Celebrating Italy
What%26#39;s not to love about Italian culture?
There is the food the creamy risottos infused with truffle or porcini mushrooms, the divine pastas made with the freshest tomatoes, herbs and seafood, not to mention the artisan cheeses and the heaven-sent desserts (if I were to be shot by firing squad, my last request would be for tiramisu).
There is the wine. A journey through Italy is not complete without sampling the diversity of wine, from deep red chiantis to light bubbly proseccos, and everything in between.
Meals are a slow, languid affair, to be enjoyed, just like life, along with good company and stories.
Then there is Italian design clever, innovative where function and art meet in jaw-droppingly beautiful furniture, car design and even kitchenware.
Architecture and art, from the Colosseum to Michaelangelo%26#39;s statue of David, are among the best in the world.
Italian fashion, from Prada and Gucci to Armani and Valentino, pushes boundaries and celebrates beauty.
In New Zealand, Italian culture and community has a small but vibrant presence.
There are several thousand Italians living in New Zealand 3114 people identified themselves as Italian in the 2006 census. It is estimated there are several hundred Italians in Hamilton.
Hamilton city councillor Joe di Maio, who comes from Sorrento, near Naples, was so passionate about celebrating Italy, he pushed for Te Papa%26#39;s Italian exhibition to be brought to the Waikato Museum.
Currently on display, Qui Tutto Bene explores the stories and history of the Italians in New Zealand. It explores the reasons Italians immigrated to New Zealand, how they settled, and Italian style.
It is the first community exhibition from Te Papa to travel, with many of the objects on loan from Wellington-based Italians, including some stunning handmade Venetian masks.
Waikato Museum has localised the exhibition with documentaries featuring local Italians, and items from their homes.
Di Maio%26#39;s fantastic golden coffee machine, from his old Garden Place gelataria, is a centrepiece in the exhibition, looking like something out of Willy Wonka%26#39;s Chocolate Factory.
At the top of the steps, fronting the exhibition, is a mint green 1968 Vespa, on loan from Hamilton couple Campbell and Joss Robertson, who have lovingly restored the scooter, bought on TradeMe in 2006. %26quot;We are deeply into all things Italian,%26quot; says Campbell Robertson, who is also president of the local Fiat club. %26quot;There is something about the design of Italian products that sets them apart.%26quot;
And over the next nine weeks, until March 27, there will be a range of free Italian cultural events on Thursday evenings at the museum, including language lessons, cooking, mask making and classic films. There will be free classic Italian movies shown every Thursday night (except February 7) from 7.30pm. The museum will stay open until 8pm.
%26quot;It%26#39;s probably the most intensive programme we%26#39;ve ever done because of the enthusiasm of the Italian community,%26quot; says Steve Shappell, public programme leader/educator for social history at the museum. %26quot;We tried to match their enthusiasm.%26quot;
A group, Circolo Italiano, or the Italian Circle, has formed to promote and support Italian culture in the Waikato.
The highlight of the schedule is the Carnevale next Tuesday night at the museum. It%26#39;s a night of outdoor picnicking and entertainment, with everyone encouraged to dress up and wear masks, just like they do in Italy during Carnevale.
%26quot;Carnevale happens at the same time, everywhere around the world,%26quot; says Shappell. %26quot;This night is the last Tuesday before Lent begins, and Carnevale literally means a farewell to meat. In Venice, they used to wear masks year round, but it was restricted due to all the debauchery that went on when people hid their identity, so now they can wear them during the two weeks of Carnevale, which ends on the Tuesday.%26quot;
The museum has had exhibitions celebrating other ethnic or cultural groups in New Zealand in the past, including Mexican, Irish and Somali exhibitions.
