What a wonderful time we had! Loved every single day of it, from the opening party on Friday, to the mini-panel on Sunday, and celebrating Rodari's Birthday on 23 October (photo above, by Nicoletta Benella). Nicoletta also appeared in two programmes on Ondazzurra to talk about Rodari and the exhibition, and a special interview was also done with Italy, to talk to Elena Pasoli, the Director of the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

You can listen to the programmes here:

Elena Pasoli

Nicoletta Benella, part 1

Nicoletta Benella, part 2

Throughout the 9 days when we were opened to the public we enjoyed welcoming a number of children to look, read and draw, and learn about Rodari's wonderful tales.

This exhibition showcased some of those artists who in the last fifty years have illustrated Rodari’s texts. From legends like Luzzati and Munari through to young contemporary artists, the exhibition gave a fascinating overview of Italian illustration excellence.

 

Featured artists: Bruno Munari, Emanuele Luzzati, Altan, Beatrice Alemagna, Gaia Stella, Olimpia Zagnoli, Manuel Fior, Alessandro Sanna, Valerio Vitali, Simona Mulazzani, Chiara Armellini, Anna Laura Cantone, Fulvio Testa, Maria Chiara Di Giorgio, Giulia Orecchia, Nicoletta Costa, Federico Maggioni, Francesca Ghermandi, Pia Valentinis, Vittoria Facchini, Elenia Beretta.

 

Organised internationally by: Fiera di Bologna, BCBF, Regione E-R, Regione E-R Cultura d’Europa, Einaudi Ragazzi, Vivere all’Italiana (MAECI).

Auckland edition curated by Nicoletta Benella and organised by Dante Alighieri Society Auckland and Festival Italiano Auckland in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in New Zealand, Oratia Books, NEWMARKET.

 

Part of the Artweek Auckland 2020 Programme , the Week of Italian Language in the World and the Italian Festival Season in Auckland.

 

Photos by Gianni Flego and Alessandra Zecchini

The Illustrators for Gianni Rodari exhibition is now on in Auckland. 

From today, 17 October, until Sunday 25 September, drop in between 10.00 a.m. and 4 p.m. you can read more about this exhibition in the website of Regione Emilia Romagna by clicking here, (and also here in the Italian language).

The Dante team joined a preview event last night, along with guests from the local Italian and publishing communities, plus Waitematā Local Board and Newmarket Business Association representatives.

Dante Auckland members, from left: Cav. Alessandra Zecchini, Flavia Berucci, Sir John Kirwan, Matteo Telara, Barbara Martelli, Cav. Sandra Fresia, Valeria Santillo, Luca Manghi.

Brought together to mark the centenary of the birth of the great Italian children's writer Gianni Rodari, the exhibition showcases illustrations from 21 leading artists who have illustrated his books. The Exhibition is organised internationally by: Fiera di Bologna, BCBF, Regione E-R, Regione E-R Cultura d’Europa, Einaudi Ragazzi, Vivere all’Italiana (MAECI).

Dante members delighted to rediscover Rodari's books

The Oratia Books crew, one of the local sponsors, with Lindsey Jones (third from right), Honorary Consul for Italy, Auckland. From left: Belinda Cooke, Frances Chan, Peter Dowling, Alessandra Zecchini, Lindsey Jones, Carolyn Lagahetau, Ross Kinnaird

Of course we had Italian food to nibble on: piadina, arancini and...

.... cannoli, from Nonna in Teed St, Newmarket.

Congratulations to exhibition curator Nicoletta Benella, and all who have made the exhibition possible.

Tomorrow morning (18 October) at 9.30 a.m., Nicoletta will join Professor Bruno Ferraro in a discussion about Rodari's life and work, and the artists who have accompanied him. Free entry.

Photos by Gianni Flego

Celebrated Italian art exhibition reaches Auckland

Figure per Gianni Rodari – Illustrators for Gianni Rodari

Free entry

17 – 25 Oct 2020, 10am – 4pm daily

Newmarket Station Studio, 1 Newmarket Station Square, Auckland

A prestigious and colourful exhibition of Italian children’s book illustrators will open on 17 October in Newmarket for Artweek Auckland and the Italian Language Week in the World.

Travelling to New Zealand after launches in Bologna and San Francisco, Illustrators for Gianni Rodari (Figure per Gianni Rodari) will appeal to kids and adults alike. From a nation synonymous with art and style come these vibrant works brought together to celebrate the great children’s author Gianni Rodari on the centenary of his birth.

Rodari, who bears comparison with Margaret Mahy, was the first Italian writer to receive the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award, in 1970 (Mahy also received this ‘Nobel Prize of children’s literature’, in 2006). Rodari’s work includes fairy stories, nursery rhymes, short stories and novels, as well as his famous essay The Grammar of Fantasy.

Rodari’s work has been translated and reprinted the world over and remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for numerous Italian illustrators, who down the years have put his words into pictures.

This exhibition showcases some of those artists who in the last fifty years have illustrated Rodari’s texts. From legends like Luzzati and Munari through to young contemporary artists, this exhibition gives a fascinating overview of Italian illustration excellence.

Featured artists: Bruno Munari, Emanuele Luzzati, Altan, Beatrice Alemagna, Gaia Stella, Olimpia Zagnoli, Manuel Fior, Alessandro Sanna, Valerio Vitali, Simona Mulazzani, Chiara Armellini, Anna Laura Cantone, Fulvio Testa, Maria Chiara Di Giorgio, Giulia Orecchia, Nicoletta Costa, Federico Maggioni, Francesca Ghermandi, Pia Valentinis, Vittoria Facchini, Elenia Beretta.

Organised internationally by: Fiera di Bologna, BCBF, Regione E-R, Regione E-R Cultura d’Europa, Einaudi Ragazzi, Vivere all’Italiana (MAECI).

Auckland edition curated by Nicoletta Benella and organised by Dante Alighieri Society Auckland and Festival Italiano Auckland in collaboration with the Italian Embassy in New Zealand, Oratia Books, NEWMARKET.

Part of the Artweek Auckland 2020 Programme and the Italian Festival Season in Auckland