Articles by: Nicole Campisano

  • Art & Culture

    Emilio Cavallini's Genius Comes to D.C.

    Emilio Cavallini, the famed Italian fashion designer, is also known for his bright, and contemporary artworks.  His eye-catching dynamic wall sculptures will be displayed in Washington D.C this May.

    The Exhibitions

    It will be Cavallini's first solo exhibit in the nation's capital.  You can find his works at both the Embassy of Italy where 3 large sculptures will be presented, entitled Objectual Abstractions, and at the IA&A at Hillyer where there will be a retrospective of 20 works, including art from his best-known projects: Attuale-Infinito, Biforcazioni, Frattali, and Diagrammi.  The opening of his exhibits will take place at the IA&A at Hillyer from 6 pm to 9pm, and excitingly Cavallini will be in attendance.

    He uses both bright, and grayscale colors in his wall sculptures.  His intricate designs are often made with unconventional media, like nylon yarns, printed fabrics, and even the tights he designs.  Using applied math, and geometry, the artist makes various lines, and shapes to create his three-dimensional art.

    Cavallini: the Artist and Designer

    Born in San Minato in 1945, Emilio Cavallini started his own company, Stilnovo Spa in 1970.  There he produced for huge fashion labels such as Balenciaga, and Gucci.  He has received many Italian honors and awards, such as the Leone d’Oro for his creativity and innovation, as well as the “Knight of Industry” which is a national honor.  As a designer, he is best known for his hosiery.  Celebrities like Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Emma Stone are just a few who are known to wear his tights.

    For more detailed information about the exhibitions, please click here>>>
  • Art & Culture

    Rocchi Bilancini’s “Migration” Comes to NYU

    34 photographs line the halls of Casa Italiana.  At first glance, you see the beautiful colors, but a closer look provides a depth of understanding. 

    Loss and Hope

    All of the photos are based around water with various clothing items floating solitarily in the stillness.  There is a story of loss, and a story of hope behind the images.  Migration encompasses the theme of abandoning everything you know to find a better life.  This message is particularly poignant in Italy and the United States presently, but also in the history of both the countries. Memories are all migrants can take with them, and their trek is wiped away quickly without a trace by the waves they crossed.

    Carlo Rocchi Bilancini, the photographer, thinks back to the Italian migrants who were seeking a more promising future leaving their families and everything they knew behind.  This story reflects on the current refugees who are trying to find a safe haven in Europe.  The difficult, tumultuous journey stained with fear and pain is the perseverance for survival.

    Meeting Carlo Rocchi Bilancini

    We had the chance to sit down with the artist and discover more about his aesthetic, his background and the current exhibition at Casa Italiana.

    Tell us more about “Migration”. How did you come up with the concept and what does it mean to you to present it here in New York City?

    “Migration” is made up of clothes floating in water (a pool) that still maintain a human form.  It evokes a human presence that is absent. It references loss which is a concept that we all have to deal with at some point, and a feeling that resonates very deeply within myself. I am very happy to bring it here to New York because I don’t think there’s a more ideal place to talk about the concept of migration, also seeing how it was born from a sense of loss and memory, something that every migrant feels. The capacity of needing to adapt to a new place and a new reality doesn’t only refer to historical migrations, but also to the refugee crisis going on in Europe and elsewhere. I presented this project to Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa Italiana, and he liked it a lot, so he made it happen.”

    "Water is the medium of change, bringing metamorphosis in its wake.  Here there is a vanishing, a transmigration.  Before long, these shapes will be nothing more than ripples in time.” Said acclaimed writer, editor, translator and a lover for al things Italian Jill Foulston, about your work. Can you elaborate on that? What does water symbolize for you.

    "Water is a very strong element that has the possibility to mutate, dissolving and changing form according to the situation, but without changing identity. Also in my other series of photographs “Dissolvenze”, water is the element of transformation and transmutation. “Dissolvenze” is also clothes floating, only they become more abstract.  They change form, and are no longer recognizable. We need to accept change."

