On-Demand Cultural Programs – Page 2 – The Italian Cultural Foundation

ON DEMAND • Celebrating Dante Alighieri Through Art

$0.00 – $20.00

Celebrating Dante Alighieri: Spectacular Illustrations of Dante's Inferno Presented by Dr. Snjezana Smodlaka

Much has been said about the great influence and impact that Dante Alighieri’s masterpiece - Divine Comedy - had on the Italian language and on Italian and world literature. Dante’s decision to write not in Latin, but in the dialect of his native Florence, contributed to the linguistic unification of Italy several centuries before its political unification. In addition, the literary value of Dante’s masterpiece inspired many writers and poets around the world.

Less is mentioned about artworks inspired by Dante’s trilogy. Many painters, sculptors and composers, throughout centuries, were emotionally and artistically affected and moved by the episodes in Divine Comedy, especially the tragic destiny of sinners in Hell, the place of immense, eternal pain and suffering. Perhaps Dante never envisioned that his picturesque descriptions would be transferred to another media such as drawing, painting, sculpture and music.

In this presentation, we will see some of the most remarkable episodes from Hell, illustrated by artists from the 15th to 20th century: Botticelli, Zuccaro, Sardano, Dore’, Blake, Rodin and Dali. Dante’s poetic words inspired their creative imagination, and they depicted faithfully and in detail Dante’s vision of Hell’s horrors and his emotional reaction
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ON DEMAND – Virtual – Celebrating Naples

$0.00 – $20.00

Celebrating Naples: A Journey Through History Presented by Anita Sanseverino

Naples is a city filled with art treasures, churches of magnificent design, palazzi, an ancient centro storico, the magnificent seafront area called Lungomare with its majestic view of Mount Vesuvius, and many other historic and artistic sights.

Naples has been called “the stepchild of Italy” - and Anita Sanseverino is determined to change that undeserved perception.

“When you say to most people that you are going to Naples, they say, “Oh, don’t go there, it’s dangerous,” she said. “Aside from the fact that it is not true, the irony of this statement is that none of the people who say this have ever been there!”

Anita is certain that her fascinating lecture and beautiful photographs will ensure that Naples is on the priority list of people who plan to travel to Italy, just as much as Venice, Florence and Rome.

She will highlight the illustrious history of this once-royal kingdom dating back to its origins as the Greek city of Partenope. She will discuss the various rulers and dynasties that occupied Naples, and why unification might not have been the best thing to happen to this former kingdom.

Anita will share her personal experiences in Naples, especially with its generous citizens. “When people talk about Italians and their characteristics, they are unknowingly talking specifically about Neapolitans,” she said. “As much as Italians in general are known for their love of food, music, of life in general, these qualities are 10-fold in Neapolitans. They are the quintessential Italians.”
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ON DEMAND • Bye-Bye Winter … Hello Spring!

$0.00 – $20.00

Bye-Bye Winter … Hello Spring!

Learn the best gardening tips for getting your garden ready for the season!

In this short presentation, professional Landscape Designer and Garden Coach Carmen De Vito shares her best advice for preparing your garden for a successful growing season. Whether you have a small plot or an acre of space, you will learn gardening practices that will boost your confidence. You will be able to plan and plant a garden that brings you joy and is good for you and for the environment.

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ON DEMAND • Part 2 – Masters of Emotions

$0.00 – $20.00

A special two-part virtual series presented by Carla Gambescia
Part 2: Art as Propaganda in Baroque Rome Two of the 17th century’s most drama-loving artists, painter Caravaggio and sculptor Bernini, both pushed their respective mediums to new heights while working in Rome under a series of surprisingly artistically adventurous popes. Both are synonymous with the Baroque era. "Bad boy" Caravaggio had to flee Rome after he killed a man in a brawl, while Bernini died an old man, beloved in his adopted home. We will compare and contrast their art and legacies and explore the broader political and artistic milieu in which they were working. We will also learn the role their respective artistic genius played in furthering the Counter-Reformation, as well as art, photography and cinema today.

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ON DEMAND • Part 1 – Masters of Emotions

$0.00 – $20.00

A special two-part virtual series. Presented by Carla Gambescia

Part 1: Humanizing Art - Giotto di Bondone

Considered to be the "Father of the Renaissance," Giotto di Bondone was one of the earliest artists to paint more realistic figures rather than the flat, stylized, decorative images of the medieval and Byzantine periods. Like his contemporaries Dante and Boccaccio, his art drew from life with its attention to natural representations of the human form and emotional realism and expression. Recognized in his own time as a revolutionary, Giotto’s work was transformative in opening the door to the Renaissance. According to Giorgio Vasari, it was Giotto who restored the link between art and nature. Join us for an in-depth exploration of Giotto’s fresco cycle of the Arena Chapel in Padua (an easy day trip from Venice), considered to be his greatest work

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ON DEMAND • La Settimana Santa: Holy Week and Easter Traditions

$0.00 – $20.00

La Settimana Santa: Holy Week and Easter Traditions Presented by Anne Robichaud
In Assisi on Good Friday night, locals and clergy begin La Processione del Cristo Morto, beginning at the Cathedral of San Rufino and following a statue of the Sorrowful Mother to the Basilica di San Francesco, where La Madonna meets her Son.

