Dossier: The e-book Revolution

Until the end of paper has come

More than 30 years ago, when the newly invented walkman helped bringing music out of the home, hardly anybody could imagine that like sound, also words might leave the shelf one day, and follow us in our daily movements. Even though the Gutenberg Project – launched in America in 1971 with the goal of digitizing the contents of copyright-free books – has arrived at more than 20,000 titles, the progress in computer science is actually responsible for relevant changes that are currently going on. Over the last decade, in fact, the contents of the printed book have started to migrate; thanks to the availability of several electronic formats, a new medium of reading is gradually spreading: the e-book reader. Full Story

Current Affairs

How to Tell Obama’s Story

In an epoch in which we live in and consume numerous disposable sources of information, one of the most misused words is the adjective “historic.” Perhaps there should be a team of psychologists to explain this tendency and to assign greater influence to the reality to many events unable to leave marks on the history of a country or the world. Without fear of exaggeration, one can say that the DVD “Obama - An American Dream” is a concentrated substance of news, ideas and frames taken from the stream of information from the previous 2008, a year that has become important for the world’s history.
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Dossier: The e-book Revolution

Where books live

The Italian market is still unknown, but the U.S. market has now been invaded by the new e-book format. This sector is now growing but has proven to grow rapidly, thanks to new entrepreneurs, professionals and readers, each of them ready to participate with new ideas. What is certain is that the era of the printed book seems destined to end, but maybe it’s just an opportunity to rethink a place that will continue to exist and exercise its charm. We spoke with Daniel Melamud, French department manager of Rizzoli Bookstore in New York. Full Story

In The Mirror

Survivor

It was a heavy burden on his life up to the very last moment; up to that cold December 27th, 1922, on which he was run over by a truck, he was always asked the same question. Nosey parkers, journalists, neighbours, everybody wanted him to recount, for the umpteenth time, the story of the ride that was to change his life, though he just fulfilled an order. Full Story

Current Affairs

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection celebrates 30 years

Every summer from 1951 to December 1979, Peggy Guggenheim loved opening her own collection of modern art to the public. In Easter 1980, only months after the disappearance of the patron, on 23 December 1979, Palazzo Venier dei Leoni officially reopened its doors under the management of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York, becoming the most important museum in Italy for European and American art of the first half of the twentieth century. In 2010, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection celebrates its thirtieth year of life with a series of events, activities and workshops, carrying forward the spirit of openness and innovation that has always characterized the last ‘dogaressa’, Peggy Guggenheim. The intention is to celebrate the achievements of the museum, informing and promoting its content and its ideas developed in recent years in order to strengthen the image of the Collection as a place of production of  vibrant artistic and cultural activity. Through innovative channels of communication, such as social networking and the creation of a viral video, Peggy’s prosperity is transmitted to a new and wider public. One of the novelties of this upcoming 2010 will be the “room of time”, one of the rooms of the museum used to host various exhibitions which, in turn, offer an overview of the acquisitions over the years after the death of Peggy, along with some business less well-known works  in her collection. In addition to marking the thirtieth anniversary of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, 2010 is naturally a year rich in events and exhibitions that span a century of art history, ranging from pre-Raphaelite paintings by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Morris, to the drawings of Bauhaus, and arriving to the American abstract expressionism by Adolph Gottlieb.The exhibition season begins on May Day, with the opening of ‘Utopia Matters. From Brotherhoods to Bauhaus’, an  exhibition curated by Vivien Greene, which examines the concept of utopia and analyzes its evolution of thought and modern Western art practices, through a series of international case studies that started in the early nineteenth century all the way up to 1933 - a year in which the influence of fascism and Stalinism put a stop to such projects. Among the movements represented are Les Barbus, William Morris and Arts and Crafts, the Cornish Colony, Neo-Impressionism, De Stijl and Russian Constructivism. From September 4 to January 9 2011, the creations of the American artist Adolph Gottlieb (1903 - 1974) will be on display, from his initial works of surrealistic influence to expressionism and abstract art, the first retrospective in Italy entirely dedicated to him. One of the other must-sees is a small exhibition in April, called ‘Art, Science and School’, dedicated to the work conducted by students of schools that adhere to the proposed educational project “School at the Guggenheim”, an initiative dedicated to all the schools in the Veneto, which will this year focus on the binomial Art and Science and the contaminations, methods and languages of the two disciplines.

