JUNE 29 OPEN HOUSE

You're invited to an Open House hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute in Chicago and Italidea on June 29^th from 4-7pm to mark the beginning of Italidea’s Summer Session and in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition of works by Lorenzo Mattotti, featuring drawings and illustrations.  

The event will unfold as follows:

4pm: Children’s Corner: Pimpa animation film, featuring the fun, adventuresome, little Italian dog Pimpa, will delight a young audience. Live entertainment for kids provided by Carly Ciarrocchi. “Merenda” (snack) will be served.

     

                  Pimpa

5pm: Visit the Library and the Lorenzo Mattotti Exhibition on Display: Guests will have the opportunity to visit the Italian Cultural Institute’s library and discover the treasures of the Italian language. Visitors can also enjoy Lorenzo Mattotti playful artwork – a collection of magazine cover illustrations, drawings, and comics narratives – on view in the Italian Cultural Institute’s gallery.

         

Magazine cover and work by Lorenzo Mattotti

6pm: Experience sample Italian lessons from Italidea teachers, all of whom are native speakers with an Italian language degree obtained in Italy.

I hope you will join us in sharing and discovering the beauty of Italian language and culture.

A reception will be offered.

Thank you for calling (312) 822-9545 x 198 to RSVP. Please indicate the ages of any children you will be bringing.

To view the course schedule of summer courses offered at Italidea starting July 12^th, click here.  Please don’t miss two new special courses: “Buon Appetito,” which will explore the richness of Italian gastronomy and “Le Canzone e l’Italiano,” which will allow students to discover the styles and lyrics of Italian songwriters (cantautori).

Carmen Consoli at the Italian Cultural Institute on June 15!

Italian singer and songwriter Carmen Consoli stopped by the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago on June 15 to greet fans and play a sampling of her new songs from her seventh album, ELETTRA. The theme of ELETTRA is love in its many manifestations: filial, platonic, romantic; and love in its varying emotional tones: conflicted love, egotistical love that destroys rather than nurtures, and love that heals.

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As can be imagined, a large, extremely enthusiastic mix of Italians and Americans gathered to listen to Carmen Consoli for a special concert at theItalian Cultural Institute of Chicago on June 15. As Director Tina Cervone mentioned in her introduction, it certainly isn’t every day that Consoli fans have the opportunity to experience the music one of Italy’s favorite stars in an intimate setting, and also to exchange a few words with her. Consoli talked with individual audience members at length while signing CDs after her performance at the Institute, and graciously posed for photographs with all who asked.

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The Italian Singer Who Americans Love. A New Album & Tour for Carmen Consoli

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Microphone, acoustic guitar, powerful voice and impeccable beat were the only elements required for Consoli to fill the Institute’s gallery with the sound of a full scale concert. Adding depth to her performance were the stories she shared of how Sicily to this day provides her with inspiration and a rich musical heritage made of many cultural threads to draw from.

I AM LOVE opening at Landmark Theaters on Friday, June 25

We went to see I AM LOVE last night at the Century Mall's Landmark Theater. This visually lush movie set in Milan and San Remo lives up to its great reviews. Tilda Swinton is especially compelling in her role of the perfect upperclass wife and mother unable to continue paying the emotional price required for her to fulfill her function as female icon within her extended Italian family. A must see for Italophiles and film lovers alike. Click here for The New York Times Review.


Synopsis: I AM LOVE tells the story of the wealthy Recchi family, whose lives are undergoing sweeping changes. Eduardo Sr., the family patriarch, has decided to name a successor to the reigns of his massive industrial company, surprising everyone by splitting power between his son Tancredi, and grandson Edo. But Edo dreams of opening a restaurant with his friend Antonio, a handsome and talented chef. At the heart of the family is Tancredi's wife Emma (Tilda Swinton), a Russian immigrant who has adopted the culture of Milan. An adoring and attentive mother, her existence is shocked to the core when she falls quickly and deeply in love with Edo's friend and partner Antonio, and embarks on a passionate love affair that will change her family forever.


Directed by Luca Guadagnino. 
Cast:Tilda Swinton, Edoardo Gabbriellini, Alba Rohrwacher, Pippo Delbono

ItalianNotebook.com provides a daily taste of Italy

We received  this tip about a website called ItalianNotebook.com. If you're an Italophile, check out them out: "a daily taste ... in delightfully illustrated very short stories ... of things Italian. We and many of our Italophile colleagues, look forward each day to receiving these wonderful little snippets. The topics range from Art, Archaeology, Food, Wine and beyond. Subscribe  http://www.italiannotebook.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=11  link.

June 24 at 5 PM - Movie night - Si Può Fare

Join the Italian Cultural Institute at 5 PM this Thursday for a free screening of the movie SI PUO FARE. Directed by Giulio Manfredonia (Rome, 1967) it tells the story of a Milanese businessman who seeks to reassimilate former mental institute patients into society by offering them work in a special cooperative that provides hardwood flooring services. A dramatic comedy that was inspired by a true story, it was awarded the Silver Ribbon (2009) and the David of Donatello (2009).

SI PUO FARE is in Italian with English subtitles. It will be presented by Northwestern University senior lecturer Paola Morgavi.

Carla Benedetti, Italian literature and the journal IL PRIMO AMORE

The evening of Tuesday, June 8, at the Italian Cultural Institute revolved around the exploration of Italian literature, a journey that began with Leopardi and ended with contemporary writers like Moresco and Saviano.

Director Tina Cervone provided the introduction to the evening’s central theme: the relationship between this group of writers and the Italian community.

Professor Carla Benedetti, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Literature at the University of Pisa and currently Visiting Professor of Theory of Literature at the University of Chicago, guided the audience on this literary excursion.

The Italy-Paraguay Match at the Institute drew enthusiastic Azzuri fans!

Soccer fans had a great time watching the Italy-Paraguay match at the Institute today!
Thanks to all for joining us!
Click on this link to Corriere della Sera for intense, in depth coverage of the games by their best writers.

Contemporary Art Website Succoaccido

For those interested in contemporary Italian culture in all its manifestations - comics art, film, theater, street entertainment, music - the Succoaccido website is a must.
Their latest newsletter covers a wide range of happenings - everything from Artisti in Piazza, the International Buskers Festival in Pennabilli, a medieval town in North East Italy that is hosting 200 international entertainers who will perform in streets and courtyards; to a comics exhibition at the CRACK festival in Rome; to an art exhibition by a young Iranian artist being shown at Genoa's Palazzo Ducale.

Carmen Consoli at the Italian Cultural Institute on June 15!

On June 15 at 1 pm the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago will have a special guest - the major musical star Carmen Consoli, who will be in Chicago promoting her latest album, ELETTRA.

Carmen Consoli will play songs from ELETTRA and greet audience members. Don't miss this truly once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy the music of one of Italy's most beloved singer-songwriters in an intimate, relaxed setting.

For more about Carmen Consoli, her upcoming US tour, her Chicago show on June 15 at Martyr's and a great music video, check out this I-Italy article.

For this special event ELETTRA will be on sale to Italian Cultural Institute audience members for half price.

Please RSVP at 312-822-9545