SEE THE WORKS OF CARAVAGGIO IN AMERICA
On the cover of this year’s second edition of PRIMO is one of history’s greatest artists, Michelangelo Merisi Caravaggio.
The article is complete with Caravaggio’s extraordinary biography, analysis of his style and why he is rightly considered the catalyst of the Baroque era. After reading the article and viewing a small sample of his work in this issue, I am confident you will join me and others in considering Caravaggio Italy’s pre-eminent master painter equal in both skill and influence to the likes of Michelangelo Buonarroti (his namesake), Leonardo da Vinci and the great Raphael.
Caravaggio died 1610, 400 years ago. Thus, an occasion arises for Italy to celebrate him. Museums in a number of Italian cities have exhibitions detailing his work, along with newly published books, DVDs, film and video documentaries about his life and legacy.
Scores of paintings are credited to Caravaggio. About half of them hang in museums in Italy. Almost every region in Italy has an art museum with one or more Caravaggio paintings on display. His other works may be found throughout Europe, in museums in London, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Russia and Toledo, Spain.
Caravaggio’s paintings are also accessible to people living here in the United States. Perhaps only a short drive away from you is the nearest art museum with an original Caravaggio painting waiting for view. Here is a list of museums in America with permanent collections that include works by the great Caravaggio.
“Saint Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy.” Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut.
“The Cardsharps.” Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.
“The Crucifixion of Saint Andrew.” Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio.
“Musicians.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.
“The Conversion of the Magdalene.” Art Institute of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan.
“Sacrifice of Isaac.” Piasecka-Johnson Collection, Princeton, New Jersey
“Saint John the Baptist.” Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.
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ITALIAN FESTAS KEEP KEEPING ON
Almost 100 Italian festas in the United States are included in PRIMO’s annual guide of Italian festas, featured in this edition.
Most festa organizers I spoke with told me this was their toughest year yet. The sluggish economy has hit them hard. Attendance was down for most festivals, in some cases by half. Vendors, many of them small family owned businesses, were either not able to participate in a festa or did so in a reduced presence. Organizers had to cut back on rides, shows, and other activities in order to keep their festas going.
As many festas devote proceeds to scholarships and local Roman Catholic parishes, the drop in revenues they experienced this year is most troubling.
With hopes for better economic times ahead, we at PRIMO salute Italian festa organizers for their perseverance and determination. They epitomize the mantra proclaimed by T.C. Barnum: “The show must go on.”
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ADVERTISERS IN PRIMO’s SECOND EDITION
I thank the companies for advertising their goods and services in PRIMO.
Almost all of them are Italian or Italian American owned. If you are looking for a product or service that matches your interests in Italian and Italian American heritage, the advertisers in this edition of PRIMO will not disappoint you.
Mercer County Italian American Festival places an ad on the inside front cover page of PRIMO’s second edition. Their Italian festival is one of the best in the country, from September 24 through 26, at Mercer County Park, on Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, New Jersey. Mercer County has one of the highest concentrations of Italian Americans in the United States. The festival, founded by John Scarpati, provides scores of rides, Italian food vendors, and top line entertainment. Notable is the festival’s focus on Italian culture, with a heritage tent that showcases all the great accomplishments of Italians and Italian Americans. The food is 100 percent Italian, and fantastic at that. Attend this year’s Mercer County Italian American Festival. You will be glad you did. www.italianamericanfestival.org.
If you like PRIMO's “My Italian Family” column then you will surely want to get to know Bianca Ottone of My Italian Family, the genealogical service company she owns and advertises on page four of this edition. An expert in genealogy and Italian family research, Bianca can surely help you track down family members from the past and present, anywhere in Italy. Give her a call to assist you in putting together your Italian family tree. www.myitalianfamily.com.
In PRIMO’s January/February 2006 edition, we wrote about the sad tale of the eminent domain condemnation and destruction of the Italian neighborhood Greenbush in Madison, Wisconsin. Replete with photographs of the neighborhood’s decent, hard working Italian Americans, the story resonates today. Still shocking is the foolhardy and absurd decision by the state’s urban planners proclaiming Greenbush a “slum” and thus suited for demolition. Hundreds of homes, several churches, movie theaters, shops and restaurants, were bulldozed with a four-lane highway and hospital extension erected in their place.
Still, the spirit of Greenbush lives on today, thanks in large part to the tireless efforts of Catherine Tripalin Murray. She has led successful efforts in Madison to preserve mementos and heirlooms of the old neighborhood, compiled together in three outstanding cookbooks she publishes titled “Grandmothers of Greenbush,” and volumes one and two of “A Taste of Memories from the Old ‘Bush’”. She advertises her books on page four. Outstanding tomes, they provide delectable Italian family recipes with stunning photographs, anecdotes and recollections, all provided by those Italian Americans who lived in Greenbush. If you are looking for a great cookbook, one part history lesson and the other, an epicurean celebration, then consider buying “Grandmothers of Greenbush” and volumes one and two of “A Taste of Memories from the Old ‘Bush’”. Check the web site now at www.greenbushcoobooks.com.
