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Siamo Una Famiglia
Welcome, Lillie
By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers
On October 14, 2021, Maria D’Andrea-Yothers and Sam Yothers welcomed their first grandchild, Lillie Jade Gardner, into the world. The delivery was safe and healthy. The proud grandparents, Nonna Maria & Pappy Bammer, got to meet Lillie over Thanksgiving, where they spent the holiday in Fletcher, N.C., with Lillie, her mom Mara and dad John, Lillie’s aunt Lauren, and three dogs. Needless to say, Lillie is one special little girl, and will be spoiled rotten when Maria and Sam retire and relocate near Fletcher (Asheville), N.C., on or around 2024.
Maria D’Andrea-Yothers and Sam Yothers doting on new granddaughter Lillie Jade Gardner. The Innate Courtesy of Our People
By Omero Sabatini, AMHS Past President
A little while ago, talking with a woman whom I had just met and whose name I did not know, I addressed her as lady. But then it occurred to me how rude that would have been in our part of Italy.
You see, over there when talking with a woman with whom one is not on familiar terms, one never addresses her simply as lady. It is always, always beautiful lady (or bella fe’ if using the local Abruzzese dialect). The same goes when talking with a man who is a stranger. It is always, always good sir (or bon’o’ in the local dialect), instead of simply sir.
As far as I know, the endearing terms beautiful and good are not used in circumstances like this in any other western country. So, dear beautiful ladies and dear good sirs, let us be worthy of our heritage, and always, always be courteous to one another.
AMHS Membership
Birthdays Compleanni a Gennaio
Michael Bishop, January 1; Carmela Ventresca, January 2; John Iazzetti, January 4; John Iademarco, January 5; Americo Allegrino, January 8; Abraham Avidor, January 12; Carla DiBlasio, January 17; Monica Palenski Reed, January 18; Peter DiGiovanni, January 19; Henry Lisciotti and Panela Pasquariello, January 21; Lena Lupica, January 22; Bess DiTullio and Karen Kiesner, January 24; Nonna Noto, January 26; Angela Puglisi, January 28; and Mariadina Di Gennaro, January 30.Compleanni a Febbraio
Roberto DiTullio, February 2; Rose Silvestri Canahl, February 5; Robert Baldassari, February 7; Carmen Ciccione, February 8; Louis Sacchetti, February 9; Stephan Carrier and Mark Lino, February 10; Joseph Breda, February 12; Julie Finigan-Dal Forno, February 14; William Sansalone, February 16; William Anthony Meaux, February 17; Elisa DiClemente and Andrea Balzano, February 18; Lana Nardella, Joseph DiBlasio, and Gerry McCluer, February 19; Francesco Isgro and Tom Sweeney, February 21; Gino Marinucci, February 22; Jana Monaco and Diana DelGrosso, February 23; Lourdes Tinajero, February 25; and Michele LaVerghetta and Caridad de la Vega, February 27.Anniversaries Anniversari a Gennaio
NoneAnniversari a Febbraio
Sam & Maria (D’Andrea) Yothers, February 11; Rocco & Yoni Caniglia, February 14; and Michael & Dena DeBonis, February 15.Membership Information Category # of Persons
Associate (Couple): 5 x 2 = 10
Associate (Individual): 41
General (Couple): 46 x 2 = 90
General (Individual): 92
Honorary: 11
Scholarship: 2
Student: 7
Total Membership: 253January/February 2022
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Venice Expert Eric Denker to Speak at January Program
By Nancy DeSanti, 1st Vice President-Programs
We have a treat in store for AMHS members and guests who come to our first program of the new year, on January 30, 2022. Eric Denker, the highly regarded Senior Lecturer at the National Gallery of Art for many years, will give us a talk on Venice, to get us in the mood for that city’s famous Carnevale.
Since 1978, he has been with the National Gallery of Art, most recently as Senior Lecturer and Head of Tours and Lectures. Denker, who has a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, studied in Bologna and speaks Italian.
Denker has long been a devoted fan of Venice. One of our members who attended his lecture on that city at the Smithsonian said it was like “being transported to Venice.” His publications include the 2003 exhibition catalogue “Whistler and His Circle in Venice” (at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington) and an etiquette guide to the city, entitled “No Vulgar Hotel: The Desire and Pursuit of Venice,” co-written in 2007 with his friend Judith Martin, better known as “Miss Manners.”