    Let’s talk about your origins and background, and how they influenced you as an artist.

    "I’ve always had a predisposition for aestheticism and beauty.  I consider myself self-taught because, in reality, I graduated with a degree in economics and business.  I had the luck of living in Todi, a small city in Umbria that we say is a pole that artists gravitate to, artists like Piero d’Orazio, and the photojournalist of “Life” magazine, Enrico Sarsini. But also directors like Pupi Avati with whom I collaborated for the movies he shot in Umbria, such as Magnificat, The Knights of the Quest and The Mysterious Enchanter."

    A kaleidoscope of artistic encounters inspired Rocchi to create his unique visual style. His "migrations" took him also far away from his hometown in Todi to Milan where he got in touch with photographer Antonia Mulas, wife and assistant of photographer Ugo Mulas. Another crucial encounter was with the iconic actress Anita Ekberg, star of La Dolce Vita, where the photographer had the privilege to capture her in a series of shots in her house in Genzano, Rome. 

    Some of these illustrious meetings are emblazoned in the exhibition, “Pesci fuor d’acqua”(Fish out of Water). Can you tell us about it?

    “I published “Pesci fuor d’acqua” with Skira Editore which I then followed up with an exhibit by the same name in Venice. It consists of 50 portraits in color of people from the art and performance world including, Marina Ripa di Meana, Lindsay Kemp, the son of Alighiero Boetti, Matteo Boetti, who has a gallery in Todi; Jack Sal, and Antonella Zazzera, but there were also regular people featured wearing clothes that represented their professional careers in a swimming pool.”

    Again the theme of water, which is either stagnant like in “Pesci fuor d’Acqua,” or transformative like in “Migration,” seems to identify the dual nature of Bilancini’s spirit as an artist. One is attached and rooted to his land and the other one is fascinated by the necessity of change and contaminations.

    “I am very attached to my hometown in Umbria, which is a wonderful land full of spirituality and art treasures. But at the beginning, I wasn't taken too seriously as an artist. Sometimes Italian provincialism can be counterproductive for an artist, and sometimes you need to be successful abroad before being valued in Italy. I love my roots, but travelling and experiencing the world is fundamental for my profession.”

    Migration is on display at NYU’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò until March 23.  It is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm. For more info click here>>>>

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    For more information on Carlo Rocchi Bilancini and his works, visit his website here >>>> 
  • From Massimo Catalani's The World of Atlantis project- "E laggiù sento tuffi nel mare nel sole o nel tempo chissà"
    Art & Culture

    Italian Design Day in LA

    The importance of taking care of the world we live in is greater than ever.  Italian Design Day celebrates art while also highlighting important messages.  The theme this year emphasizes the relationship between design and sustainability from an economic, social, and environmental point of view.  Clearly, design has an impact on humans and our society, and Design Day aims to draw that connection.

    This worldwide initiative promotes Italy’s culture, economy, language, and scientific research.  It was started by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism (MiBACT), the Italian Trade Agency, and other organizations for the “Vivere all’Italiana” Campaign.

    Art Promoting Sustainability

    One of the exciting events in Los Angeles at the Italian Cultural Institute is the opening of the exhibit, Delineo: Italia Bellissima Meets Valerio Berruti.  There will be handmade creations, fabrics, and ceramics from all around Italy.  These pieces of art are part of Andrea Capellino’s project, Italia Bellissima.  Also featured, are frescoes, drawings, tapestries, and a sculpture, all by Valerio Berruti.

    Both artists, Capellino and Berruti, along with Massimo Catalani -the ambassador of the 2018 Design Day- the designer Francesca Garcia-Marques, and Elena Pacenti, the Dean of the Domus Academy School of Design at New School of Architecture & Design in San Diego will join together for a thought provoking panel discussion.  They will discuss the theme, design and sustainability, with the moderator, Carlo Caccavale who is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Los Angeles.

    Awarding Italian Excellence

    Italian Design Day will also honor those who have made an important impact.  There will be an award ceremony to celebrate Italian excellence in the world.  The winners of the IIC Creativity award are Massimo Catalani, Andrea Capellino and Valerio Berruti.

