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Home , Central Italy, Dante Alighieri Society, Il Pordenone, Italo Svevo, Province of Gorizia, Province of Trieste

Spring/Summer 2005

Dante Alighieri Society, Chapter

Message from the President Ecco il vero volto di Dante: non aveva il naso aquilino

Two thousand and four was a successful Firenze, 7 marzo 2005 - aveva il naso lungo ma non aquilino. Lo year for our Society. In addition to the rivela il più antico volto del Sommo Poeta finora documentato, di cui è stato com- cultural events, we introduced activities pletato da poco il restauro a Firenze. L'intervento sul più antico ritratto dell'autore with new formats to respond to changing della «Divina Commedia», che non doveva essere un bell'uomo, rivela anche la interests. Let us know how you liked carnagione scura e smentisce l'iconografia che si è andata affermando nei secoli, them as we need your input in planning soprattutto le immagini imposte dal Rinascimento, che lo volevano col naso aqui- successful activities. Please remember lino. È il critico d'arte Arturo Carlo Quintavalle - con un articolo sul «Corriere also that our Society offers many della Sera» - ad anticipare gli esiti di un importante restauro che sarà inaugurato volunteer opportunities in all of our fra breve nel capoluogo toscano. Il restauro affidato a Daniela Dini è stato possi- committees and that by participating you bile grazie all'impegno generoso di un privato, Umberto Montano, in accordo con will get to know other members who le soprintendenze, che ha investito 400 mila euro. L'affresco con l'immagine di share your passion for the Italian lan- Dante, risalente intorno al 1375, si trova nell'antica sede dell'Arte dei Giudici e guage and culture. Notai, in via del Proconsolo, a pochi passi dal Museo del Bargello, dove è conser- Last year was important also because vato un altro ritratto di Dante, attribuito alla scuola di Giotto. Montano aprirà the passed a new con- presto un ristorante in quella che fu la sala dell'Arte dei Giudici e dei Notai, ma stitutional law. This law, due to go into gli affreschi ora restaurati saranno visibili ugualmente al pubblico e salvaguardati. effect in 2006, will allow all Italian citi- La lunetta che è stata restaurata era composta da quattro figure: insieme al volto e zens residing abroad to vote by mail for parte del corpo di Dante c'è anche l'immagine di Giovanni Boccaccio, mentre local representatives to the Italian Par- sono andate quasi perdute le raffigurazioni di Francesco Petrarca e Zanobi da liament. I urge you to follow this devel- Strada. opment and be prepared to cast your vote. Buon proseguimento! . Tilde Pfaff

Impressions of Dante

Tell us your feelings of Il Sommo poeta Dante Alighieri and his masterpiece La Divina Commedia. For this issue, we have asked a few of our members to write down their thoughts to get us started (page 2). The editors request your contributions to this new endeavor to make it successful. Send your thoughts and articles to [email protected] by June 20.

In this issue Impres- sions of Dante 2 Venezia Giulia 3- 8 Libri Libri Libri 9 Member News, Education 10-11

Spring/Summer 2005 Page 2

Impressions of Dante

Tre cose ci son rimaste del Paradiso: le stelle, i fiori e i bambini. (Dante Alighieri)

Dante Alighieri (Firenze 1265 - 1321)

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita mi ritrovai per una selva oscura ché la diritta via era smarrita. Inferno, c.I, vv. 1-3.

Dante e il famoso incipit della Divina Commedia fanno risuonare in me l'orgoglio, la rabbia, la disperazione e la dignità di accettare ed affrontare il nostro temporaneo passaggio su questa terra. . Silvia Giorgini (Ann Arbor)

Queste parole sono di un’intensità incredibile e così vive! Ogni volta che le leggo, vago con la fantasia su lidi lontani e riflet- to sui tumulti della vita in genere. La selva oscura per me rappresenta il groviglio di domande a cui non so dar risposta, e la paura della fragilità del presente e del futuro. . Giovanna Pallazola (West Bloomfield)

Every time I read the opening verses of the I feel the dismay; the individual experiences when life has lost a sense of direction and purpose. Tilde Pfaff (West Bloomfield)

Leggere questi versi mi porta indietro nel tempo, a casa. La mia prima reazione è …un sospiro. Un sospiro di nostalgia e allo stesso tempo di pena, una pena profonda, non per me, ma per i miei figli, che forse non riusciranno mai ad apprezzare quello che io ho studiato per tanti anni, a casa mia, in Italia. Il leggere questi versi fa nascere in me un profondo senso di solitudine, e paradossalmente, di comunione spirituale con il Sommo Poeta. Quale maestria impeccabile nel descrivere quello che sicu- ramente ogni essere umano prova almeno una volta nella propria vita: smarrimento. Smarrimento di fronte a scelte, a diffi- coltà, a necessità, smarrimento di fronte alla vita stessa, o a quella che crediamo essere la vita stessa. . Silvia Calzoni Schultz (Birmingham)

The harmony of the sound of the Italian words, the symmetry of the composition (i versi, le terzine, le rime), the almost mathematical structure does not explain the beauty of the Divine Comedy. The tone and rhythm of the of the first thirty verses of the Inferno makes me appreciate the musicality of Dante's poem, but the mystery of what true poetry is and what makes a poet "universal" are the emotions in my soul created by the reading. . Aurelia Tranchida (Bloomfield Hills) Spring/Summer 2005 Page 3

