d i s c u s s i o n , b u t i n i t s o w n language and its own way." V i p a r e l l i , w h o l i v e s a n d w o r k s b e t w e e n N a p l e s a n d Maratea in Southern Italy, has completed 40 solo exhibitions to d a t e , a n d m o r e t h a n 6 0 exhibitions in total. Her work has been displayed in private g a l l e r i e s , f o r e i g n c u l t u r e i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d p u b l i c institutions both in Italy as well as internationally. She has also directed several art workshops and won first prize in multiple art shows in addition to being invited as Artist of the Year to the Artist Book Festival in 2011. B u t e v e n w i t h a l l h e r a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , V i p a r e l l i remains humble and grateful for her success. In an interview, she w a s a d a m a n t t o e x p r e s s h e r genuine thanks to those who m a d e S i l i c o s o p h y p o s s i b l e (including curators of the show, the Italian Cultural Institute and Carlo Marcucci, the owner of t h e S i x t y 2 9 C o n t e m p o r a r y gallery space). In addition to her solo art exhibition, Viparelli will hold a lecture at the Italian Cultural Center of Los Angeles on Sept. 22 from 6-9 p.m. The lecture will include a selection of the a r t i s t ' s w o r k , a s w e l l a s a connected video. Artist Carla Viparelli

• Cover