Tile on the a wall in the kasbah of Mazara del Vallo (Photo Credit: Peter DiGeronimo)
Category: Art, Ceramics, Music
The Madonna Of The Milicia River
My heart is heavy knowing about the loss of life because of the Milicia River spontaneously swelling in Casteldaccia, Sicily over the weekend due to torrential rains. When I heard the tragic news, I immediately thought of the Madonna of the Milicia, the sacred painting, pictured, that is venerated in Casteldaccia and Altavilla Milicia, coastal…
Celebrating Sicily’s Martyr, Santa Lucia
All Saints Day is a day to remember all the saints known and unknown. On All Saints Day, November 1, we also remember martyrs, like Santa Lucia of Siracusa, pictured, who adorns the city’s Duomo. Save the Date: Sunday, December 9, we are hosting our annual Festa di Santa Lucia luncheon at Cacio e Vino…
Marzipan for All Souls Day
We are upon the feast celebrations of the Day of the Dead (Giorno dei Morti, or in Sicilian, Un juornu re muorti), All Saints Day, and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). Although traditions are changing as a result of the modern world, in the past, on November 2, Sicilians, who have a profound appreciation for…
From Arthur Avenue To Sicily
Congratulations to my friends Danielle Oteri and Christian Galliani, proprietors of Arthur Avenue Food Tours and Feast on History, for this cover feature on this week’s New Yorker magazine! Included in the full piece (at https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2018-10-29, there are a number of beautiful illustrations from their food and shopping tour, including one of Danielle cradling a…
The Sea At Zafferano
“The sea at Zafferano flashes cross my mind… I come from a braver kind… I feel so alive, I feel so sure, with the sun on my path and the wind at my back…” Capo Zafferano, pictured, and my grandparents’ immigration from this area, inspired my song and performance, “Jump,” released ten years ago this…
Another Black Madonna in Sicily
Tucked away near the castle that gives Castellamare del Golfo its name is the Chiesa di Maria SS del Rosario, which is believed to have been built in such a secluded corner during the Norman era, circa 1100, to hide it from invading pirates. Inside is this alter devoted to the Madonna dell’Agnuni, or Madonna…
What A Bear!
One of the outstanding mosaic scenes from the UNESCO site in Piazza Armerina, the Villa Romana del Casale, a Roman era/4th century plantation
Custom for the Customer
This is my new soap dispenser, made for me by ceramic artist Angelo Varsallona, who is based in Caltagirone. In May, I went hunting along the famous stairs of the baroque town seeking two different dispensers for our new apartment. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, Angelo offered to make them for…
Cannoli: Traditions Around The Table
My breath has been taken away by this beautiful documentary film, Cannoli: Traditions Around the Table, made by Andrea and Francesco Cordaro of Fusion Box Films. I feel so blessed to have been a part of it as the cannoli expert. This evening was a private, industry screening. When available for general viewing online, I’ll…