Two fashion designers from different times are compared and contrasted in this exhibition at the Met. In the clothes and accessories on view, the show is curated to underscore the similarities between the two. Prada’s designs, since they are contemporary, are probably more familiar. This makes Schiaparelli (1893-1973) the more interesting of the two. Her accessories, especially, are fabulous. There is an omnipresent background video of simulated conversations between the two women which is somewhat distracting. The show becomes absorbing if this video is ignored and one goes at a time when the crowds are relatively thin!
Year: 2012 (page 2 of 4)
New Italian Cinema is back in New York City. This year’s series runs from June 8 to June 14. Seventeen films are featured and there are many styles and themes represented. The movies range from dramas depicting today’s Italian life to historical tales to comedies. Among the films being shown are Terraferma (E. Crialese, 2011), a story of today’s immigrants to an island off the coast of Sicily; Scialla’ (F. Bruni, 2011), a father’s coming of age story; and Carlo Verdone’s Posti in piedi in paradiso (2012), a comedy (sort of) about three men moving in together. Directors and/or actors will be present at some screenings.
Calabria is well known for its hot peppers and Calabrians have dedicated festivities and museums, not to mention academic studies, to the peperoncino. The annual Festival del Peperoncino will take place, in September, in the coastal town of Diamante. In this region, hot peppers are an essential ingredient in many dishes. An article in Il Sole 24 Ore describes many of these dishes and also discusses the town and the festival. There are many delicious specialties such as the spicy ‘nduja spreadable sausage, pesto sauces for pasta that include spicy peppers, chocolate made with peperoncino and sweet tarts made with oranges, almonds and hot pepper spread. To finish every meal there is even grappa flavored with peperoncino!
An article in Il Sole 24 Ore highlights some traditional Easter rituals, games and processions in Italy. Throughout the country towns and cities practice varying rites. The most well-known is Florence’s “scoppio del Carro” in which a cart, drawn by oxen, processes through the city. On the cart is a rocket which is made to explode at the end of the procession. This commemorates the sparks that supposedly emanated from shards of the Holy Sepulchre. There are many other traditions that mix religion and folklore. In many towns there are different varieties of egg races and competitions, in others there are processions that represent various aspects of the Easter story. There are fascinating traditions in towns in every region.
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