His lectures have also included “Raphael and His Circle,” “Degas at the Opera,” “Tintoretto Central: La Scuola Grande di San Rocco” and “In the Wake of Whistler: Prints of Venice, 1900-1940.”
Denker would like to make his presentation in honor of recently deceased Holy Rosary parishioner Diego D’Ambrosio, who was well-known to many of our members.
Lunch will be served in Casa Italiana, and we invite our members and guests to plan to attend what is sure to be a very interesting and informative talk. Please check your email inbox for further details and registration information.
Eric Denker
Credit: National Gallery of ArtJanuary/February 2022
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Molise Beckons
Molise Beckons
Live Italian – fabulous history, authentic tradition, local artisans and food producers
We are happy to share this new offering from our friend Jenifer Landor who spoke at an AMHS luncheon recently. Jenifer directs the Live and Learn program in Agnone (Molise) – a language and cultural immersion experience. Both Albert Paolantonio and Maria D’Andrea-Yothers spent time in July of 2017 living like Molisani and learning Italian with Jenifer and wonderful instructors, artisans, and townspeople.
For those with less time to study Italian in a small town setting, she has developed a new program for the interested traveler to experience a glorious part of the region. Jenifer explains, “So if you are not so keen to study during a holiday, come explore the history, traditions and culinary heritage of Alto Molise.”
Next LIVE ITALIAN date is October 2018, but visits can be organized pretty much any time for groups with a minimum of 6 people. Click here for an idea of what to expect and some information on cost and contact.
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Make Memories in Molise
Have you been promising yourself that you will hunker down in a quiet (not too quiet) village to improve your Italian?
Taking one or two weeks to brush up or even get started on speaking Italian makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? A program in charming Agnone in Molise allows you to study hard and take a holiday at the same time. Jenifer Landor and Alessandro Aucelli say it all in the name – Live and Learn Italian. They are a local, independent business whose aim is for a small number of students to integrate themselves into the fabric of the town, to experience the local customs, and engage in the crafts – as a welcomed friend! Sounds like paradise!
AMHS members met one of the founders a few months ago and we were smitten with her and her program. get to know about Live and Learn Italian in Molise on their website and in our interview with Jenifer below. Then make a resolution to give yourself this experience.
What makes Live and Learn Italian different from a typical language school?
We are so different from a standard language school – with never more than 12 guests at a time, the emphasis is on integrating everyone into the community during their stay. We do offer classes (3 hours daily + homework!), yes – but the focus is on practicing the language, and the rest of the time we join in community events, visit the local artisans and their workshops, or cook and share meals with local families. These activities, and so many others, are all in Italian because the community is not English speaking at all – and our guests really do get to feel part of it, and that they are living in an authentic town – come and discover your inner Italian!
How can a week or two of study also be a holiday?
Well, it’s a learning holiday – no doubt about that. Talks and visits include hearing about the cultural history of the region, and learning a language does take some effort. But combine that with enjoying exceptional produce, visiting family restaurants, local festivals and events, getting out into the incredible nature of the region and relaxing over meals and drinks with a small group of like minded individuals – and everyone, without exception, has a very fulfilling holiday.
How many years has L&L been in business and what are its origins?
2017 will be our 5th season. I came here to stay with cousins and learn Italian myself, and discovered a unique opportunity – a community that does not speak English and is protector of ancient traditions and world-class artisans. The idea came to me to share this with a few others – to give learners of the language an environment in which they can engage with anyone and everyone! We are mindful of the great gift we have in working with an authentic community, off the beaten track, and we play a small part in keeping aspects of this ancient culture and its traditions alive, without in any way compromising the authenticity. We encourage our guests to explore, learn, and discover while respecting, protecting and valuing the modest way of life of the region. Working directly with many local families, individuals, and businesses, we are not only providing valued income, but an opportunity to tell their stories, and share their crafts and produce.
Typically, who comes to Molise to study with L&L?
Most of our guests are 50+, professionals who have been learning Italian for some time or who have started later in life. Some are recently retired – active people, learning for family reasons, or because they love Italy and the culture and language, and want to be able to converse when they travel. Many are lovers of music, art and architecture, and occasionally we get literature lovers keen to read Dante in the original! We also get second and third generation Italians who are discovering the language of their ancestors.
