If you’re in Utah over the next weeks, make sure to stop by the University of Utah’s Willard Marriot Library for a first-hand look at ancient Italian books and manuscripts. La Parola Scritta: XVI Centuries of Italian Culture in Ink celebrates Italian contributions to world history and culture as we move into the final months of the 2013 Year of Italian Culture in the United States. This special initiative has projected italianitá across the United States, presenting it not only in its traditional historic and artistic forms, but also as an economic driver in the United States and globally.
The J. Willard Marriott Library will showcase a portion of its vast collection including books from the 15th through the 19th centuries that illustrate Italian contributions to printing, poetry, theater, music, geography, mathematics, botany, astronomy, anatomy, law, typography, dance, travel and more. Many of the books on display are first editions, including the first printed edition of Euclid’s Geometry (1482) and Galileo’s Dialogo (1632).
In addition to the exhibition in the Special Collections Gallery, medieval manuscript facsimiles and fine press and artists’ books will be on display for hands-on perusal during the event. The event is sponsored by Special Collections at the J. Willard Marriott Library, the Italian-American Civic League, the Italian Club of Salt Lake City, the Honorary Italian Consulate of Salt Lake City and Tony Caputo’s Market and Deli.
La Parola Scritta will be held on November 20 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. A short program will begin at 6:00 p.m. to formally announce the donation of the Italian-American Civic League papers to the library and the establishment of League research archives.
Event Details:
What: La Parola Scritta, XVI Centuries of Italian Culture in Ink
Where: University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library, level 4
When: Wednesday, November 20 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Directions: See map here
Parking: Park in the visitor lot west of the library, near the bookstore
Cost: Free and open to the public
Exhibition Details:
What: La Parola Scritta: XVI Centuries of Italian Culture in Ink
Where: University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library, level 4
When: Now – December 13
Directions: See map here
Parking: Park in the visitor lot west of the library, near the bookstore
Cost: Free and open to the public