Friuli Venezia Giulia

Trieste

Friuli, paese, quantunque freddo, lieto di belle montagne, di più fiumi e di chiare fontane… (Il Decamerone) Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375)

Dante Alighieri Society Michigan Chapter PO Box 2962 Southfield, MI 48037-2962

Board of Directors: Tilde Pfaff (President), Liana Spalla (Vice President), Frank Romano (Recording Sec.), Diana Manzo (Treasurer), Susanna Williams (Corresponding Sec.), Silvia Calzoni Schultz, Emma Edgar, Omar Mainero, Paola Morabito and Jerry Rosenberg. Special Committees: Domenica Petrella and Giovanna Zaccagnini. is situated in the Il Mosaico: Editors, Lia Adelfi and Liana uppermost northeastern part of , Spalla. surrounded by the Adriatic in the Provinces Contributors to this issue: W. Bianchi, S. south, the in the north and Calzoni Schultz, L. Kleine, A. MacSorley, and Yugoslavia to the east. This region P. Paolini, T. Pfaff and A. Tranchida. consists of four provinces: Trieste, Gorizia, Udine and Pordenone. In the The is the smallest past, this land was conquered by the of the four provinces. It is located in a All communications or items of 250 words Romans, Longobards, Venetians and valley and Trieste is a major seaport in for publication should be sent to the PO Austrians. Friuli derived its name from Box or via e-mail to: . the south on the . [email protected] “Forum Julii”, founded by Julius .In the inland towns there is a consis- Caesar. In the second century, up to the tency in the presence of the Slovenian Please submit material for the next issue by sixteenth century, the city of Cividale language. The city's geographical isola- June 20, 2005. was the major center of Friuli. tion is reflected in its personality. The next issue will highlight the region of The region, following the organization It is at once lonely, mysterious, allu- . of all the provinces of the Roman ring, conservative, pensive, a little Empire, was named the tenth italic primitive, perennially tired and taciturn. region: “la decima regione italica.” It is full of banks (unlike other Italian As a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, gifts A journalist once compared the shape administrative towns), but is lacking in and donations are tax deductible. of this region to a “frying pan”, with any great entrepreneurial spirit. . the center being Friuli and the handle is It is a fairly old city and a center of what remains of Venezia-Giulia. and art, a city that extend a Spring/Summer 2005 Page 4

UDINE Important remains of the Roman friendly welcome to people of all na- tionalities. It is a carefree city with a Udine is the second city of Friuli and period can be found in this area too, love for the finer things in life. What some say that although it has less than especially the di Pordenone. Pordenone belonged to the German- could be more pleasurable than a glass half the population of Trieste, it will landed gentry from the first half of the of wine, a walk around the Carso and a gain the ascendancy sooner or later. 13th century. From 1278 it was under meal in a good restaurant? Just sit back Certainly it's already far more attrac- and watch the frenetic pace of every- the rule of the Hapsburgs who granted tive to visitors, with its galleries, fine day life grind slowly to a halt. Trieste their subjects a number of rights and churches and well-preserved historic is a beautiful and extraordinary city, privileges in order to gain favor with anchored to a past that it cannot forget. buildings around the Piazza Libertà. them. The town was already inhabited In winter it is constantly battered by Udine was one of the frontier bastions before the 10th century, which is at- the - an icy and powerful north- of Imperial , and by the sixth tested to by the necropolis that was easterly wind, which is tolerated as century AD it was far more than a gar- recently brought to light under the Pa- an inevitable feature of life in Trieste. rison colony. But it was not until the lazzo Ricchieri. In the 12th century the A couple of other curious points to thirteenth century that it started to be- city started significant development of note about Trieste is that it is home to come a regional center. Patriarch Ber- commercial activities of the port on the the famous “jeansinari”, people who toldo di Andechs (1218–51) can be river Noncello from which it gets its sell jeans made in this town. And it is seen as the father of Udine. He moved name (Portus Naonis) and from which, here, too, when a young man by the the patriarchate from Cividale to the across the rivers Meduna and Livenza, name of Lionello Stock noticed that the castle of Udine and set up a city coun- the Adriatic sea and can be merchandise ”fusti di vino” was being cil. In 1362 the dukes of Austria ac- reached. In the same period the Haps- shipped to France for the ultimate use quired Udine by treaty, but not for burgs’ Pordenone and Castelnovo were of making Cognac because the wine long: Venice, now hungry for territory, the only two cities not conquered by from the Friuli region was much more Venice in 1420. The latter remained in superior to the one in France. So he captured Udine in 1420 after several possession of the count of Gorizia until began distilling the wine in Trieste assaults and sieges. The city was ruled and later called it Brandy, so as not to by Venetian governors for almost 400 they both came under the rule of la confuse it with Cognac. Thus, the fa- years – until 1797, when the Venetian Serenissima in 1508. In 1797, mous “Stock 84” came to be. Republic surrendered to Napoleon. bank of the , which was Even now, the old aristocracy of Udine under the Napoleonic rule, and the rest speak a version of Venetian dialect, of the territory, which was then the GORIZIA while the humbler Udinese, many of , was ceded to the Austrians. It remained in their posses- The is one of the whom have migrated from the country- sion, except for the period 1806-1813, smallest ones in Italy but with one of side, speak friulan. . in which it was under Italic domination the densest of populations. The city is The most significant artwork in this until 1866, when it was annexed to the situated at the mouth of Valle town is by Giambattista Tiepolo. dell’Isonzo in the Friuli plains near . When the port trade Yugoslavia. Gorizia was once known stopped at the beginning of the 19th as the “Nice of the House of Haps- century, many industries started to burg” (Nizza Asburgica). Many people flourish in Pordenone, making a including popes, emperors and famous marked impression on the development princes traveled here. , of the city. Among the most thriving Gorizia is a modern and pretty agricul- were the pottery and cotton mills, tural and commercial town; the perfect which employed several thousand starting point for excursions to the workers. After World War II, when the battlefields “campi di battaglia”. The textile industry went into recession, the castle of the Counts of Gorizia is of city prospered on account of the do- Teutonic origin, of Tyrolean style and mestic appliance industry, still one of built so unusually strong that it was the best in . extremely difficult to conquer. The Triumph of Virtue and Nobility over Ignoran- ce (Tiepolo) Until l9l6 it remained Hapsburg CORTINA D’ property. The Italian troops later PORDENONE acquired it and from l934 to l937 it In the west of Friuli, traces of settle- Cortina is located in the province of was completely restored to its origi- ments of different ages: Paleolithic, in the at an altitude nal form. Also of importance to note is Neolithic and the Iron Age, have been of 1210m. This town is one of the that in 13l8 Count Enrico II received found in several places. . twelve resorts belonging to the Alps, the exiled Dante Alighieri. which rate as the most exclusive and Spring/Summer 2005 Page 5