    Massimo Catalani is a roman architect and artist.  Using paint as his medium, Catalani focuses on the theme of sustainability for his art, and he is an avid supporter of protecting the environment and its wildlife.  Specifically, he is an advocate for sea and marine wildlife.

    "What I like about this year's theme of the Italian Design Day and AIA, is that finally the architects are going back to deal with ecology," said Massimo Catalani when asked about the IDD of this year. "With the end of the consumeristic and the industrialization model, and the advent of the digital era, architecture must embrace its responsibilities. An architect determines the happiness or the unhappiness of someone who lives in a place. We need to halve the planet's exploitation and as architects we need to have that in mind when we operate."

    Andrea Capellino is an artist, and successful architect from Piedmont.  He is a sculptor, and the founder of Capellino Architettura.  Capellino uses his projects to support Italian artisanship and products.  He is also the creator of Italia Bellissima which promotes “Made in Italy,” with the scope of creating projects that endorse Italian craftmanship and artisanal products from Italy.

    Valerio Berruti is an artist from Piedmont who draws, paints, and sculpts.  After earning his degree in art criticism, he became successful in the art world, and has had exhibitions all over the world including in Tokyo, Belgrade, Johannesburg and Singapore.
  • At War For Love, "In Guerra per Amore" directed by Pif
    Art & Culture

    The Twin Cities Celebrate 10th Italian Film Festival

    Recognizing the joy and artistry of Italian cinema, the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, are having its Italian Film Festival from February 22 until Sunday, February 25!  This will be the 10th anniversary of this cinematic presentation that displays a variety of contemporary Italian films.  In past years, anything ranging from laugh-out-loud comedies, to thought provoking documentaries were shown at the IFF, and this year’s festival promises the same exciting variety that filmgoers are sure to enjoy.

    Contemporary Films

    Many of the films are premiering for the first time in Minneapolis.  Some showings are, In Guerra per Amore (At War for Love), A Ciambra, and Il Padre d’Italia (Father by Chance).

    Pierfrancesco Diliberto, better known as “Pif”, is an Italian television host, writer, and film director.  His film, In Guerra per Amore (At War for Love), is a comedic love story that takes place during the Second World War.  Pif’s film has been praised by critics, and has won several awards, including the David di Donatello Award (2017), and the Best Production Designer award from the Festival del cinema di Spello (2017).

    Italy’s Oscar pick, A Ciambra, directed by Jonas Carpignano and executively produced by Martin Scorsese, tells a coming of age story about a young Romani boy living in Calabria.  This drama premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and won the Europa Cinemas Label Award among many other accolades.

    Another exciting showing is Fabio Mollo’s Il Padre d’Italia (Father by Chance).  It is not only making its debut in the Twin Cities, but there will also be a post-screening question and answer session with Mollo.  He will be discussing his award-winning film with Lorenzo Fabbri, the festival’s curator. Il Padre d’Italia centers around a dysfunctional friendship between a cantankerous sales associate, and a pregnant backup singer who go on a road trip together.  On the way to their destination, they learn more about themselves than they ever could have imagined.

    To read about all of the films, click here>>>

    Italian films Past and Present

    As they do every year, the IFF will be showing a newly-restored version of an Italian classic.  This year it is Il Boom by Vittorio De Sica. De Sica (1901-1974) is a prolific figure in Italian cinema.  He began his career in film as an actor, and later began directing during World War II.  His dramas, Shoeshine (1946), and Bicycle Thieves (1948) are the face of the Italian Neorealism genre.  De Sica went on to win 4 Academy Awards, and the Grand prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

    10th Anniversary Surprises

    Celebrating a decade, the Italian Film Festival is adding something new to its program this year, the Building Bridges: Emerging Filmmaker Awards. The purpose of these awards is to create connections between Italy and Minnesota. 