We here at AMHS fully endorse this learning holiday. A few of us are making the trip in July!
www.liveandlearnitalian.com
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Discovering Renaissance Ceramics in Abruzzo
Written by Carma Fountleroy with photographs courtesy of Nancy Coviello.
In October, Maestro Roberto Paolinelli arranged for his ceramic students from Casa Italiana Language School in Washington DC, to experience the best field trip imaginable.
For more than a decade, Maestro Roberto has been teaching Italian Renaissance Castelli-style ceramic painting at Casa Italiana. For a million different reasons, before 2015 it was not possible for Maestro Roberto to accompany a student group to Italy. This year he agreed to accompany students to his hometown Pescara, Italy, where he was a professional artist and gallerist until his retirement to Northern Virginia. Roberto, along with his brother, artist Albano Paolinelli, guided students to ceramics museums and artists workshops throughout the Pescara and Chieti provinces of Abruzzo. (You can learn more about the art of Albano at: http://www.albanopaolinelli.it/)
The visits to the four ceramic collections were one of the main highlights of the trip, not just the collections themselves but the enthusiastic and knowledgeable curators. As it turned out, each museum opened specially for our group. This was due to scheduling as three of the museums are in very small towns and usually only open on Saturday and Sunday. Since we needed to visit on Thursday or Friday, they made an exception. The welcome at each of these places could not have been warmer or more enthusiastic.
We started with the Acerbo Museum in Loreto Apurtino. The displays were breath-taking examples of the work of Francisco Grue, considered by many to be the all-time master of Castelli-style of painting. Next we visited another ceramic center, the village of Rapino. There we were met at the museum by a resident and enthusiastic guide, Antonella. This museum also has a school which offers ceramic workshops throughout the year. Our next museum stop was in Castelli where the collection holds not only wonderful examples of traditional Castelli ceramics, but also some of the original ceiling tiles from the Church of San Donato. Our final museum visit was to the Paparella Treccia-Devlet Museum in Pescara which was closed due to a change in special exhibitions. The museum agreed to open specially on Saturday morning for our group to visit. It is housed is a lovely preserved Palazzo in downtown Pescara and has a wide-ranging collection of Castelli ceramics.
Another highlight was the visit to the ceramic studios of working artists. While visiting both Castelli and Rapino it was obvious due to empty shops that such studios are in decline, yet the ones we visited had extremely talented working artists. Highlights included Antonio Di Simone in Castelli and Giovannina Tosca in Rapino. Giovanna’s Facebook page has lots of images of her work.
Bittersweet was the recognition that hand-painted ceramics was the economic staple of small Italian towns for centuries but now the traditional artisans and workshops are slowly disappearing. With the declining post-recession market for such goods, modern industrial aesthetics and the departure of young adult populations for training and jobs in urban areas, we realized how precious and fleeting a moment in time we experienced and treasured.
When we visited Rapino and Castelli we seemed to be the main attraction in town as on a Fall weekday there were few other tourists. The nice part about standing out in this fashion was how curious, friendly and helpful everyone was to us. We could not have received a nicer welcome. Many visitors to Italy are amazed and perhaps disappointed that many people speak English. Refreshingly, this is not the case in Abruzzo’s Adriatic coast or in Pescara where Italians spend seaside holidays. How refreshing to spend a week where English wasn’t spoken ubiquitously. At one highly recommended seafood restaurant, the 20s-something staff brought out their tablets to provide Google translations of their fresh daily menu.
There were many wonderful moments, so it is hard to select just one. One fond memory is that of the visit to the Castelli Bottega or Studio of Antonio Di Simone who has spent a lifetime practicing and mastering Castelli ceramics. During our tour of his workshop, he showed us ceramic molds from his grandfather’s time dated in the 1870s. Also the visit to the Church of San Donato in Castelli was memorable. Another would be the meal we shared in the home of Albano and Gabriella Paolinelli where we were fed delicious local dishes and showered with warm hospitality.
Want to take a ceramics class? For information on the ceramic classes taught at Casa Italiana, see their website at: http://www.casaitalianaschool.org/ or call the school at: 202-638-1348.
Photos from the trip by Nancy Coviello are available on Flickr at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/necworld/albums/72157659954911716