well-known destinations of the Top Five European Alpine countries. Since Ambiente - Artigianato - Cucina hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics, Cortina has been one of the world’s top prestigious ski resorts, attracting cele- La Bora La cucina brities of all types. The surroundings of La bora è un vento continentale secco e Cortina became the backdrop for La cucina del Friuli Venezia Giulia è movies like Cliffhanger with Sylvester freddo che scende con furia dall’altipiano carsico in direzione del caratterizzata dalla fusione delle tradi- Stallone. mare. Specie in inverno spazza Trieste zioni gastronomiche contadine con con raffiche di 100/140 ed eccezional- quelle aristocratiche. Una caratteristica mente di 170 chilometri l’ora, che fan- della cucina friulana è l’uso di zucche- no volare le tegole, rovinare camini, ro, formaggio, burro, frutta, mar- schiantare alberi d’alto fusto come mellate, mostarde, senapi, in tutti i platani e ippocastani. Al largo, sul ma- piatti, dai primi ai dolci. L’alimento re, la bora si attenua, procede in dire- fondamentale è la polenta. zione di Venezia e di Chioggia a velo- cità ridotta del 70 per cento, fino ad addolcirsi oltre Rovigo e la Valle del Polenta Po. La bora gela il corpo con la sua The town’s picturesque square is velocità e secchezza ma le si attribui- framed by two massive mountain Polenta is usually yellow and is really scono proprietà tonificanti; tutto som- nothing more than boiled corn meal. ridges. The highest peak is 9,613 feet. mato un vento salubre, che rinnova e purifica l’aria della città, elimina ogni Friulans are fond of topping polenta Memories of Gemona forma di inquinamento atmosferico, with just about any type of meat or pulisce il mare portando al largo detriti fish. Most satisfying on a cold winter's La città si stende sul declivio del monte e liquidi galleggianti. day is a bowl of polenta served with Ciampon e Cuarnan. A ovest, la breve good sausage, perhaps cooked in to- pianura inizia circondata da aspri monti Scuola dei mosaicisti mato sauce with peppers. Polenta may e da un susseguirsi di colli verso sud, be served in its creamy, just cooked fino alle sponde della laguna di Mara- state, or it may be allowed to solidify, no e Grado. A Gemona, il Taglia- The Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli, in the province of Friuli Venezia Giulia was after which it can be sliced and sau- mento vira a ovest seguendo il confine téed, grilled or fried prior to serving. col Veneto, mentre l’arco delle prealpi founded in 1922, in a region where dal monte Canin vira ad est e scende mosaic art has been practiced for Polenta can also take center stage in verso Gorizia e Trieste. Un vero “teatro centuries. Mosaicists of the Spilim- various rustic dishes where layers of magico” coi colli che si addossano ai bergo area worked for many years in polenta alternate with any number of monti giuliani, più dolci, che raggiun- Venice and, in the 19th century, mi- other ingredients, usually ground meat gono il Carso triestino, verso il castello grated across Europe, creating marve- or cheeses. Some chefs add béchamel di e Miramare di Trieste. I colli lous examples of their art. . sauce or tomato sauce to these dishes, morenici del Friuli centrale, formano The mosaicists school utilizes the an- with a result that is very much like the un ventaglio che inizia ad - cient art form for its own interpreta- traditional layered lasagna. Gemona e si allarga sull’arco esterno, tions and its creative expressions. Prosciutto di San Daniele sul colle di San Daniele, , Mo- These modern works demonstrate the ruzzo, Trigesimo e , con le altu- different subject matters and styles re punteggiate da ruderi solitari, da being explored by today’s artists, from Prosciutto di San Daniele is an un- castelli ricostruiti o borghi fortificati. reconstruction of ancient mosaics, to cooked aged ham. It is distinctively Le chiese, testimoniano un forte richia- portraiture, to abstract imagery, em- shaped like a guitar and the meat is mo cristiano e sorgono quasi sempre ploying also a more adventurous three- reddish-pink in color. It has a pro- sui colli. Da queste alture facilmente si dimensional technique. nounced aroma, a sweet and delicate controllano le strade che dall’Austria flavor and an unmistakable aftertaste. all’Italia scendono dal nord a sud o The retention of the end piece of the viceversa. Guardando questo panorama hog's leg (the trotter) is another identi- stupendo, unico al mondo, con orgo- fying characteristic. glio penso alle truppe Romane vincitri- ci che tornavano dal nord verso Roma, con il grande condottiero Giulio Cesa- re. . . Wanda Urbani Bianchi