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Promovetro joins Venice and New York

“The Tree for Friendship - Venice for New York” is a work of art born in Murano, in the heart of Venice, from an idea of the Consortium Promovetro Murano, an ambitious project to highlight the collaboration and friendship between the city of New York and the island of Murano. The tree-shaped masterpiece includes a series of objects put together and made with special care and skills by the master glassmakers of Murano, complemented with elements inspired by the two cities of Venice and New York: from taxis to gondolas, from St. Mark’s Clock tower to the Empire State Building, from St Mark’s lion to the Big Apple. The glass elements which decorate the structure make the tree a unique and valuable work. They are manufactured by twenty-two of the most important companies of Murano that are members of the Consortium of Promovetro Murano and franchises of the Vetro Artistico Murano® brand, which was established by the Region of Veneto, under law n.70, on 23/12/1994, and guarantees the origin of the Murano manufactures. The work was on display from October 6th to October 17th 2009 at Grand Central Terminal in midtown Manhattan, in occasion for the celebrations of Columbus Day, where the the piece of art aroused a considerable success, becoming the main attraction of the event organized by the Region of Veneto, and obtaining the approval of the city Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.
“I have three sculptures in Murano glass at home, bought twenty years ago –says Mayor Bloomberg – and as soon as I saw the tree, I said to myself: I know where that’s from. There is a large Italian community in New York, but America itself is the result of the many communities that have settled over the years, and thi s must be the beginning of a growing relationship between our two countries.”  “The Tree For Friendship” is now in New York, donated to the city as a gift from the Consortium and destined to become a reference point to the inhabitants of the city and to the many tourists who visit it every year and take pride in their Italian-American heritage. “The Consortium Promovetro Murano Glass, manager of the Regional Brand Vetro Artistico Murano®, President Albertini says, has ever seen its establishment been committed to enhancing the image of artistic glass from Murano with the aim to conserve, preserve and defend its ancient art, and, at the same time to promote, enhance and properly look after the marketing in the world of this important cultural heritage, and this initiative definitely proves it.”

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Madera and Laboratory 2729

If you love exquisite design, better still if it is made by a craftsman,  the gallery “ Laboratorio 2729” and the shop “Madera” both belonging to Francesca Meratti and Massimo Barbierato cannot  be missed in Venice.  She is a craftswoman with wood and he is an architect, they have dedicated the last ten years to continuous  researching of the aesthetic value and substantial  shapes, managing to create a small lagoon oasis directed to exhibitions and to the sale of very good quality objects.
Founded in 2007, the studio of architecture “Laboratorio 2729” hosted in its elegant open space – a minimal environment and voluntary “not finished”, situated in Calle Lunga San Barnaba – a temporary exhibit area of objects made by up and coming Italian and non Italian designers, both to offer them the opportunity to become known and above all to give the city a prospective on contemporary  which goes beyond the Biennale Architecture.  The exhibit periods of “Laboratorio 2729” are variable and depend on the exhibition,  among the artists who up until now have participated are Tom Dixon, Plusdesign, Marco Zito and Luca Nichetto.
Halfway between a shop and an exhibiting place is instead “Madera”, in Campo San Barnaba, which opened in 2001.  Madera in Spanish means “wood” – explains Francesca Meratti,  who initially undertook this challenge to be able to sell her creations and who then developed a passion for looking for products made by others, to the point of becoming her own real and true talent scout of young designers.  I have always been fascinated by the use of the traditional techniques and craftsman manuals to produce objects with some contemporary shapes.  Therefore, I started researching, that now has become constant in my job, of small businesses in Europe and of people, mainly young ones, who produce quality products in respect to tradition.  It is therefore, Madera who, to maintain this level of quality and innovation, looks for young talent in the world and she promotes them as a window display for their products  in the heart of Venice.
The only contraindication is the claim to be the only reseller in the city, not bad, if the city in question is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world.  Proposing things always new and original, Madera has managed in these years to prepare a niche of the market, consolidating her identity until she has become a brand name herself.  Besides, discovering the young talents, Madera has also started some permanent collaboration with some craftsmen, such as Erminio Scortegagna of Schio (Vicenza), he is famous for his wooden objects or the jeweller Silvia Rossi known for her rings, while among the most famous designers who she can count on: Antonio Citterio with his cutlery set, the studio Sottsass and Associates with a series of saucepans produced by the Finnish company Ittala and Tom Dixon with his lamps.  “Each object has a story” – concludes Francesca Meratti – “It is our role and it is just that, which we tell our customers or our visitors, in other words, who has made it, why and with what, this is our true passion.