    Participants from either Minnesota or Italy submitted short films that embodied the theme, “Places of Memory and Change.”  The IFF explains that they “hope to highlight the links between people and place and to demonstrate the ways that film can bring us together by displaying our similarities, our differences, and our growing need for understanding.” 

    Jurors, Koel Banerjee, Tommaso Cammarano, Eric D. Howell, and Bruna Roccasalva chose two winners, and one honorable mention.  The Best Short Italy will be awarded to Niccolò Gentili for his film We Wanted to Make Pictures.  The Best Short Minnesota will go to E.G Bailey for New Neighbors, and the honorable mention will go to Arianna Lodeserto for The Houses we were.  Living in Rome from 1948-2014.

    The Italian Cultural Center

    The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis and Saint Paul is the organizer of the IFF. This nonprofit organization was founded in 2006 to promote Italian culture through education.  The ICC is open to anyone who takes an interest in, or admires any aspect of the culture, whether it be the music, language, or cinema.

    For more information on the Italian Film Festival, please click here >>>

    For more information on the Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis/Saint Paul, please click here>>>
  • From the left, Maestro Roberto Scarcella Perino and Maestro Giuseppe Bruno at Casa Italiana. Photo Credit Shushu Chen
    Art & Culture

    Two Italian Maestros Enchant Casa Italiana

    The musical powerhouse, Roberto Scarcella Perino, who is recognized as a talented composer in both Europe and the United States, shared his various compositions at NYU’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò.  The world-renowned Giuseppe Bruno was the pianist for the night performing the pieces beautifully with skillful precision, and raw talent. It was an exciting night, as Scarcella Perino premiered his Piano Sonata No. 3 in the U.S. Giuseppe Bruno played a selection of the composer's songs for the concert, including 12 Variazioni su Ciuri Ciuri, a music based on the folkoric Sicilian song.

    A Musician with Talent and Passion

    Born in Messina, Sicily, Roberto Scarcella Perino was surrounded by musical influences growing up. His grandfather payed the violin and sang as a tenor, while his aunt was a soprano, and another was a talented pianist.  Roberto himself became involved with music when he started learning piano, and writing music at seven years old. 

    After studying at the Conservatory Giovanni Batista Martini, and the University of Bologna, Scarcella Perino got his start composing for the famous musical institution, Fondazione Arturo Toscanini in Parma.

    After moving to New York in 2001, the composer’s career continued to flourish as he was well received by American audiences.  Roberto's list of accomplishments continues to grow as his music has been commissioned, performed, and recorded throughout the world.  He has written four operas, A Caval Donato, Merli Verdi e Cucù, Blackout, and Furiosus, three ballets as well as chamber, and choral music. 

    Beyond Music: From Notes to Flavors

    He is a senior lecturer for NYU’s Italian Department as he loves to share his passion by educating others.  Aside from academia, Roberto is not only a talented musician, but also a talented cook who caters parties and teaches cooking classes.  Going back to his roots, he favors Italian cuisine.  He takes advantage of all the city has to offer by going to local markets to find the best and freshest ingredients.

    Cooking and composing music for Roberto are very similar.  It is about putting together the right flavors or notes to create something beautiful. Roberto’s musical gift brings enjoyment to others and that was clear at Casa Italiana.

    Maestro Bruno

    The talent of Maestro Giuseppe Bruno brought Roberto's music to life with the piano at NYU. Bruno is an accomplished pianist who can play anything from Mozart to contemporary music having graduated with honors in Piano, as well as Composition, and Conducting.  As a prize winning pianist, he is also an esteemed conductor, and worked as both a soloist, and with orchestras all over the world, including in Italy, Greece, Bosnia, and Germany. 

    Currently the Maestro is a Professor at the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory in La Spezia, Italy, and he is a Visiting Professor at the Rubinstein Akademie, in Düsseldorf, Germany.  Giuseppe Bruno's impressive accomplishments match his talent and passion for music as he played Scarcella Perino's compositions.  
  • The Mentoris Project - Christopher Columbus: His Life and Discoveries by Mario Di Giovanni
    Art & Culture

    Celebrating Italians who have Changed History

    Italians and Italian-Americans have made countless contributions to history and culture.  The Mentoris Project, created by the Barbera Foundation, wants to celebrate these contributions by showcasing a selection of e-book novels and biographies.  On February 15 at 6:30 pm, there will be a reception for the authors in Los Angeles at the Italian Cultural Institute as a way to present the start of this book series. 