Spring/Summer 2005 Page 6

The area of production is the town do rose in un piter, district of in the La sedia friulana in alto quatro nuvoli, . The livestock de soto un fià de mar, comes exclusively from ten regions in Risale all'alto medioevo uno dei primi xe 'l quadro più magnifico north central Italy (46 percent from inizi della "sedimentazione" dell'indu- che mai se pol sognar! alone). . stria sediaria in Friuli: è un dettaglio The hogs are bred only on approved dell'Ara di Ratchis, fra le più importan- Poesia farms, and the DOP certification sets ti testimonianze della civiltà longobar- di Marisa Zanessi Urbani out stringent norms regarding the ge- da in Italia, a , nei Dante member, Wanda Bianchi’s sis- netic makeup of the animals and pre- pressi di Udine. ter, Marisa Zanessi Urbani, lives in cise rules for their feeding. Secoli più tardi, è l'influenza della vici- The only ingredient used in the treat- Udine with her husband. Marisa was na Venezia, uno dei centri ir-radiatori ment process is sea salt, and that only only 16 when they lost their father. sparingly (the salt content in a properly del Rinascimento, a farsi sentire: fale- Then her mother, sister, Wanda, and aged prosciutto di San Daniele is less gnami ed intagliatori friulani operano brother came to the USA but Marisa than six percent). nella città dei Dogi già dal '400, ripro- decided to stay in Italy to marry her ponendo in patria modelli di sedie ve- fiancé. It was very dramatic for her to nete fino al '700 e oltre. Contempora- lose her whole family at such a young Picolit Gem- neamente alle sedie destinate ai ceti age. Marisa continued her studies in ma dell'enologia friulana elevati, la nascente industria friulana literature and wrote several poems. Several years ago Marisa entered a sviluppa una produzione più di massa: poetry contest in which the following Quello del Picolit è un vitigno un tem- inizialmente imitando i modelli po abbastanza diffuso in Friuli, tanto poem was selected for publication in a "nobili" e, successivamente, dando vita book of poetry. che il suo prodotto veniva esportato in alla seduta impagliata, ormai entrata quantità notevoli; oggi la sua coltiva- Adolescente donna nella storia dell'arredo. . zione è limitata a qualche decina di Primo giorno d'autunno, Nell'800, l'apertura delle comu- ettari e si tratta quindi di un vino molto preludio di tristezza. nicazioni ferroviarie e marittime deter- difficile da reperire. La sua produzione Appari sulla soglia e come a caso è infatti limitatissima a causa di ano- mina il primo "boom" della sedia friu- malie costituzionali del fiore, ragion lana. Marocca e Marsigliese: questi i dici che te ne vai. In me qualcosa per cui il più delle volte gli acini fecon- nomi di due tipi di sedie prodotte a accade, che non vedi. Fisso a lungo dati sono in ciascun grappolo in nume- che, per la loro ro- lo sguardo sul tuo volto cosi fiero, ro bassissimo. Ne consegue da ciò bustezza, fanno epoca oltre che la for- talvolta duro. Sciogliere vorrei che quei pochi grani che riescono a tuna del primo consorzio di seggiolai la pena nelle lacrime che temi, formarsi danno un mosto di altissime istituito in quest'area. caratteristiche, capace di mutarsi in un ma tu sfuggi il mio sguardo, io vino prelibato. La produzione si aggira sfuggo il tuo. quindi sul quindici per cento, rispetto Ciechi la mente e il cuore, alle altre uve. V'è poi la difficoltà di l'animo in aspra lotta con se stesso lavorazione, che avviene in fusti di Musica Popolare rovere di , nuovi. E ancora un io vidi in te, e soltanto nuovo calo, del 25 per cento, in ogni i tuoi diciassett'anni. botte. Il Picolit autentico ha un’ incon- Trieste Mia Ora che vivi la tua vita e vuoi (Parole di "Corrai" fondibile vaghezza e non è accom- Musica di Publio Carniel -1925) dimostrare a te stessa più che agli altri pagnabile neppure col più prelibato che ormai sei donna, libera di amare dessert; va sorbito Co son lontan de ti, Trieste mia, e di dimenticare, senza a temperatura di me sento un gran dolor dovere gratitudine a nessuno, «cave», sceglien- e più che zerco de pararlo via, cerco la bambina che eri allora, do particolari mo- più me se ingropa el cor. menti di rotondità Le lagrime me cori zo pel viso cosi dolce e serena, di spirito. e digo fra de mi in calzoncini rossi. che no ghe esisti un altro paradiso Ritrovarti vorrei cosi, quando sarà suo più splendido de ti! tempo, in una tua bambina da allevare. Ritornello: Forse quel giorno in te ritornerà la pace: ma tu dimmelo Un buso in mia contrada, un vecio fogoler, perché questo, e null'altro, ansiosa un sial che pica in strada, attendo. Spring/Summer 2005 Page 7