On Easter Sunday, Umbrians feast (logicamente!) on “Blessed Food” before Mass. A decadent breakfast includes robust red wine; Torta di Pasqua, a savory cheese bread, often topped with homemade salami, prosciutto and/or capocollo; hard-boiled eggs drizzled with the family’s olive oil and a bit of lemon juice squeezed on top; and sweet cakes with sprinkles. The ingredients used to make these foods are blessed by local priests on Holy Saturday afternoon, making them literally “Blessed Foods.”

This presentation was recorded live from Assisi to explore ancient traditions connected to Holy Week.

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ON DEMAND • Celebrating the history and scenic beauty of Campania

$0.00 – $20.00

Celebrating the history and scenic beauty of Campania Thursday, March 18 at 7 pm Featuring Anita Sanseverino and Louis Barrella

Campania felix translates to “happy countryside,” which is what the early Romans called this region in southwestern Italy. This area was settled long before the Romans - even before the Greeks! Join Anita Sanseverino and Lou Barella as they celebrate the history and scenic beauty of the Campania region.

Learn about Magna Graecia, Partenopea, the Kingdom of Naples, the maritime Republic of Amalfi with its beautiful coast … these are just some of the highlights that Anita will describe in her presentation. Enjoy Anita’s photographs, and a video created by Lou Barella to further enhance your appreciation for this beautiful region of Italy.

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ON DEMAND • Puglia: Better Than The Caribbean!

$0.00 – $20.00

Puglia: Better Than The Caribbean! Presented by Anita Sanseverino and Lou Barrella Puglia, until recently, was one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Puglia has everything: castles, fortresses, lighthouses, an abundance of seascapes in rainbow colors, beaches and rock formations that resemble moonscapes, caves formed over millions of years, landscapes and gardens and flowering trees, blinding white limestone buildings, and above all, olive trees with roots that go back a thousand years! Join Anita Sanseverino and Lou Barella in learning about this fascinating region, through Anita’s personal experiences in traveling throughout the Salento coast. See the unique beauty as photographed by Anita and made vividly alive by Lou’s genius for putting photos and music together to create a magical video which creates a lively experience, both knowledgeable and entertaining.

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ON DEMAND • Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Dante’s Inferno

$0.00 – $20.00

Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Dante’s Inferno The Passion of Love, as seen in Dante’s V Canto of the Inferno Maria Bonavita, in collaboration with actress Giusy Lo Schiavo joining us live from Rome, Italy, invites you to descend to Dante’s second circle of the Inferno to experience the intense passion of love between Paolo and Francesca, who allowed themselves to be swept away by carnal love.

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ON DEMAND • “If you are not indifferent…” PART 2

$0.00 – $20.00

Part 2: Primo Levi (1919-1987), a Holocaust survivor. How can one find the words to describe the trauma and agony suffered at Auschwitz after one’s humanity has been taken away? For Primo Levi, a Holocaust survivor, the real drama was finding the appropriate language to describe the horrors and unspeakable events he encountered while imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz during World War II. Levi wanted to tell a story that embodied the living testimony for millions of people who did not survive to talk about their own experience. He had a burning desire to be the spokesperson for those who were mercilessly exterminated. In this virtual presentation, we will explore Levi’s life; how Italian Jews saw themselves vis-à-vis the rise of fascism; his experience at Auschwitz; and his commitment to keep alive the narrative of the Holocaust, lest we forget.

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ON DEMAND • Trivia Night – A Carnevale Evening in Venice, with Carla Gambescia

$0.00 – $20.00

Trivia Night – A Carnevale Evening in Venice, with Carla Gambescia Venice, the most enchanting and improbable of cities, has given us many "gifts” such as Mardi Gras, the delicious Bellini cocktail, delectable carpaccio served in fine restaurants – and so much more! In an engaging question-and-answer virtual session led by award-winning author and cultural expert Carla Gambescia, discover little-known backstories of the canal city often called La Serenissima; its opulent, often decadent, and captivating history; and the inventiveness of its residents. Carla is author of “La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z,” a Silver Prize winner of Best Travel Book of the Year. The book is an eclectic compendium of all things Italian and a joyful celebration of why we love Italy and, of course, Venice!

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ON-DEMAND • Umbria and Valnerina – Cascia, Norcia, Castelluccio and More

$0.00 – $20.00

Umbria and Valnerina – Cascia, Norcia, Castelluccio and More With Anne Robichaud
Do you know what a norcineria offers? Ever tasted the famous “lost beans” of the Valnerina? Ever heard of Preci and a curiosity that makes it famous? Enjoy this visit to Umbria’s captivating Valnerina (Nera River Valley) area, famous for black truffles, lentils prized by the Slow Food Foundation, pecorino cheeses, prosciutto di Norcia - and much more! The tour starts with the inviting late-January Cascia festivities and then head to Norcia, a medieval mountain gem and birthplace of St. Benedict in the 5^th century. Not far away, the Piano Grande ("Great Plain”) spreads out below the medieval castle-village Castelluccio, devastated in the October 2016 earthquake. Anne’s talk was recorded live from Italy and will have you ready for your next trip to our bellissima Umbria.

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