When it comes to Italian food, DOMA Importing Company provides the best in taste and quality. They have an ad on page six of this edition. As their slogan says, they deliver Italy to your doorstep. An authentic Italian food market founded in 1934, DOMA knows Italian food better than anyone. Their array of imported Italian meats will make anyone’s mouth water, such as prosciutta, mortadella, and my favorite pancetta. They have fresh Italian bread, imported olive oils, balsamic vinegars, homemade pasta, Italian cheeses and more, all available for you to order and delivered to your doorstep. Consider DOMA the next time you want to buy Italian specialty foods. Log on to their web site today at www.doma-italian-market.com.
The cover photograph of Francena Hall’s “Recipes My Nonna Taught Me” tells a lot about her wonderful cookbook. The advertisement is found on page 11 of this edition. A little girl at the time, Francena stands proudly next to her adoring grandmother, kneeling on the front lawn of their home. Both share the same smile and warm and enthusiastic spirit. Growing up in a predominantly German American enclave in Ohio, Francena and her family understandably had to struggle at times to retain their Italian culture. They found making Italian food, from recipes created and passed down by her grandmother the vital link to their Italian past and heritage. You will find an excerpt from “Recipes My Nonna Taught Me” on page 11 as well. The recipe Stuffed Mushrooms is an Italian classic; just one of many great recipes you’ll find in “Recipes My Nonna Taught Me.” Contact Francena at fslyd@aol.com.
Next to page 12 “The Truth About Wine” column are a page of ads. Several companies stand out:
Unitours has been bringing people to Italy since 1957. The company hosts a nine day tour of Rome and Umbria. What better way to see Italy! Rome, the eternal city, has for your eyes the great wonders of ancient Rome, the astounding and inspiring Vatican, the works of Italy’s greatest artists and sculptors, not to mention the modern and dynamic metropolis that is Italy’s capital city today. And then there is Umbria, a cauldron of culture in central Italy. Perugia, Spoleto and Assisi have for you the splendors of art and history that epitomize Italy. First-class hotel accommodations, a deluxe motorcoach and fine Italian dining, will give you an Italian journey never to forget. Contact Unitours today at www.unitours.com/getmoretours.
On page 19 is an ad by Dima’s Jewels. Hand-crafted jewelry designs and the finest jewelry material make the necklaces, brooches, rings and bracelets of Dima’s Jewels exceptionally beautiful. Prices are refreshingly reasonable with offers for free shipping during holiday seasons. Gaze the stunning collection of Dima’s Jewels. Log on to their web site www.dimasjewels.com.
“As Simple, Simply Said,” is a marvelous book of original poems by Giovanni Maria Tommaso. We profile this intriguing poet, born in Italy but raised in America, on page 56 of this edition. He has several web sites available for prospective readers. Check out www.paginamia.com, www.bloginamia.com, and www.poetrybloginamia.com.
One of the country’s longest running Italian American organizations is the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, forever an Italian American province, ISDA provides members a number of cultural and financial benefits. They offer life insurance and annuity plans, scholarships, social and cultural programs, financial assistance for prospective college students and youth programs. Get to know ISDA better, log on to their web site www.orderisda.org.
After the feature articles, you can find two advertisers on page 58. They are both from California.
The Celebrations Wine Club gives readers a taste of Italy and Napa Valley. For a monthly fee, readers can sample hand-crafted wines from Italy’s regions and from Northern California. Check out www.celebrationswineclub.com.
Two years ago, we featured an article marking the 100th anniversary of L’Italo-Americano. The Italian language newspaper has covered California’s Italian American community since 1908. An Italian American journalistic icon is L’Italo-Americano. Check out their web site www.italoamericano.com.
On page 63 is an ad by Aspetto.com. A company with an astounding array of Italian novelties, Aspetto.com will not disappoint an Italian American’s need for tangible items that express pride and respect for his or her Italian heritage. Italian flags, aprons, decals and patches, lapel pins, key chains and much more are available for purchase. Show your Italian pride today. Log on to www.aspetto.com.
The full page back cover ad promotes the new music CD “Aceto” by Michéal Castaldo; a compilation of songs sung in mostly Italian, but also some English, the closest thing to the style of Neapolitan love songs that you will find today. We profile Castaldo on page 57. A native of Calabria, now living and working in New York, Castaldo has a voice that emits an impressive range, founded upon deep emotions, uniquely fit for both Italian opera and American pop. Castaldo has no doubt captured the essence of Italian singing, always in key and always with feeling. Are you in the mood to hear great Italian ballads? Do you want to hear American songs sung the Italian way? Then get to know Michéal Castaldo. Log on to his web site today: www.michéalcastaldo.com.
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