Famosi Friulani Veneziani Giuliani

account of The Gospel According Pier Paolo Pasolini Italo Svevo Writer/Filmmaker to St Matthew (1964), the "Trilogy of (1922 - 1975) Life" based on The Decameron (1971), Writer (1861 - 1928) The Canterbury Tales (1972), and The Arabian Nights (1973), to his extraor- Championed by , the Ita- dinary last film Salò (1975), in which lian novelist Italo Svevo was born in he set the dying days of Trieste in 1861. A Jew of Italian and in a graphic version of the Marquis de German descent, his real name was Sade's pornographic divine comedy, Ettore Schimtz. Reflecting his origins, The 120 Days of Sodom. Although his pseudonym literally means ‘Italian there are plenty of conspiracy theories Swabian’. The echo of xenos, the Greek word for foreign, is also present, to argue otherwise, Pasolini died tragi- signaling his uneasiness to be at home cally in 1975. within a single tradition. . Svevo’s novels pioneered the use of stream-of-consciousness narrative and thought analysis. His work is therefore considered a forerunner of the modern psychoanalytical novel and he is Born in Bologna in 1922, Pasolini was routinely compared to Proust as well as brought up in his mother's birthplace in to Joyce, his Irish mentor. Svevo’s two rural Friuli. There, when he was 1890s novels were dismissed by critics sixteen, one of his teachers introduced and ignored by the public. Thereafter him to the works of Arthur Rimbaud; he abandoned literature and went to his response was to begin to see work in his father-in-law’s paint busi- poetry's potential for cultural opposi- ness. He returned to writing only after tion to Fascism, not to mention its the young exile in Trieste, Joyce, capacity to give voice to sexual whom he had hired to tutor him in English and who modeled Leopold unorthodoxy. Pasolini's own first po- Bloom partly on him, asked to see and ems, written in the Friulian dialect, admired his novels. . were published in 1942 and were well Arturo Malignani received. During the war, he started Scientist (1865 - 1939) working as a teacher in a local school. Even though his brother Guido had Inventore, scienziato e ingegnere udi- been shot by Communist partisans in nese. Dedicò tutta la sua vita alla ricer-

1945, Pasolini joined the regional ca di nuove soluzioni nel campo delle branch of the Party. As Pasolini was risorse energetiche e dell' idra-ulica. E’ gradually drawn into the intellectual universalmente famoso per le sue ri- community of Rome in the 1950s, he cerche sulla lampadina che consentiro- inevitably met and began to collaborate no a Udine di essere fra le tre città with some of the new-wave Italian meglio illuminate al mondo. Inventore filmmakers as well as writers. From di un processo che consentiva alle lam- working on screenplays, he soon padine una durata di 800 ore (rispetto graduated to directing his own films. alle 10-15 dell'epoca) fu chiamato da The first, Accattone, appeared in 1961. Edison a ripetere i suoi esperimenti a Although he went on writing for the Menlo Park. Di fronte agli strabilianti

rest of his life, he devoted more and risultati, Edison acquistò tutti i brevetti more attention to the cinema. As a del Malignani e li utilizzò nella sua filmmaker, Pasolini had a particularly azienda. A lui è stato dedicato il più Italo Svevo literary talent. Certainly, many of his importante Istituto Tecnico Industriale

greatest films are adaptations of della regione. written texts, from the "proletarian" Spring/Summer 2005 Page 8

Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis shown at The Sabatello Gallery of Institute of Arts, The Newark Museum, “” Rome in 1934 were sculptures in The Tampa Museum, The Smith- Artist (1484 -1539) bronze. Mirko held his first personal sonian, The British Museum in Lon- exposition in 1936 at the Gallery of the don, The Minnesota Museum of Art, Italian painter, named after the town of Comet. In the same year he also par- The Council of Cultural Affairs in his birth, Pordenone in Friuli. After ticipated at the Bienniale in Venice Stockholm, Sweden, The Hungarian working in a provincial style at the with a group of Roman artists and held in Budapest, Hun- very start of his career (his master is an exhibition in Turin with his brother gary, and at The Institute of Culture in unknown), by the beginning of the Afro. In 1938 he had exhibitions at the Zacatecas, Mexico. De Giusti has also second decade of the 16th century Por- Comet Art Gallery of New York and in produced bronze panels for the doors denone had come close to the contem- 1939 Mirko showed at Gallery Forty of The Church of San Vito in his home porary Venetian (specifically Gior- One and won critical acclaim with his town of Maniago, Italy. He has de- gionesque) manner of painting. In the David (1937, bronze: Rome, National signed official medallions for the De- second half of the decade, however, he Gallery of Modern Art). The works partment of Treasury in was in central Italy, and his style executed between December 1939 D.C., and created a bronze figure of changed under the impact particularly (Gallery of Rome) and 1945 (Rome, Christ for the processional cross used of , acquiring great Gallery of the Zodiaco) displayed new during Pope John Paul’s mass at the weight and solidity. Pordenone was suggestions recalling il “” Pontiac Silverdome. He has created a influenced also by Mantegna's illusio- from Donatello to Pollaiolo. From large free-standing relief for the front nism and by German prints, and the 1946-47 Mirko’s newest works dis- of The Blue Cross Blue Shield Buil- style he forged from these diverse in- played a post-cubist language and his ding in downtown Detroit. For the fluences was highly distinctive and paintings a "neometafisica" style. At State Library rotunda in Lansing he original. He always retained something this time he produced paintings and created 20 curved reliefs. Detroit’s of provincial uncouthness - at times sculptures in polychrome showing most recent De Giusti sculptures are vulgarity. These qualities are seen at naturalistic shapes, like "fabulous the 16 bronze reliefs for the Labor Leg- their most forceful in his fresco of the mythical ghosts". Between 1948 and acy Monument in Hart Plaza. Crucifixion (1520-1) in the 1952 there were numerous personal Cathedral; the densely packed, exhibitions in New York, Rome and bizarrely expressive figures are seen as Milan. The artist continued to show if on a stage through a painted prosce- and eventually moved to the United nium arch and they lunge violently out States where he died in 1969. into the spectator's space. From 1527, Pordenone was based in Venice and for a while he was a serious rival to . Unfortunately, his major works in Ve- Sergio De Giusti nice have been destroyed. Sculptor (1941)

