The Gucci loafer, one of the most iconic shoes to ever be “Made in Italy,” turns 60 this year. In 1953, Gucci transformed the concept of the loafer, or “mocassino” with the release of its own version. This did more than simply make the Gucci brand name famous–the loafer became synonymous with the brand.
compiled by Tegan GEORGE
Nobel Italians Prize Winners Throughout History: A Story Of Achievement
On International Women’s Day 2012, the City of Rome bestowed the Venere Award on 20 leading women whose contributions across social, artistic and political spheres improve the City’s culture, health and wellness. Among them, Ludovica Rossi Purini, President of Compagnia per la Musica and frequent collaborator with the Italian Academy Foundation, received recognition for her dedication to music.
With a politically and socially active career, Federica Olivares has made an influential figure in the American and Italian cultural spheres. Olivares was most recently appointed as a cultural advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giulio Terzi.
The Italian Academy Foundation announced that Kim Brizzolara has joined its board of directors. Ms. Brizzolara is a feature and documentary film producer and serves as an advisor to several non-profit organizations. She is executive vice chair of the Hamptons International Film Festival, serves on the Board of the We are Family Foundation, and Creative Visions, and is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board at the School of Government at Harvard.
The first woman to be appointed as Italian Consul General in New York, Minister Plenipotentiary Natalia Quintavalle took her seat at the Park Avenue Consulate in September 2011. The prestigious assignment is only the last of a series of important achievements in her diplomatic career, which has seen her actively work in the defense of human rights and in the promotion of Italian culture and interests in the world.
In the packed concert hall of Teatro Sociale in the ancient medieval quarter of Bergamo, a young Italian visual artist was the first recipient of a new award: The New York Italian Academy Foundation Award, presented by the International Cultural Festival of Bergamo in early April, 2011.
Milan-native and expert archeologist Gionata Rizzi is looking to conserve a small part of New York City’s young history.
Enchanted by the deep shadows and brilliant light of Caravaggio’s timeless work, Bill Viola seeks to retain a similar aura in his own art.
by Ambassador Giulio Terzi
I am delighted to be here with you again today and honored by your invitation, a most welcome sign of your great friendship. The last time I had the pleasure of being with you – as Permanent Representative to the United Nations – I talked about international security issues. Over the last year and a half, I have somehow changed my perspective – but not too much: in Washington, diplomatic work is at once global and bilateral too. Today I would like to address a topic which has both a global scope, as it relates to the world’s monetary system, and a “bilateral” one which refers to relations between the EU and the US: I am referring to the stability of the euro-zone.