Pick axes, irons and gloves represent the immigrant laborers who crossed the ocean between passionate Naples with its molten lava and New York City with its grid-like constructions.
Between Two Shores, 2011 Tra Due Sponde Plexiglas, wood, glass block, lava stone, iron, Venetian Plaster, gloves, acrylic 51 x 108 x 108 in. Courtesy of the artist Photo Credit - Rick Odell
Olive leaves from Naples are combined with a cracked New York mirror. Patria Luntana’s haunting words acknowledge the irreconcilable duality of the immigrant love of their home country as well as for their new abode, America.
Cracked Immigrant Mirror, 2011 Lo Specchio Spaccato del immigrante Streetmade paper, bronzed glove, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies, E.Rossi & Co., John D. Calandra
The Neapolitan spirit is expressed in graffiti-inspired text, which incorporates the names of Neapolitan neighborhoods and streets, and is shaped to reflect Mount Vesuvius. Graffiti is a visual fact of life in both Naples and New York.
Delirious Naples, 2011 Napoli Delirante Mylar, markers, paint, fabric, lava stone, canvas, gloves 96 x 288 x 30 in. Courtesy of the artist Photo Credit - Rick Odell
Both the hand-forged circle from Lapio, Italy and the Neapolitan marble stone float in between the “islands” which are composed of street-found New York newspaper.
Floating between Liberty and Vesuvius, 2011 Gallegiando fra La Libert e Vesuvio Streetmade paper, bronzed gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of the Coppola Family Trust, John D. Calandra Ital
The “heart” is composed of the intricately designed sole of an Italian shoe while Farfariello, the Italian comic actor, talks of working in the basement for the “bosso,” drinking wine at lunch but never seeing the sun.
Heart of Naples/Hands of New York, 2011 Cuore di Napoli/Mani di New York Streetmade paper, gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies, E.Rossi & Co., Stefania Rinaldi,
The humble religious icon is reminiscent of Neapolitan street shrines and the Edizione Pennino logo was created by a Coppola family grandfather who established a music publishing and import company in New York.
Holding the Street in my Hands, 2011 Sti Mmane Streetmade paper, gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, Queens College (CUNY), Stefania Rinaldi Cour
‘Na Serenata a Mulbere Avenuta (A Serenade on Mulberry Street), published in New York, is combined with a red love letter from a street in Naples; they speak of a love from another time.
Memories of Another Time, 2011 Memorie - Sempe Tu Streetmade paper, gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies, E.Rossi & Co., Stefania Rinaldi, Charles Sant'Elia Court
Elements from an evening stroll in Chelsea, New York are combined with Farfariello skits in which he satirizes love “American style” and the “peasant who reasons” – the digo who understands more about his new American neighbors than they recognize.
Piedigrotta Passione/Chelsea Passeggiata, 2011 Piedigrotta Passione/Chelsea Passeggiata Streetmade paper, bronzed gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies, John D. C
The hand-hewn ladle and shoe are from the artist’s family properties in Lapio, Italy. The words of ‘A Disperazione ‘America speak of factories being closed and the lack of work for immigrants in New York in 1929.
Place of the Heart (for Lapio), 2011 Luogo del cuore (per Lapio) Streetmade paper, bronzed gloves, found objects (Naples/NY), artifacts from Lapio, Italy and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies, E.Ro
The diamond pattern on the burgundy cardboard was produced when passing cars pressed it into the pietrini, the traditional hand-hewn paving stones found on many of Naples’ ancient streets.
Return to the Stones of Naples, 2011 Torna ai Pietrini Streetmade paper, bronzed gloves, found objects (Naples/NY) and sheet music images 22.5 x 32.5 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of E. Rossi & Co., Stefania Rinaldi Courtesy of the artist Photo Credit - Ri
The hand-made sifter from Montefalcione, Italy retains some of the dust and seeds from long ago. Workers’ gloves are juxtaposed with New York subway maps and attest to the immigrant labor that helped construct New York.
Roots (for Montefalcione), 2011 Radici Street maps Naples/NY, bronzed gloves, artifacts from Montefalcione, Italy and sheet music images 38 x 29 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of E.Rossi & Co., Charles Sant'Elia Courtesy of the artist Photo Credit - Rick
A bronzed casting of an Italian Easter pastry, the antique window, rustic key and awl reference the elements of the intimate Italian village life left behind. Sheet music, published in New York, comments on immigrant life in the larger urban world.
Window to a Wider World (for Montefalcione), 2011 Fensta a o munno cchi granne Street maps Naples/NY, plaster, window and artifacts from Montefalcione, Italy and sheet music images 38 x 29 x 2.25 in. Images courtesy of Center for Migration Studies Cour
The flying gloves are the “birds of passage,” the name given to Italian immigrants who traveled frequently between Naples and New York.
Birds of Passage New York/Naples, 2011 Rondini di Passaggio New York/Napoli Canvas, wood, paint, Venetian plaster, gloves, acrylic 60 x 60 x 3 in. Courtesy of the artist Photo Credit - Rick Odell
Delirious Naples