www.maderavenezia.it
www.lab2729.com

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CULT

New York - The myth of a city shoe

In the final scene of the movie “Sex and the City”, Carrie Bradshaw, the truly fashion-addicted protagonist, realizes during a phone call that her expensive shoes are still in an apartment on Fifth Avenue. She’ll try to recover them only because $525 shoes do not go unnoticed. But actually Carrie’s fetish heels engage on a decisive narrative function, from the moment she finds her soon-to-be husband in the same apartment, who, inspired by a Cinderella theme, puts the shoe on her foot, asking her to marry him. These shoes are armed with an haute-couture brand: the designer’s name is Manolo Blahnik, Spanish shoe maker with over thirty years of experience, who in December came to Italy and received the ‘Scarpetta d’Oro’ award in the International Museum of Footwear, Vigevano . Made for special occasions with materials such as PVC, plexiglass, titanium and others alike and inspired by places such as the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Design Museum in London, Manolo Blahnik’s shoes have now entered the collective imagination of the Big Apple, partly thanks to the American television series ” Sex and the City”. Many have been seen wearing this phenomenon of mythologizing, even superstar Madonna recently said that his shoes are “as good as sex but last longer.” Long story short, in “Sex and the City”, you must arrive at a wedding not only with a designer dress, but also with a stunning pair of shoes.

Venice - The fashion of the Serenissima

A stunning collection of clothes can not only be admired in the store windows of most famous capitals of the world: at Venice’s Palazzo Mocenigo you end up in a charming museum that lets you travel through the social history of costumes and textiles. Eighteenth-century vintage clothing is able to tell the story of the aesthetic changes that characterized the fashion in the city with the masterful complicity of architecture and furnishings of the rooms of the Palazzo. A visit to this palace, built during the sixteenth century, and its vintage fabrics, brings you (and your eyes!) joy, speechlessness and awe, even the curious ones can find satisfaction: a rich and original library, the one used by the International Center of Arts and Costumes and the Center of Historical Studies of Textiles and Costumes, shows us the importance of the eighteenth century Venetian costumes and clothing. It is, in other words, a journey through time, for the pleasure of aesthetes and fashionistas.

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A liaison between the greatest American legend and genuine Italian quality