As you walk up the stairs of the museum, and admire the Vespa and the three-dimensional floating pieces of Italian-New Zealand artist Chiara Corbelletto, and absorb the fascinating historical journeys of Italian immigrants, it all comes together. The introductory words, written in Italian, Maori and English, explain: %26quot;Ask Italians how things are going, and they will often say, `qui tutto bene%26#39; `everything%26#39;s fine%26#39;…%26quot;
This exhibition is fine indeed, and well worth checking out. And you can get your hands dirty, making pasta dough and masks, or sit back and soak it all in with a classic Italian movie or language class.
SCHEDULE:
Tomorrow night, there is mask making from 5pm, and pizza making from 6pm.
From 6.30pm, there will be a talk on cheese making in central Italy, with a focus on sheep milk cheese.
The movie at 7.30pm is Three Men and a Leg (1997).
Tuesday February 5 is the big one Carnevale. It%26#39;s a Tuesday, not Thursday like all the other nights, and is the highlight of the Italian season at the museum. Carnevale is a traditional celebration held around the world, making the beginning of Lent (and the end to indulgences!). Traditionally, people wear costumes and there will be prizes for the best handmade masks. Take a picnic dinner and blanket, for dinner in front of the museum, and watch the entertainment. Renowned piano accordion player Silvio De Pra will play traditional and contemporary Italian tunes, and there will be stilt walkers. There is a huge painting of an Italian scene up for auction, currently on display in the museum foyer, donated by Joe Di Maio. Proceeds will go to the new Circolo Italiano group.
Thursday February 14 has a Valentine%26#39;s Day focus. The 7.30pm film is a romance, Casomai (2002). Before the movie, there is an introductory Italian lesson at 6pm (taught by Paul Spadoni, who is taking all the language classes) and an Italian travel presentation from 7pm.
On Thursday February 21, acclaimed food writer and chef, Rafaella Del Monte, is speaking from 5.30pm. At 6pm, local Italian chefs show how to make great pasta dishes, and there is an introductory Italian lesson at 6.30pm. The 7.30pm film is Novecento 1900 (part one).
This is one for the boys and one to get bike and car lovers drooling. On Thursday February 28 it is Italian Car and Bike Night, with a variety of Italian bikes, scooters and cars on display from 5.30pm. From 6pm, it%26#39;s pizza making (with your own pizza dough to take home). At 6.30pm, it%26#39;s an introductory Italian lesson, and at 7.30 the film Novecento continues (part two).
Thursday March 6 involves lessons in making fabulous pasta dishes from local Italian chefs from 6pm, followed by an introductory Italian lesson from 6.30pm and the film La Meglio Gioventu: The Best of Youth (part one) from 7.30pm.
On Thursday March 13 local masquerade mask making guru Colleen Hannah will give a talk at 6pm, with an introductory Italian lesson from 6.30pm, and La Meglio Gioventu continues from 7.30pm (part two).
Music and experimental film making is on the agenda on Thursday March 20, with a performance of classic Italian aria by local soprano Brooke Baker at 6pm, followed by an introductory Italian lesson from 6.30pm. At 7.30pm, it is one of the highlights of the schedule, Hamilton Underground Film Fest Italian Flavour. These short films were made by local film makers with no/low budgets, and given only one keyword: Italy. Come and see their weird and wonderful creations as they vie for the honour of being the inaugural winner of the Best Film title. Bookings are essential. Phone 07 838 6606 to reserve a seat.
The final evening is Thursday March 27, with a presentation by acclaimed food writer and chef Rafaella Del Monte at 5.30pm. At 6pm, get all rowdy and patriotic, joining with the Circolo Italiano singing Va Pensiero Verdi%26#39;s famous chorus, considered Italian%26#39;s %26quot;other%26quot; anthem. At 6.30pm is an introductory Italian lesson, followed by the comedy/drama, The Last Kiss (2001).
See www.waikatomuseum.co.nz for more information on the Qui tutto bene exhibition and schedule of activities.
Tags: cars, dirt, dishes, flavour, Food, low budget, tuesday night, ups, zeal