ITALIAN VIBRATIONS Exhibition to Open at CT's Provenance Center, 4/6

In a rare turnabout, six New-York-City based, Italian-born artists launch "Italian Vibrations," an extraordinary exhibit at Provenance Center in New London, before taking their show to New York City galleries.

This not-to-be-missed exhibition features digital art, sculptures, paintings and installations, including the complex and fascinating 3-by-20-foot "Stitched Bridge" piece composed of rags, wire and paper by Borinquen Gallo.

Join us for the opening reception at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 6, at Provenance Center, 165 State St., New London. Gallery hours are 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday, and by appointment.

Through its various mediums, the exhibit seeks to merge contemporary societal issues with spiritual roots and traditions of Italian heritage. The Center welcomes Guest Curator Alessandro Berni and more than 20 works of art. Along with Gallo, the featured artists are Antonio Pio Saracino, Andrea Bianconi, Verdiana Patacchini, Paolo Pelosini and Alessandro Del Pero.

Patacchini, also known as Verdi, holds a special connection with Provenance Center, as the first Provenance Visiting Artist. Verdi chose Provenance Center because of its central location in the Northeast region and because of her attraction to the Provenance Center mission, values and unique presentation of art and culture.

Provenance Center hosts this world-class presentation in conjunction with a nationwide celebration of "2013 - Year of Italian Culture in the United States," a concept showcasing Italian culture and what it means to the American public. The Italian artists in the New London exhibit perfectly exemplify one of the tenants of the initiative, with a series of events of new Italian talent alongside the legacy of Italy's Masters.

The artists are:

Antonio Pio Saracino - An architect and designer, he presented his work at the 2011 Venice Biennale, described by the New York Times as "arguably the most prestigious contemporary art festival in the world."

Andrea Bianconi - Living and working in Brooklyn and Vincenza, Italy, he addresses the concept of isolation. He works with found objects and is interested in the multiplicities and tensions of the human being.

Borinquen Gallo - An artist and educator, her sculptures serve as visual metaphors evoking multiple themes including the tension between spirituality and science.

Verdiana Patacchini - She earned two degrees from the Academy of Fine Art in Rome and presented at the Venice Biennale. Her work is held in the Permanent Collection of Italy's Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art of Viareggio.

Paolo Pelosini - From painting to conceptual art, he began sculpting in 1982, by cutting found metal objects with an ax, employing the same method and materials today in his studios in Spanish Harlem and Italy's Marrarosa.

Alessandro Del Pero - A self-taught painter, he has shown in solo and group shows nationally and internationally. He has most recently shown solo at Italy's Spaziarti Milano and the Tazza Gallery in Chelsea, New York.

For a "2013 - Year of Italian Culture in the United States" calendar of events nationwide, here and in Italy, visit www.italyinus2013.com and look for Provenance Center's listing among the Italian flags waving throughout the graphic of the United States.

The "Italian Vibrations" exhibition helps foster the mission of Provenance Center, to serve as a forum for people to explore and examine all dimensions of culture through the lens of artistic expression.

Artwork: Blue Head 3, Alessandro Del Pero, 14x20 inches, acrylic and charcoal on paper.