Mirko Basaldella Mr. De Giusti's awards include Knigh- Artist (1910 -1969) Sergio De Giusti, born in Maniago, (Pordenone) Italy in 1941, currently thood from the Republic of Italy and a resides and works in Redford Town- 1991 Michigan Creative Artist Grant. Mirko Basaldella, born in Udine, ship, Michigan with his wife. studied in Venice and at the Academy He received both his bachelor and mas- of Fine Arts of under the ters degrees in Fine Arts from Wayne

guidance of Arthur Martini, with State University in Detroit and taught whom he collaborated until 1930. He art history and studio art classes there. then worked in Monza and Milan from In addition, he has also taught sculp- 1932-34. He showed for a time with ture at the Center for Creative Studies- his two siblings Afro and Dino, and College of Art and Design in Detroit with the painter Alexander Filippon. and at Birmingham Bloomfield Art In 1934 he moved to Rome with his Center in Birmingham, Michigan. De

brother Afro and Corrado Rennets and Giusti’s work has been widely exhi- showed with a group of artists at the bited in both the and Gallery of the Comet. The first works Europe, in such places as The Detroit PageSpring/Summer 10 2005 Page 9

LIBRI LIBRI LIBRI

cal realism. della liberazione dal Lager la mattina Zeno’s Conscience del 27 gennaio del 1945. Le esperienze (La coscienza di Zeno) maps, and in handsome line drawings vengono presentate dallo scrittore se- by Italo Svevo by Nicholas Read. Part travel diary, guendo il filo del suo racconto che part guidebook, part literary history, A assume di volta in volta, un andamento Ghost in Trieste is a wonderful intro- Long hailed as a seminal work of diverso: quello del resoconto, in cui gli in the tradition of Joyce avvenimenti ci vengono esposti nella and Kafka, (now available in a new We are pleased to announce a lecture loro successione cronologica; quello English translation), Italo Svevo’s piú aperto e disteso che procede per scheduled for September with Profes- charming and splendidly idiosyncratic associazioni di memoria, in cui l'autore sor Ralph Williams, who will present novel conducts readers deep into one ci presenta la vita nel campo attraverso the following work of writer Primo hilariously hyperactive and endlessly una serie di quadri che includono per- self-deluding mind. . Levi. In order to prepare for Prof. Wil- sonaggi e situazioni; quello infine di The mind in question belongs to Zeno liams’ lecture, we thought you might impianto diaristico, adottato nelle ulti- Cosini, a neurotic Italian businessman like to read what he will be discussing. me pagine, che meglio riproduce il who is writing his confessions at the precipitare degli eventi e meglio si behest of his psychiatrist. Here are adegua alla concitazione che assume il Zeno’s interminable attempts to quit racconto. La testimonianza che Levi ci smoking, his courtship of the beautiful Survival in Auschwitz affida attraverso le pagine del suo libro yet unresponsive Ada, his unexpected (Se questo è un uomo) non è altro che una lunga meditazione and unexpectedly happy marriage to by Primo Levi Ada’s homely sister Augusta, and his sull'opera di annientamento della per- affair with a shrill voiced aspiring Levi was a 24 year old chemistry stu- sonalità umana (sia in senso fisico, sia, singer. Relating these misadventures dent hiding in the Italian mountains soprattutto, in senso morale), che costi- with wry wit and a perspicacity at once when he was captured in December of tuisce il primo obiettivo dei campi di unblinking and compassionate, Zeno’s 1943. It was his "good fortune," he sterminio. Dopo averci narrato in ter- Conscience is a miracle of psychologi- writes, to be sent to Auschwitz as late mini lapidari come venne catturato dai as 1944, when the Nazis had a greater fascisti e condotto nel campo di concentramento, e dopo averci descrit- A Ghost in Trieste need for forced labor. This searing by Joseph Cary to attraverso pagine altamente dram- memoir details in detached, almost matiche come gli ebrei internati nel clinical prose, Levi's experiences in the Gem of the Adriatic, Trieste sparkles campo accolsero l'annuncio della de- camp where, "the struggle for life is and beckons through the pages of poets portazione Levi affronta la descrizione and novelists. Drawn there in search of reduced to its primordial mechanism." del viaggio che lo condurrà dalla pic- literary ghosts, of the poet Umberto Levi focuses on the everyday details of cola stazione di Carpi, in Italia, ad Au- Saba and the novelists Italo Svevo and slave labor, the routine degradations schwitz nell'Alta Slesia. James Joyce, Joseph Cary found a city and moral compromises by which men with its own imaginative life, a cross- were quickly dehumanized. To avoid roads of East and West. A port held in becoming one of the "drowned," the turn by Romans, Austrians, , author learns to navigate the prisoner Germans, Slavs, and finally Italians hierarchy. The camp, in his view, is a again, Trieste is the capital of nowhere. "gigantic biological and social experi- Fertile source of a unique literary fluo- ment" where only the cleverest and rescence in the first third of the 20th century, it has been a home for exiles luckiest have any chance at all of and an exiled city. Trieste's cultural survival.

