L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 www.italoamericano.org 24 L'Italo-Americano T he Italianità: Italian Diaspora Artists Examine Identity exhibition will be opening Sunday May 5th at the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA). The exhibit will focus on the Italian diaspora, which is the dispersion of people to a new country. In the arts, the term gains a deeper meaning as it refers to artists who have migrat- ed from one part of the world to another, or whose ancestors did, and whose diverse experiences influenced their work. In this specific case, the exhibit explores themes such as dual identity, memory, folklore, faith, disloca- tion, and migration. The featured artwork of more than 20 artists at IAMLA cap- tures the idea of a new-found identity and culture, as well as the overall experience of migrants and their descendants. These artists create alternative narratives and challenge the structures of the established art world. "Between the late 1800 and the early 1900, fourteen million people left Italy," says Marianna Gatto, executive director-histori- an of the museum and curator of Italianità. "This embodies one of the largest migrations in history. Using art as a vehicle, this exhi- bition explores the historic migration of Italians, as well as the more recent movements of Italians in the post-World War II era to the present." My meeting with Marianna Gatto is at the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA), located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles in one of the oldest remaining structures from the city's Little Italy, listed today on the National Register of Historic Places. Before our inter- view, Marianna gives me a tours of the interactive center that fea- tures a permanent exhibition showcasing the history and ongo- ing contributions of Italian Americans in Southern Califor- nia and beyond. What does Italianità mean in regard to this exhibition? Italianità, in English Italian- ness, examines the traditions, beliefs, notions of belonging, and other defining characteristics of hyphenated Italian identity, which, by its nature, is quite var- ied and personal. These artists - or their parents, grandparents, or other ancestors - left Italy, and their art pieces summons themes central to the diaspora. Because many of these topics transcend national origin, time, and place, Italianità lays the foundation for common ground on which con- nections to contemporary migra- tions can be forged. SILVIA GIUDICI The Italian American Museum presents Italianità: Italian Diaspora Artists Examine Identity And what's the Museum's mission? The mission of the IAMLA is to foster understanding of South- ern California's diverse heritage through research, historic preser- vation, and educational programs that examine the history and continuing contributions of Ital- ian Americans in multi-ethnic Los Angeles and the United States. The IAMLA is part of El Pueblo of Los Angeles Historical Monument, the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles. Do you feel like this aware- ness is growing? Yes, definitely, and the muse- um has played an important role in generating awareness. We notice a greater sense of interest in and appreciation for LA's his- toric communities, including Lit- tle Italy, and we look forward to promoting further dialog and understanding about the region's diverse origins. Info:From May 5, 2018 to January 13, 2019 - Public Open- ing May 5, 2018 Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed Mon- days Can you tell us something about these artists? Some of the most exciting works in Italianità are "Smoke Stacks" by Joseph Stella (1935), the drawings of Paolo Soleri, and the work of the blacklisted artist, Ralph Fasanella. Other artists are Italo Scanga, painter Margaret Ricciardi, along with Cynthia Minet who created an illuminat- ed, life-size, mixed media sculp- ture, Rico LeBrun who is one of the leading figures of Califor- nia's modernist movement, and Ray Bradbury's long-time illus- trator, Joe Mugnaini. We also have Luigia Martel- loni, Leo Politi, Robert Peluce, David Trulli, Manny Cosentino, Tina Gulotta, William Papaleo, Juan Rosillo, Luci Callipari- Marcuzzo, Lola Scarpitta, Anthony Riccio, Michele Nar- don Renn, Domenico Foschi and others. How was the selection process? We sent out a call for submis- sions, and we also hand-selected other artists for the exhibition, some of which was procured through loans from other institu- tions, like the Illinois State Museum. We received hundreds of submissions, the most distant was from Australia, from Luci Callipari-Marcuzzo, who is a descendant of Calabrese immi- grants. Was there any particular artist that you liked? We received a lot of wonder- ful work, which made us wish our our gallery was larger because the show could have been double the size. One artist that comes to mind is Anthony Riccio, who is based in Con- necticut. He chronicled Boston's century-old community of Little Italy in the 1970s when the gen- trification had begun to change the neighborhood's character. One of his works featured in the exhibit captures the neighbor- hood during this period of change, while the second exam- ines the ritual of malocchio. What about artists from Los Angeles? We have quite a few artists from LA, both living and deceased. Joseph Mugnaini immigrated as a little boy and was a professor at Otis College of Art and Design. He was also Ray Bradbury's illustrator. We have several local artists like Leo Politi, whose work predates the multicultural movement by decades. His famous work, The Watts Towers, is included in the exhibition. We also have a num- ber of contemporary artists such as Luigia Martelloni, an LA- based concept artist, born in Italy and raised here; Robert Peluce, who was an animator. The great- est majority is local artists: it was not necessarily our intent, but it happened to be that way. What's the importance of this exhibition for the Italian American heritage? Italian Americans in Southern California is a chapter of the Ital- ian diaspora is often overlooked. Typically when we speak of Ital- ian communities in the United States, New York, Boston, Philadelphia receive the spot- light. The Italian community in Los Angeles is 200 years old, and by promoting awareness of their contributions, we promote a deeper understanding of our region as well as the diverse nature of the Italian diaspora. LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY Marianna Gatto, IAMLA executive director-historian, standing next to Ralph Fasanella's (1914-1997) "Mill Town Weaving", 1976

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