Festa - Art & Culture

Chalk Art

We are pleased to introduce Anton Pulvirenti to be our guest artist at this year's Festa. Traditionally, Anton works in oil and watercolours but over the last few years he's been taking his art to the streets working directly on the pavement. Anton's talent won him the title of 'Champion Pavement Artist' at Chalk Urban Art Festival in Sydney in 2007 with his anamorphic perspective (appears 3D) portrait of his daughter 'Elsa'. In addition to being a practising artist, producing public art and private commissions. Anton teaches at the faculty of the built environment at the University of New South Wales, tutoring in perspective drawing and landscape drawing. For further information on Chalk Art visit here

Artist will be located at Wetherill Street on Norton Street

Commedia dell'arte

Italian traditional comic theatre
"I Carbonari della Commedia" is a non-profit theatre company formed in 1981 with the aim of offering theatre performances and cultural entertainment. There aim is to promote Italian culture and language to the community and will be roaming the streets at Festa this year to entertain and surprise you. Watch your back!

Roaming Entertainment

Marsala

One of Sydney's hottest and most danceable World Music bands, playing an infectious combination of Italian melody, Latin rhythm, French chic and Balkan mayhem. A great way to end a festival dedicated to celebrating diversity and community.
Time:3pm - 4:45pm
Location: Short Street Stage

The Roman Combo

Take 3 charismatic master musicians and you have an imperial force! Ross Maio is an award-winning, internationally recognised master of accordion. A virtuoso musician and heir to a great Italian tradition. Gino Pengue is a well known and much sought after guitarist on the Sydney scene, playing across a huge range of styles and with the cream of local and international artists. With dazzling skill and ease, Gino is a consummate professional. Emilio Lomonaco is a guitarist and vocalist who evokes the raw beauty and pathos of his native Sicily while being equally at home with the melodic Neapolitan repetoire.

Time:12noon - 2pm
Location: Short Street Stage

Vento del Sud

Vento del Sud(Southern Wind) is an Italian folk band that has been very active for a number of years between 1991 and 1999. In 1998 they produced a CD called Mare Nostrum. They specialize in Italian folk songs, particularly from the south of the peninsula (hence the name).

Their songs are rich with historical content, often depicting specific events taking place at a particular time in history, songs about work, poverty, social struggle, migration or even religious rituals, but much of their repertoire is also composed of songs which narrate stories of unrequieted love, the way it was lived hundreds of years ago - stories which are sometimes funny, sometimes sad, full of double entendre and that typical italian passion and pathos.

The sounds alternate between the melodic, sweet, seductive, gently
mesmerizing and the dynamic, energetic and passionate.

Time:11 - 11:45am & 2:15pm - 2:50
Location: Short Street Stage

DJ Stefano

A veritable institution in the Sydney Italian dance scene, Stefano has played all the major festivals and has been playing the latest Italian and Euro dance tracks on Club Italia on 2RDJFM and Movimento FM. Stefano can also be seen as music reporter on The Italian Guide on TVS.
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: Youth Area, Civic Video Car Park

Carlo Cocquio

Retrospective Exhibition

Born in Ligurno, a small village in the Italian province of Varese in 1899, Cocquio dedicated his life to painting. He achieved fame and recognition in both religious and commercial art. His work featured in numerious exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale in 1930.

To commemorate the 25th Anniversary of his death, this retrospective is being held concurrently with a major exhibition in Italy.

Date: Festa weekend 25 & 26 October 2008
Time: 10am - 5pm
Location: Casa d'Italia, 67 Norton Street, Leichhardt