and historical riches, its geographical Se questo è un uomo splendor of hills and sea, and its myste- rious presence unfold in a series of stories, monologues and literary juxta- Narra le esperienze dell’autore di de- positions that reveal the city's charms portato nel Lager nazista di Buna- as well as its seductive hold on the Monowitz nei pressi di Auschwitz. writer's imagination. . Le tappe principali di tale vicenda van- Primo Levi Literary and immediate impressions no dall'arresto avvenuto la notte del 13 alike are elaborated in paintings and dicembre 1943, fino al momento de Spring/Summer 2005 Page 10

D. A. S. Members and Events

DAS Annual Meeting Viva la Befana DIA Murano Glass Collection November 18, 2004 More than 65 children and nearly 80 Over thirty DAS members and friends Il Posto Ballroom was the perfect set- adults participated in the “Viva la ting for the DAS Annual Meeting on enjoyed a special night at the Detroit In- Befana” held on Sunday, January 9 November 18, 2004 where Dante stitute of Arts on Friday, February 25 to in the International Center at the Inter- members enjoyed a delectable Italian view the Murano glass exhibit from the buffet meal and a lecture on Architec- national Academy in Bloomfield Hills. Olnick Spanu collection. Nancy Olnick ture and Technology presented by The event was jointly organized by the and Giorgio Spanu, collectors from New Italian Consul dott. Nicola De Santis. Dante Alighieri Society and the NOI York City, discovered the fascination of Foundation in a continuing effort to Murano glass when, in an auction room, promote the study of the Italian lan- they noticed a blue and green hour glass guage in our area schools. This event that had been designed by Paolo Venini in about 1955. That piece, the first they was also a great opportunity for the bought, is now situated midway in the Italian Community to get together and chrono-logy of glassworks that their re- promote its traditions. markable collection documents. From the stile liberty (art nouveau) and art deco glass of the early twentieth century to the constant experimentation still taking place in the workshops of Murano early in the Special awards were presented to twenty-first century, the Olnick Spanu retiring DAS Board members Michael collection charts the avant-garde adven- Basile, Sandra Palaich and Sarah ture carried on within an ancient tradition. Stever. Elections were also held for The creative tension between the very old 2005 Board members; we now have means and the very new expressions is a some new faces on the Board. unique feature of the contemporary glass We would like to extend a warm wel- art of Murano, the source of its continu- come to: Silvia Calzoni Schultz, Emma ing allure. Edgar, Omar Mainero, Frank Romano and Susanna Williams.

In Memoriam

Longtime member Caterina Re, spou- se of Vittorio, passed away in Novem- ber 2004. Our heartfelt condolences go

out to Vittorio and his family.

We sadly report the loss of the brother Mike’s wife, Barbara, accepted the of DAS member Liliana Kleine. Her award in his absence. brother, Graziano Mistruzzi, lived in with his family. We extend our sympathies to Liliana and her family. NEW DANTE MEMBERS

Please welcome the following new members to the Chapter. Karen Choly Coming soon to the Web Annamaria Fato www.dantealighierimichigan.org Elio & Janis Parenti Check for updates! Salvatore Galante & Luciana Coppola Silvia Giorgini Althoen Spring/Summer 2005 Page 11

