Fondazione Azzurra

at The Santa Monica Museum of Art

September 11-December 4, 2010

Opening Reception: Friday, September 10
6 – 7 pm Members’ Preview
7 – 10 pm Public Opening Party

Libro/Oggetto: Italian Artists’ Books, 1960–Now is a small-format exhibition that will offer viewers a concise history of Italian artistic trends from the 1960s onward by means of a conventionally small-size object: the artists’ book. Libro/Oggetto has been conceived as a complement to the exhibition that will be on view concurrently, Combustione: Alberto Burri and America, a survey of approximately forty major works. Libro/Oggetto will feature pieces from Burri’s colleagues and successors, creating a contextual framework for his production. The exhibition is organized by co-curators Giovanna Zamboni Paulis, independent curator of Italian contemporary art, and Randi Malkin Steinberger, a photographer and independent scholar.

The “book-art object” offers a highly varied medium through which one can see the full range of imagery, language and material embraced by its author. In many instances, in fact, the pieces do not conform to the traditional formal structure of books, or paradoxically to any accepted standard of art objects. Libro/Oggetto will highlight works from artists working in movements as varied as Conceptualism, Arte Povera, and the Transavanguardia, and will include work by such artists as Mirella Bentivoglio, Francesco Clemente, Jannis Kounellis, Bruno Munari, Maurizio Nannucci, and Michelangelo Pistoletto among others.

For people interested to learn a very good Italian we recommend this class

Course description: This course begins a sequence of three courses (XL1, XL2, XL3) covering first year college-level Italian. This first part (XL1) aims at developing basic communication skills: speaking, listening comprehension, reading and writing. Its primary focus is on communicating effectively and accurately within common everyday life situations. Instruction develops a basic conversational vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions, and grammar structures. Through a conversational-cultural approach, students are also introduced to contemporary Italian life and culture. Class is taught in Italian.

It is open to high school students.

Units: 4

Location: Online

Equipment: Students must have a computer with a microphone and speakers.

Class meetings: Tuesday-Thursday 6pm-7:30pm

Duration:  10 weeks: from October 5 to December 9

Registration #: V8365

Fee: $550

For further information please contact:

Instructor Patrizia Lissoni at lissonip@gmail.com

Or the program representitive Jenny Polutan at jpolutan@uclaextension.edu or  (310) 825-1898.

For the first time, during the 2009-2010 school year, Fondazione Azzurra organized an Italian Language Course at Paul Revere Charter Middle School in Los Angeles, as integral part of their Personal Enrichment Program (PEP).

In June, Fondazione Azzurra, in collaboration with Edulingua, instituted The Italian Poetry Contest , 2010 among students who, with interest and great motivation, took the course.

The winner of the first prize was Mackenzie Gray for her poem: DOLCE LA ESTATE. Mackenzie, an 8th grade student, was awarded a full scholarship for two weeks of study at Edulingua, in Castelraimondo, Italy.

DOLCE LA ESTATE

In autunno,
Le foglie sono arancione,
come il colore della mia maglietta preferita.

In inverno,
la neve è bianca,
come il colore dei miei guanti.

In primavera,
io sento il profumo dei fiori.

Ma, la estate è la stagione più bella.
Il mare è bellissimo e azzurro,
e il tramonto è rosso,
come il colore della ciliegia, e dolce.
Mi piace molto la estate.

Giocare sulla spiaggia,
andare in bicicletta.
La sabbia è soffice e il sole, caldo e giallo,
come il colore dell’ananas e dolce.
Mi piace molto la estate.

Io canto e ballo per i giorni della estate.
Vibra forte la mia anima per la stagione più bella.
Mi piace molto la estate.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The winner of the second prize was Tiffany Kim for her poem: LA CALIFORNIA. Tiffany, an 8th grade student as well, received a scholarship with a 50% discount for two weeks of study at EDULINGUA, in Castelraimondo, Italy.

LA CALIFORNIA

La California e` bellissima
Vedo la bellezza abbondante
Ascolto le onde azzurre
La sua anima vibra forte con la vita
Lei non dorme mai
Vedo la festa felice
Ascolta I bambini cantare
Le sue stagioni sono sempre la primavera e l’estate
Vedo I fiori arancioni e rossi
Ascolto la canzone del mare
La California e` bellissima

Among the most recent activities of Fondazione Azzurra, Serata Futurista, held in October 2009, was one of the most outstanding events, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Italian Futurism, the artistic and cultural movement started by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. This special evening was conceived with the idea of combining different art forms, from the screenings of shorts such as (Amor Pedestre, Excelsior and Vitesse), introduced by Kenneth Turan and Steven Ricci, to a very interesting stage performance with the actors from the Actor’s Gang Theater and Alessia Albani, to a musical performance by the musician Tommy Jordan and his team, to the screening of a video realized by Tommy Jordan and edited by Randi Malkin. The event was tastefully wrapped with a modern interpretation of a futuristic dinner prepared by the legendary chef Evan Kleiman.

Cinema is not the only field of interest for Fondazione Azzurra, but theater, forums and music play another big role as well. In October 2009 the non-profit foundation was a key collaborator in the Franco Battiato concert, held at the Broad Stage Theater in Santa Monica. This event gave the California audience a chance to get to know the refined musical talent of this famous Sicilian songwriter, who also has a deep interest and talent for filmmaking. On this premise “Musikanten”, the second project he directed, was screened for a very curious and engaged audience at the University of Southern California.

Last but not least, Fondazione Azzurra also treated the Los Angeles community to the screening of “Baaria”, the latest cinematic endeavour of Giuseppe Tornatore, which opened the Venice Film Festival two months before in August 2009.