All the good things come to an end. We know that and yet, when it happens, we can’t help being upset and concerned about the future.
With the end of the summer, the Italian and Italian American community of Los Angeles bids farewell to a great team, who has worked hard over the last few years to promote the Italian language and cultural heritage in many different sectors.
The Director of the Italian Cultural Institute, Alberto Di Mauro, left to Rome a few months ago, and he is now followed by his Deputies Massimo Sarti and Michela Magrì.
In the same fashion, Consul General of Italy in Los Angeles, Giuseppe Perrone, and members of his staff such as Commercial Attaché Elena Marinelli and Irene Buongiorno are about to end their mandate in the U.S.
On August 27, 2014, many friends and regular guests of the IIC gathered together to thank these amazing people, who helped them preserve their origins or discover the vibrant Italian culture, always making them feel at home.
Among the attendees to the event were representatives of partner institutions such as Carlo Bocchi, Executive Director of the Italian Trade Agency, Cynthia Catalino, President of the Italian Heritage Culture Foundation, and Marcella Leonetti-Tyler, NIAF Regional VP, as well as leading figures from the community and many sponsors, including Marisa Antonini Foundation, Pasquini Espresso Company, Grando Chocolate, Il Fornaio Beverly Hills, LovinLife Multimedia, and Newport Italian with its beautiful Vespa scooters on view.
Accompanied by the notes of well-known Italian songs, performed live by La Dolce Vita, the evening was also an opportunity to present the third art itinerary developed by Alessandro Marianantoni and his MEDIARS for the smartphone application ITALY ART LA.
Launched at the end of 2013, the app features three different itineraries: “From Light to Materiality”, including visits to the Getty Center, the Getty Villa, and the IIC itself; “Traces of Italy”, exploring on Downtown LA architecture and sculpture; and the brand new “Pasadena: an Italian Journey”, focusing on St. Andrew’s Church, the City Hall, the Huntington Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, and the Norton Simon Museum.
After the presentation, more celebrations followed with singing, dancing, and a delicious custom-made cake created by EnjoEAT.
“Never change a winning team,” the saying goes. Regretfully enough, this time the choice is not ours to make. Arrivederci!
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