An exciting and original photographic exhibition will be on display for a period of ten days, starting next Friday, December 7, at one of the most innovative art galleries in the heart of North Beach in San Francisco.
 The Emerald Tablet Gallery will showcase Terra e Asfalto (Around the World on a Vespa), an amazing exhibit of travel photography by two Italian adventurers, Giorgio Serafino and Giuliana Foresi.
 
This unique event will feature the presentation of the book “L’America in Vespa”, written by Serafino himself, Ugo Mursia publisher. The book will be partially translated by Giada Diano, renowned translator, who not surprisingly has collaborated with a North Beach’s icon as Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
 
Giorgio and Giuliana decided several years ago to follow their dreams and freedom, starting a travel that moved first around Italy and Europe, then followed by many other countries in America, Asia and Africa.
The travel photography featured in this exhibit includes locations along Route 66 (Chicago to LA), as well as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Italy.
 
This is an incredible story of an Italian couple who found their souls by getting lost, told in images and words, with in-person appearances by the explorers themselves.
 
The opening reception on December 7, 2012 will include readings and performances by beat legend Jack Hirschman, one of the most “angry voice” of America, and his companion and poet Agneta Falk, along with Giorgio Serafino, Giuliana Foresi and friends.

Poster of the upcoming exhibit Terra e Asfalto

This special event was made possible thanks to the collaboration between the two talented curators of the gallery, Lapo Guzzini and Della Heywood, and Giada Diano through Matthew Gleeson (local writer, musician, City Lights staff) which has made this meeting possible, offering the San Francisco’s public the chance to travel around the world just by entering this exhibition.
 
Among the guests of the night was Mike Bobadilla, the President of the Vespa Club America, who followed the Italian couple for more than two years when he had to travel through the desert to meet with them. Main sponsors of the coast to coast on the Vespa, along the Route 66 were also RMS classic and Kappa bike.
The United States is certainly a very special place for the Italian couple, who two years ago experienced first-hand the thrill of riding the streets of one of the most fascinating countries for a trip on the road.
 
 According to Serafino, “This is another way to thank the U.S. and its soul, a huge and powerful place where dreams were born. I’ll be back in the country where minds and hearts seem wide open and where, with an old bike, I experienced what it means to fly—where you just reach out to touch the sky, and all the firmament.”
The book L’America in Vespa” – from Chicago to Los Angeles on the Route 66 – is simply a dream that comes true. The dream of a man that instead of scrapping his old Vespa ‘50 special edition 1978, he restored and repainted it orange with the number 1 on the side, as the “General Lee,” the famous car of the television series The Dukes of Hazzard.”
 
He wanted to travel with Giuliana, woman of his life who would follow him until the end of the world, along the legendary Route 66, one of the first American highways. After many adventures for the restoration and shipment overseas in a huge iron chest, Giorgio and Giulia venture along the historic road through ten different states.
 
Eventually that dream became reality with breathtaking landscapes, ghost towns, along the Colorado River at dawn, along the bends of the Grand Canyon, dribbling snakes on leave from the desert, fleeing from the tornado. Mile after mile, Giorgio and Giuliana involve on their adventure  dozens of characters typical of the deep American province: gruff but benevolent sheriffs, cowboys and Indians of today, fast food and motel managers, riders on Harley-Davidson which have never seen a Vespa before, falling in love with it immediately. As they come to Los Angeles there is still energy for one last challenge: cross the Valley of Death and California.
 
 
Exhibit: Terra E Asfalto — Around the world on a Vespa
December 7-16, 2012
The Emerald Tablet
80 Fresno St. San Francisco
(415) 500-2323
 

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