Events
May 2005
April 17- May 13, 2005
QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART TAKES A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
IN SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING NEW: ITALIAN WOMEN'S IMMIGRATION
POST WORLD WAR II, NEW WORK BY PHOTOGRAPHER JESSICA CHORNESKY
"Something
Borrowed, Something New: Italian Women's Immigration Post World War II", a photography exhibition by Jessica Chornesky,
will open at the Community Gallery of the Queens Museum of Art on April
17, 2005. Using photography and oral histories to explore Italian immigration
to the United States from a uniquely female perspective, Chornesky
documents and compares the Italian women who immigrated to the United
States after World War II to their female counterparts (primarily sisters
and cousins) who stayed in Italy. The photographs and stories draw
us into the lives of the subjects and prompt us to think about where
culture and identity intersect. The opening reception will be held
on Sunday April 17th at 1pm.
Something Borrowed, Something New was borne out of my love
for Italy and my fascination with and admiration for people who uproot
themselves by
choice or necessity," said Chornesky. "I have always been interested
in seeking out less heard voices-often these tend to be those of women. Working
on a project about the experience of Italian women, from the dual perspective
of women living in Italy and their counterparts who immigrated to the United
States in the years following World War II, provided a unique window into a
rich culture and people, and an important aspect of the Italian experience
- immigration."
Throughout 2003 and 2004, Chornesky interviewed Italian American women about
their immigration experience as well as their perspectives on such subjects
as money, power, sex and work. She also traveled throughout Sicily and Southern
Italy to photograph and interview their female relatives.
Jessica Chornesky is a New York based photographer specializing in reportage
and portraiture, and is committed to work which looks at the experience of
women. Her last exhibit, entitled 70UP Women: New Images of Aging,
highlighted older women's contributions to society and family. 70UP debuted
at the Museum of the City of New York in 2003. Ms. Chornesky was the recipient
of The Catalyst Institute's 2004 Arts & Humanities Distinguished Achievement
Award for 70UP. Over the past year Ms. Chornesky and the exhibit
have toured nationally. She has made presentations to numerous organizations
on re-framing the view of women and aging. Ms. Chornesky's editorial and commercial
work has included assignments for clients such as The Guggenheim Museum, The
Henry Luce Foundation, Rolling Stone Magazine, Time Magazine and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.
The Queens Museum of Art was established in 1972 to provide a vital cultural
center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the borough’s unique, international
population. Today it is home to the Panorama of the City of New York, a 9,335
square foot scale model of the five boroughs, and features temporary exhibitions
of modern and contemporary art that reflect the cultural diversity of Queens,
as well as a collection of Tiffany glass from the Neustadt Museum of Tiffany
Art. The Museum provides valuable educational outreach through a number of
programs geared toward schoolchildren, teens, families, seniors and individuals
with physical and mental disabilities.
The Museum’s hours are: Wednesday – Friday: 10:00
a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Admission
to the Museum is by suggested donation: $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors, students
and children, and free for member and children under 5. For general visitor
information, please visit the Museum’s website www.queensmuseum.org or
call 718.592.9700.
May 9, 2005
2005 Italian Studies Golf Classic Cocktail Reception and Casino Night
Honoring Rick Cerone, former NY Yankee
River Vale, NJ
The Coccia Institute, located at Montclair State University, has organized
a cocktail reception and casino night to benefit the Italian Studies
Programs at the university. The event will begin at 6pm in the Florentine
Gardens Estate with dinner stations, premium open bar and Italian dolce.
At 7pm, the casino will open and consist of blackjack, craps, roulette,
big six and red dog tables. Former Yankee, Rick Cerone will be in attendance.
The cost of the event is $125 per person. Please make checks payable
to Coccia Foundation, c/o Ralph A. Contini, CPA 36 Farview Terrace, Paramus,
NJ 07652 or for more information, please contact Mr. Contini at 201-909-8995.
May 17, 2005
New Jersey Business Conference on Italy:
"Italy: Commercial
Opportunity and Rich Cultural Heritage"
Whippany, New Jersey
The NJ Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission and the NJ World
Trade Council are co-organizing the 34th Annual World Trade
Conference on May 17th at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany,
New Jersey. Open to the public, the conference provides New Jersey, Tri-State
area and Italian businesses and corporations a forum to learn about the
growing commercial opportunities between New Jersey and Italy. The conference
will feature panel discussions, floor exhibitions and speakers that highlight
the import-export, foreign direct investment and portfolio investment
opportunities. Speakers from the NJ, federal and Italian governments
will describe mechanisms for establishing corporate trading relations,
the procurement of financing, regulations and the business environment.
For the past 33 conferences, participants have been able to meet the
Governor of New Jersey and the Host Country Ambassador and network with
vendors, suppliers and potential partners, as well as government agency,
legal, tax and financial advisors. Ticket sales, corporate tables
and advertising opportunities will go on sale in February and seating
will be limited for this statewide event.
May 23, 2005
Mercer County Italian American Festival Association
and Boys’ Towns
of Italy Golf Tournament
Peddie Golf Course, Hightstown, NJ
The Mercer County Italian
American Festival Association and Boys’ Towns
of Italy will host a golf tournament at Peddie Golf Course on Monday,
May 23, 2005. The check-in will be at 11am with a 12pm shotgun. The tournament
will include lunch and prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive and
par 3 Hole-in-one. Following golf, there will be a dinner reception at
the Baldassari Regency with an open bar, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres,
cheese table and full course dinner. For information on sponsorship opportunities
and golf tournament fees, please visit the festival website at www.italianamericanfestival.com or
call 609-631-7544.
