If a picture is worth a thousand words, a new photo exhibit in Little Italy would equal a large reader-submitted book of beautiful essays.
When faced with the opportunity to submit two photos of what Italy means to them, local Italy aficionados submitted photos from the boot-shaped country that feature Italian attributes ranging from the picturesque to the offbeat. Deciphering just what the photo speaks of is the fun part.
“Italia Mia (My Italy)” is being shown at the Italian Community Center, 1669 Columbia St., through Sept. 16 as part of the center’s 25th anniversary. With 81 photographs from 37 people running in a line along the walls of several rooms, the exhibit is a far cry from anything you might find at a gallery, but to think that would be missing the point. The nature of the photos, which range from professional-looking to positively amateurish, is what makes the exhibit special. The casual feel of the community center compliments the photos nicely, an entire user-generated compilation.
The entire idea was invented by ICC student Shlomi Ron and ICC educators Laura Bianconcini and Serena Camozzo. Ron, who takes Italian lessons at the center, said he has really enjoyed the practice and the culture, and in talking with people who traveled to Italy, came up with the concept. Ron said he thought it would be interesting to “throw a challenge to people, [saying] ‘what is your ideal Italian fantasy?’ and see what you come up with.”
Photos range from Tuscan villas, bustling piazzas and the Cinque Terre to a cyclist blocked by a herd of sheep and a frustrated herder on a country road and from startlingly close-up pictures of Pope Benedict XVI to pictures of a group of friends at dinner.
“There’s tons of perspective here,” Ron said. “For people who are not professional photographers, the result is really amazing.”
The ICC was founded 25 years ago together by a number of people who wanted a cultural place to meet. Our Lady of the Rosary, the adjoining church, provided help, since it had wanted an Italian center anyway. The ICC, among other services, provided free Italian lessons for 10 years, all through volunteers. However, according to ICC President Silvia Metzger, volunteering was too much to ask. Nowadays they charge a nominal amount for lessons.
Today the center teaches close to 200 students, with four sessions per year. Other cultural events it hosts, both now and in the past, include an Italian film festival, whose theme this year is the neorealist movement, Italian lectures, and cooking classes.
“Italia Mia” photos were to be submitted by April 20, and the exhibit was only available to members of the center. Organizers had to cut submissions off at two photos, because people were willing to submit many more.
Membership to the Italian Community Center costs $25 per year individually, or $35 for families. For more information, visit www.icc-sd.com.