    Bringing History to Life

    Throughout 2018 and 2019, around 50 books will be published in the series showing history as you’ve never seen it before- the Mentoris motto.  The novels and biographies focus on people such as Cicero, Enrico Fermi, Filippo Mazzei, Guglielmo Marconi, Mother Cabrini, and many more.

    The managing editor of the Mentoris Project, Ken LaZebnik, exclaims, “our titles bring history to life, and we are thrilled to share them with you.”  The inspiring stories display the great accomplishments and feats Italians have overcome to achieve excellence.  Even though many have left their mark on history, they are unknown to most Americans.  The Mentoris Project aims to educate and to inspire those who read these books, and “in essence, these books seek to be mentors for our readers,” as Ken explains.

    The Barbera Foundation

    The Barbera Foundation’s mission is to foster a curiosity in young people through history and culture with creative educational initiatives.  By providing the youth with this knowledge, it will create a brighter and stronger future.  The foundation strives to inspire kids to follow their own dreams, and to change the world.

    Grand’Ufficiale Robert J. Barbera is the chairman of the Barbera Foundation, and the founder of the Mentoris Project.  Mr. Barbera is excited to launch this project noting the importance of history and how everyone can learn from it.  In his own words, “we seek to increase awareness of the huge progress that has developed out of the Italian Peninsula and right into the United States.  This progress has influenced the way we live, the way we think, and the way we enjoy ourselves,” and “it is simply remarkable.”

    To learn more about the event, click here>>> 

    To learn more about the Mentoris Project and the Barbera Foundation, click here>>> 
  • Art & Culture

    Lineapelle comes to NYC

    On January 31, and February 1 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, Lineapelle New York presented over one hundred booths filled with lavish materials and hardware from around the world.  Aside from the individual producers, there was the Trend Selection Area that displayed innovative samples from the exhibitors, as well as an educational Know your Leather Seminar.

    An International Affair

    Lineapelle was started in 1981 in Italy, and is hosted twice a year in Milan, London, and New York City to showcase summer and winter sample collections.  This international leather fair presents only the highest quality leather, and textile producers who are also sustainably responsible.  Eager designers and producers attend the event to have a sneak peek at the cutting-edge materials.

    Over 11 countries were represented at Lineapelle New York, but the majority of the vendors hail from Italy.  Although this is one of the biggest leather events, there were also, textiles, synthetic fabrics, and accessories like zippers on display for the upcoming summer season. 

    The Importance of Sustainability

    Sustainability is a major part of the exhibition’s mission, so it is essential for the manufacturers selling animal products to be accountable for the goods that they produce.  Most of the exhibitors are certified according to international standards in the areas of quality, environment, health and safety, social accountability, product, origin, and traceability.

    UNIC-Unione Nazionale Industria Conciaria, or the Italian Tanners’ Association, joins Lineapelle promoting its mission for sustainable leather in Italy.  UNIC emphasizes that Italian leather is emotional, natural, clean, safe, valuable, ethical, and innovative.  The association explains that Italian leather “is a living quality material that, through its versatility and reliability, determines and interprets the style trends, moving them up,” while also being an “authentic and virtuous example of circular economy.”

    Aperitivo Time

    As an added bonus, Lineapelle hosted two Italian Aperitivo Times each day of the exhibition.  This aperitivo offered Italian food and wine for the guests to enjoy.  Some of the samples provided were from Urbani Truffles, Il Chinotto nella rete, and Gioiella.  The delicious food complimented the upscale, yet environmentally conscious fashion-forward event!

    The next Lineapelle events will be held February 20-22 in Milan, and will come back to New York City July 17-18 to present the winter sample collection! 

