US returns looted head of Hades to Italy
The head of Hades, Greek God of the Underworld (and the original hipster judging by his beard), finally returned home to Sicily Friday after four decades in the hands of thieves and collectors. Known as "Bluebeard" due to the pigment of its curly whiskers, the terracotta artifact was stolen from the Italian island in the 1970s before finding its w...
‘Italian California Dreaming’: dalla Biennale di Anagni e Frosinone all’IIc di Los Angeles
Quasi 90 artisti, una decina dei quali provenienti da tutto il mondo e 180 opere esposte, dal primo al 30 aprile ad Anagni e Frosinone, per la Rassegna di Arte Visiva Contemporanea che ha visto sino ad oggi le personali di 160 artisti di tutta Italia e della California, con centinaia di visitatori. Per la prima volta, quest'anno, una giuri...
Italian Street Painting Marin
By Alysia Gray Painter THE MADONNARI OF MARIN: Early summer, at least 'round California, is the high season for street painting. Santa Barbara, Pasadena, and San Rafael all celebrate the longtime art of the Madonnari. Think of being in a gallery, only outside, and every picture is under, or rather next to, your feet. It's a school of painting that...
Festa Coloniale Italiana – SFIAC Combines Celebration of Ferragosto and Club’s 95th Anniversary
Back in the year 2008, the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC) was preparing a celebration for their 90th Anniversary. Gianrico Pierucci, SFPD Police Inspector and author of the book, The Heart of North Beach, was serving on the board of directors of the SFIAC. The club's president, Steve Landi, appointed Pierucci to be the 90th An...
Richard Tomasello – Flying High with Italian Culture
by Andrew Bagley The Tomasellos are a tireless lot. A characteristic probably attributed to their bloodline and heritage originating in Santo Stefano di Camastra, province of Messina in Sicily. Salvatore and Marion Tomasello, Richard Tomasello's grandparents, were part of the "immigrant newcomers" during the turn of the 20th century....
13th Annual Galbani Italian Feast of San Gennaro Los Angeles - 26th/28th of September
In September of 2002, some of Los Angeles' most prominent Italian American citizens got together and produced the first annual Feast of San Gennaro in Los Angeles, offering three days of enjoyment for the entire family. Just like the 80+ year old New York City tradition, the Galbani Italian Feast of San Gennaro Los Angeles celebrates Itali...
Michela Magrì: from IIC acting director in L.A. to IIC director in Jakarta, but always staying true to herself
by Silvia Simonetti The end of 2014 also marked the end of Michela Magrì's mandate as a cultural attaché at the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles. After almost 6 years in sunny California, she will go back to Jakarta, Indonesia, where she had already served in the past. Only, this time her title will be director of the local IIC....
Local Actors Celebrate Italian Author
The stage was a woven rug, on which stood a podium, a mic stand and a flowerpot. The backdrop was a bare color-changing screen. It was a simple arrangement, but it was enough for the performers of "Speaking of Francesca Marciano." In this cozy setting of downtown Santa Barbara's Center Stage Theater, local actors read stories from author M...
Love Italian design? San Francisco’s got a trifecta!
by George Calys Design geeks have known for years that Italy is home to design with a capital "D". You only need watch the ubercool café patron leafing through Domus, to know that you'd better have at least one Italian-designed object in your living room or kitchen or else suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous poor taste. Fortunately...
Italian street painting event in San Rafael will take place biannually
Italian street-painters will return en masse to downtown San Rafael next year as part of a new plan to make the art event a biennial affair instead of an annual one. The Italian Street Painting Marin event returned to San Rafael last year after a two-year hiatus, thanks to Mill Valley residents and festival founders Joe and Sue Carlomagno....
Sons of Italy crowns Modesto woman as Miss America
Gianna Cipponeri, a 2014 Modesto High School International Baccalaureate graduate, was crowned Miss America in June during the Queen's Pageant of the 78th Grand Convention of the Grand Lodge of California, Order Sons of Italy in America, in Millbrae. The nonprofit, fraternal organization was founded in 1922 and represents Americans of Ital...
Fondazione Italia Launches Fundraising campaign to send Italian High School teachers back to school this summer
Fondazione Italia has begun a fundraising initiative that they hope will provide 15 Southern California Italian high school instructors scholarships to attend a week-long seminar for Italian Language educators. This is a College Board-endorsed Italian Advanced Placement Summer Seminar organized by the California World Language Project and the Calif...