Some legends come eventually true, crossing the border from dream to reality, like in a story devised by an author’s imagination. That’s how mutual trust, friendship and esteem originated between the most famous American dynasty and a family that came from the far side of the Atlantic Ocean, from a city near Venice that is rich in art and fine cuisine. Franco and Alberto Zorzi, father and son, both in love with Italian kitchen and proud of their native Venetian countryside, once accepted a great challenge, for the fun of it, or perhaps to test themselves: they debarked in the Big Apple, equipped with nothing else than the spirit of enterprise and their fondness of first-rate Italian food. As a result, Ethel Skakel, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and thus a member of the family that gave the United States presidents and senators of historical importance, got to love Italian cuisine in America, from the starters to the desserts: in an atmosphere of excellent cooking, high-quality Italian produce, and flavors and scents that recall mistral and sirocco (the two prototypical mediterranean winds). The “accountable” dishes had been prepared by chef Marco Berto, and served at the table of Zorzi NYC Restaurant, in the imposing shadow of Manhattan’s Empire State Building. It was a small but decisive step from the joy of dining to personal esteem and friendship. Ethel Kennedy, at the age of 81 and with a large part of her lifetime spent in the lead of America’s most influential dynasty, has allowed herself to be absorbed by the Italian vibes echoing in the halls of the restaurant, the cultural events, the exhibitions and book presentations, the informal discussion groups on movies and theater, conferences and concerts, always presenting protagonists who did it “their way” not in America but in Italy – that whole program masterly conducted and orchestrated by homeboy Nino Filoramo, the diligent and experienced general manager, who combines the qualities of an American manager and the warmth and cordiality of a genuine southerner. This remarkable growth of affection and experiences made the Kennedys trust in those wonderful and passionate Italians to the degree of inviting them to their sumptuous residence at Cape Cod near Boston, on the occasion of Thanksgiving Day, probably the most deeply felt American holiday. Not just at the feast proper, but for a whole week, the cuisine and the cordiality of the Zorzi family has been an enrichment for the Kennedy home, enhancing this American myth with the joy and the pleasure of Italian cooking, presented to the small group of family members and close friends.
“Opening the restaurant was just our starting point”, explains Franco Zorzi. “Our real project is to popularize genuine Italian culture, using the universally acknowledged excellence of our cuisine as the basis. We are proud to number Ethel Kennedy among our friends, and it makes us realize which high level our restaurant has reached.” A dream has come true, and what is separated by the ocean is united by fine food. The Zorzis, who once accepted the challenge, departing from the distant land of Veneto, are now harvesting the results, and realizing their American dream, among knives, forks, and Italian kitchen in America.

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Shall we speak about food or shall we frak out?

- Good evening, sir. Have you seen the menu?
- Yes, thank you. I would like 80 grams of carbohydrates, 25 grams of protein and 20 grams of fats.
- Well, then I’ll serve you a nice plate of pasta! Wine? Will you be happy with a two glasses?
- No, this evening I’ll go for a 3.
- Very well. Would you also like any micronutrients in particular?
- Oh. 60 milligrams of vitamin C, you can bring it in the fruit.
The indication of the nutritional values , gives an instrument to the service of the consumer and it is obsessing us. If it is not unusual receiving in a U.S. Fast Food restaurant a menu with these indications, there are some who have gone even further and in the description of their dishes on offer, they have left out the ingredients, indicating only the nutrients. It is no longer important relying on your own taste and on what you want, that is what our body with time has learnt to recognize.  We ask ourselves, is it not possible anymore to rely on traditions and that what nature offers us seasonally. We only rely on numbers.
How can we be wrong? We live in a world of uncertainty, where everything changes rapidly. What our fathers valued is no longer of value to us. What we valued last year is no longer of any value now. We are in a society which in a very expressive way, the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman defines “a liquid”. The situation in which we find ourselves changes continuously, before that our way of behaving solidifies into certain habits.
Unfortunately someone wants to convince us that only numbers remain secure, and we can confidently grap at them: television measures happiness with the percentage of the G.P.D., the tone of thought becomes simplified with surveys, statistics become the mirror of our lives; the politicians boast about the billions budgeted for the citizens. We are so insecure and tired that we forget the abstractness of numbers and of the subjectivity, that is at the base of their selection. At the supermarket we put in the shopping trolley, only what is 3 x 2, or has the discount of 20% or 30% without reading the label which indicates the real price of the food. We choose the restaurants on the basis of the number of stars or of the hit parade at that time. For a few cents more, we buy a double Coca Cola without thinking of how much thirst we have got. When we find a recipe, we dare ourselves to put it into practice only if the weight in grams of the ingredients , the minutes and the degrees for cooking are indicated. We cannot allow ourselves to make a mistake. Therefore, little by little we will accustom ourselves to eating with our head, instead of with our mouth. Enjoy your meal…..better still….Happy counting.