     

    For more information, please click here >>>
  • Art & Culture

    “Blaxploitalian” Screens in SF

    Blaxploitalian 100 Years of Blackness in Italian Cinema, a documentary directed by Fred Kuwornu, is being screened at San Francisco’s Italian Cultural Institute.  Kuwornu will be there February 20 to introduce his thought provoking documentary, and to hold a question and answer session after.

    Blackness in Italian Cinema

    The documentary centers around black actors in Italian cinema, and the adversity they have been facing for over a century in the media industry.  The film critically analyzes diversity, and the struggles actors encounter solely because of their race.  Exploring typecasting, and other consequences of racism in the film industry, Blaxploitalian investigates the history of blackness and how it is seen in modern Italy through the stories of those who confront it daily.

    A Fight for Diversity

    The film is personal to Kuwornu as he is Italian-Ghanaian.  Brooklyn based Kuwornu was born in Italy and studied both Political Science and Mass Media at the University of Bologna. 

    Passionate about multiculturalism and diversity in his own country, and around the world, Kuwornu is an activist for racial and ethnic diversity.  He is the founder of Do the right Films Entertainment and he uses his work to spread the message of inclusion and to bring awareness to the problems and discrimination minorities face in Europe and Italy.

    Honoring Black History Month

    The presentation of Blaxploitalian is particularly apropos as February celebrates Black History.  This month the U.S recognizes the achievements and contributions of African Americans, and the roles they have played in U.S history.  Apart from appreciating the feats black Americans have conquered, it is essential to acknowledge and to discuss the racism that is still prominent today which documentaries, like Kuwornu’s, bring to light. 

    The showing of Blaxploitalian 100 Years of Blackness in Italian Cinema is a free event that all are welcome to.  It will be a night of learning, and critical thinking about the role race plays in the entertainment world. 

    For more information about the event, please click here >>>
  • Art & Culture

    Keep the Party Going... Carnival of Viareggio is Here!

    From January 15th until February 25th, Eataly’s New York locations, Downtown and Flatiron, as well as Eataly Chicago, will be celebrating the carnival season this year!

    Every year in Viareggio, a seaside city in Tuscany, there are parades and festivities to celebrate the highly anticipated Carnival.  In honor of this 145-year-old event, the New York and Chicago Eatalys are promoting Tuscan products, menus, and specialties to capture the essence of this iconic celebration. Traditionally, the Carnevale di Viareggio is a month-long festival filled with merriment.  Amongst the feasts, and partying, there are parades every Sunday with colorful papier-mâché floats that fill the streets. This year the Carnival is from January 27th to February 17th. 

    Eataly Celebration of the Viareggio Carnival in NY and Chicago

    La Scuola di Eataly at the Flatiron location was packed with people from the press and the media world. There were also travel and food writers, italophiles, and some illustrious personalities who all got together to celebrate the Carnival of Viareggio’s journey to the US.

    Eugenio Magnani of EM Dreams Factory, a Tuscan at heart, was thrilled to present the event and proud to invite Americans to "get lost in Tuscany” because “you will find something that is absolutely beautiful". Other special appearances include, another Tuscan, Giorgio Van Straten, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, and Consul General of Italy Francesco Genuardi. The Consul greeted the delegation of the Region of Tuscany and to praise Tuscany's unique beauty.

    Alberto Peruzzini, the Director General of Tuscan Tourism Promotion then took the stage, and he highlighted the importance of the American market to the Region of Tuscany’s tourism industry:  “The US is one of the most important markets for Tuscany. Americans love Tuscany. We had 3 million American students in 2017 and most of them come from the NYC area, California, Texas, and Chicago. We want to invite Americans to be a stable presence here and to get involved with our Tuscan lifestyle getting to know all the different parts of the region. Carnival is an iconic representation of that lifestyle. We want to give our tourists a transformative experience. We want people to come to Tuscany and to come back home happier."

    Canrnival - a Rock Show!