Education & Information

Dear Friends of Emily Wiedemann, the wonders of Florence, Venice, and Italian Classes in Rome, we were able to visit many We are pleased to inform you of the Birmingham warm and wonderful relatives in the successful completion of the Emily Abruzzo region, from where my fam- Wiedemann Fund drive. The commit- It has been one year since we started the ily originated. The trip not only tee, which included Josie Burke, Anita first “Italiano per bambini” class. I can opened our eyes to the wonders of MacSorley and Aurelia Tranchida, really say that time has flown. We only Italy, but also to how little we really collected funds and has finalized its had 10 children and now, Winter 2005, knew about Italy and its language. allocation. Two scholarships in me- we have 47 students. After listening to Upon our return, my wife was able to mory of Emily for the study of ad- the requests and needs of the parents, study Italian with Professor Kibler at vanced Italian at Oakland Community we have added new classes to cover all Wayne State, and I immersed myself College, will be awarded at the aca- ages. In fact, we have three different into all things Italian. We joined the demic convocation on May 26, 2005. sections: Italiano per bambini (Grades Dante Alighieri Society and partici- We purchased two large maps of Italy Pre K-5); Italiano per ragazzi (Grades 6- pated as much as we could. The addi- and a plaque honoring Emily Wiede- 12) and Cucinando…in italiano! tion of two boys to our family ham- mann for her work with the Mature (Adults). The latter was offered for the pered our involvement, but not our Minglers of Bloomfield Hills that were very first time this term and has proven interest. It was always a great pleasure presented on December 10, 2004. The extremely successful. Each year there to see Emily and her kind husband presentation was made at the Italian are three sessions (Fall, Winter and Corrado. May they rest in peace. How- Group’s Holiday Potluck Luncheon, Spring) with eight lessons of one hour ever, I know that Emily is working the popular tradition that Emily started each on Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 hard on some project in the Neapolitan many years ago. On this occasion, the am. It is really a wonderful and enrich- section of Heaven. luncheon was enhanced by Neapolitan ing experience to be part of this project pizza, in honor of Emily. All donors Peter Paolini and to work with teachers who are so were invited to this festive event. In dedicated in promoting the Italian lan- addition, we also purchased the book guage and culture. The students together "Il Presepe tra Napoli e Sicilia" by K. COMUNICATO CONSOLARE with the parents are undoubtedly creat- Devota, Lussografia Edizioni, for the ing what can be defined with no doubt Dante Alighieri Society’s collection at as an “Italian Community“, which is a the OCC Royal Oak Library. Il Consolato, nell'ambito delle iniziative very rewarding atmosphere and makes We wish to thank everyone who con- svolte per migliorare l'efficienza dei all the behind the scenes work worth- tributed to this effort in the remem- servizi offerti alla collettività, desidera while. richiamare l'attenzione di tutti i cittadini brance of Emily. She will remain in Silvia Calzoni Schultz the hearts and minds of so many peo- italiani residenti in questa circoscrizione ple with whom she was in contact. consolare sull’importanza che riveste la tempestiva iscrizione all'Anagrafe conso- Josie Burke Anita MacSorley lare e il successivo aggiornamento dei Aurelia Tranchida dati qualora si verifichino modifiche, quali ad esempio cambi di indirizzo. DAS Italian Book/Film Club Per ulteriori informazioni è possibile Il mio ricordo di Emily telefonare il Consolato al numero (313) The Cultural Committee would like to My wife and I first met Emily Wiede- 963-8560 int. 10. know how many members would be mann in the late 80’s at one of the Eth- interested in starting a book/film club. nic Festivals at Hart Plaza. She was Interested members would decide on the working in a booth that was promoting COMUNICATO COMITES day, time and frequency of the meet- Italian Cultural causes. Emily was the ings. The idea would be to meet at a super evangelist for all things Italian. Informamo la comunità italiana che a member’s home one day a month to She interrogated me about my Italian partire dal 25 aprile 2005 l’ufficio del review a written work by an Italian au- heritage and gently scolded me about COMITES è operativo il lunedì ed il thor or view an Italian film, or study letting it lag. Little did I know that the mercoledì dalle ore 9.00 alle ore 13.00 some of La Divina Commedia, if the seed she planted would blossom into a group is interested. There will be no renewal of Italian culture and language COMITES . charge for the meetings. 3200 E 12 Mile Rd. (Room 204) in our lives. Sometime after that meet- Interested members please contact Liana ing, I revived a long held desire to visit Warren, MI 48092…………………... Tel. (586) 558 4369 . Spalla (248) 683-3686 or e-mail at Italy. In 1988, my wife and I made our [email protected]. first trip to Italy. Besides experiencing Fax (586) 558 4374 Non-Profit U.S. Postage Dante Alighieri Society PAID Southfield MI Michigan Chapter Permit # 114 P.O. Box 2962 Southfield, MI 48037-2962

Membership Application and Renewal January 1 - December 31, 2005 Upcoming Events & Dante Calendar Saturday, May 7 - Dante Event Name ______Cranbrook Gardens w/ Prof. Sarah Stever Address ______Saturday, May 7 to Saturday, June 4 City/State ______ZIP______Sergio De Giusti Art Exhibit at District Arts Gallery in Birmingham Phone Number: (H)______(W)______Dante Event for S. De Giusti 's exhibit is on Saturday, June 4 Email______Fax______from 3 pm to 5 pm

Saturday, May 21 — Patron $100 __Sustainer 50 Angela Papale & Fabio Marra present Verdi Opera at the Italian __Family 40 Cultural Center __Individual 25 Sunday, June 5 __Senior Citizen 15

__Student 10 Festa della Repubblica __Donation $_____ Thursday, September 22 - Dante Event

The Chapter needs volunteers to work on all commitees. Survival in Auschwitz (Se questo è un uomo) by Primo Levi w/ Prof. Ralph Williams Indicate which committees you might be interested in joining: Cultural, Directory, Education, Finance & Development, Grup- po Giovanile, il Mosaico, Mailing, Membership. Wednesday, September 28 E-mail: [email protected] or to our PO Box, Attn.: T. Pfaff The LXXVII International Congress - St. Julian (Malta)