At the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum
For the past century, the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America and the Sons of Italy Foundation, have promoted the culture and heritage of Italians and Italian Americans at the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum on Staten Island, New York. To celebrate the 100th anniversary, the Museum is hosting an exposition entitled: Fashions and Faces of the Regions of Italy.
Curated by Frances Cicero and under the direction of Museum’s CEO Joseph Sciame and Chairperson Madeline Matteucci, the second in a yearlong series of exhibits highlights the regions of Campania, Abruzzo, Le Marche and Lombardia. In addition to featuring the regional dress, on display is a collection of some of the famous sons and daughters of each region, with portraits by William J. Castello and biographies by Marianna Randazzo. The current exhibit runs through April 20th. It can be viewed during regular museum hours, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Wednesday through Saturday.
The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the inventor of the first telephone (Alexander Graham Bell receives the credit due to a patent office technicality). The home also served as a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary general who led the fight for the unification of Italy. For years the Museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men and to promote the understanding of the Italian American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes.
The museum is owned and operated by the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The inspiration for the museum’s exhibit began in 2015, when the Board of Directors of the New York State Grand Lodge Foundation, Inc., OSIA, funded the Traditional Dresses of the Twenty Regions of Italy Program. Through the research and handiwork of Marianne Bortone Prince and Diana Grauer, plus many talented members of New York OSIA, a representative dress for each region was created by the end of 2016. The dresses have been modeled in parades in New York City, on Long Island and at several Italian heritage and culture celebrations.
The opening of the third regional exhibit featuring the regions of Lazio, Calabria and Piemonte is scheduled for Sunday, May 5th. The museum is located at 420 Tompkins Avenue in the Rosebank section of Staten Island. The exhibit is included in the price of museum admission, free for members and $10.00 for non-members. For further information call the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum at 718-442-1608.