    Escorted by two of the most iconic masks of the Carnival, the colorful Burlamacco and Ondina, the President of the Foundation of the Carnival of Viareggio Maria Lina Marcucci, gave a passionate speech on the essence, tradition and importance of the Carnival. We also got the chance to interview her, and to understand more in depth the relevance of this new opening to the American audience.

    "The idea of promoting the Carnival to the American market came to us from the growth and spontaneous interest of the American public towards this event," Marcucci told us. "Also, we have been told by the most luxurious hotels in Tuscany, like the Four Seasons, that their clients only plan to come visit Florence, and then maybe Siena thinking they have seen all of Tuscany. We offer a different Tuscany, a Tuscany that has the sea, the small art cities, the Apuan Alps, the marble from Carrara and Viareggio, the enchanting city that works the whole year for the preparation of the Carnival. We want to communicate to the American audience the most intimate part of the Carnival, beyond the entertainment. The show is an historical tradition that embodies the stories and the culture of the Italian renaissance, the18th century in Italy, as well as contemporary storytelling filled with important social messages. Every year we have new masks, and additionally, the craftmanship and the techniques for creating masks and carts evolve. Carnival is a rock show!"

    To bring the complexity of the Carnival storytelling to the American public, the Foundation had no doubt that Eataly should be the designated partner:

    "We didn’t want to make a predictable promotion, like those ones you do in the hotels as a tour operator. We immediately thought, on the other hand, that Eataly was the best partner for us, since it represents the Italian excellence in the US. The people who will pass by Eataly in New York and Chicago in the next two weeks will get the chance to meet our Carnival and get to know its program for 2019 and 2020, so they can plan a trip in advance to come and discover this enchanting phenomenon."

    Thanks to Toscana Promozione, the Italian Tourist Board, and EM Dreams Factory, twenty travel suppliers were brought to Eataly to meet the best of the U.S’s demand.  There were also two B to B (Business to Business) workshops on January 22nd in New York, and on the 24th in Chicago.

    After the presentation, the guests at the event were treated to the best of the Tuscan culinary tradition with a chef cooking live in La Scuola di Eataly’s beautiful kitchen.

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    For more info on the Carnival click here>>
  • Art & Culture

    A Night of Philosophy Featuring Italian Professor Chiara Bottici

    From 7pm to 7am, the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, along with the Brooklyn Public Library, is presenting A Night of Philosophy and Ideas 2018 at the Central Library in Brooklyn.  This free event is a night of intellectual and stimulating conversation with presentations by some of the top philosophers in the world.  There will also be performances throughout the night and into the morning.

    Philosophy to Promote Activism

    Embodying the power of change and activism, the event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the international student-led protests of 1968.  Taking inspiration from that historic year, there will be thematic discussions about collective action, and how everyday people can bring positive change in their own countries and around the world.

    Presenting a plethora of topics, various philosophers will encourage debate and interactions amongst the group.  Participation is encouraged in order to intelligently discuss various issues and ideas that are relatable to anyone.

    Chiara Bottici and the Anarcha-feminism philosophy

    One of the special guests is Italian Professor Chiara Bottici whose talk is presented by the Italian Cultural Institute.  Bottici is presenting her case study on “Anarcha-feminism” at 11:30 pm.

    "In the last few years, it has become a commonplace to state that domination takes place through a multiplicity of axes, where gender, class, race, and sexuality intersect with one another," stated Bottici presenting her study. "While a lot of insightful empirical work is being done under the heading of intersectionality, it is very rarely linked to the anarchist tradition that preceded it. I would like to articulate this point by showing the usefulness but also the limits of the notion of intersectionality to understand mechanisms of domination and then move on to argue for the need of an anarcha-feminist research program. This will allow me to attempt to articulate the question of ‘what it means to be a woman’ in pluralistic terms and thus also to defend a specifically feminist form of anarchism"

    Professor Bottici is an Associate Professor who teaches philosophy at the New School for Social Research.  She received her PhD from the European Institute and has previously taught at the University of Frankfurt.

    For more information on the event please visit: https://www.nightofphilosophyandideas.com/

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