The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) is pleased to announce The Sicilian Cart: History in Movement (June 30 – January 7, 2018) an exhibition dedicated to the tradition and symbol of Sicilian folklore known worldwide.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. Its strategic geographic position—the crossroads between the Middle East, Africa, and Europe—drew many diverse peoples to its shores. Although conquests and invasions have shaped other parts of the world, on the sun-kissed lands of Sicily the legacy of these exchanges is particularly evident. Among the island’s most recognized symbols of folk iconography, the carretto sicilano is an ornate horse- or donkey-drawn cart that emerged in the early 1800s as a popular means of transportation.

The cart’s illustrations of historic events, literary works, and religious subject matter imparted knowledge to a population that was often illiterate and assisted in the transmission of culture. Carretti illustrate the numerous cultures that left an imprint on Sicily, included the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and French, and serve as an excellent guide for understanding the island’s multilayered history. Countering centuries of conquest and heartache with color and optimism, the carretto siciliano is said to embody the Sicilian spirit. The automobile eventually replaced the carretto, but the carts never disappeared from the Sicilian imagination. Carretti continue to occupy a revered place within Sicilian popular culture.

For the first time, two original Sicilian carretti, generously loaned by the MUSCÁ Museum of Taormina, Sicily, are being displayed in Los Angeles along with dozens of other pieces of folk art and elements from historic carts, some of which date to the early 20th century. Ancient coins, representing over two millennia of Sicilian History, will also be on display.

The exhibition examines the carts’ iconography, the process of making carretti, the artisans who continue this cherished craft and the cart’s role as folk and popular culture icons.

In collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, whose collections are strongly linked with Sicilian folklore, the exhibit will showcase the carts’ presence in today’s fashion world thanks to the creativity of the Italian luxury brand. Sicily and the carretto theme are important aspects of the aesthetic of the fashion house’s founders, Domenico Dolce, a native Sicilian, and Stefano Gabbana. Five Dolce & Gabbana looks will be presented along with accessories.

"Beyond their captivating aesthetics, carretti serve as an excellent instrument through which to understand Sicily and the Sicilian soul," says Marianna Gatto, IAMLA executive director, who wrote and curated the exhibition. "The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles takes great pride in showcasing this cultural icon, and promoting understanding of Sicily itself, the island to which a great number of Italian Americans trace their ancestry."

The carts’ vibrant colors and complex designs is the source of inspiration for new and unexpected projects. SMEG, the Italian luxury household appliance manufacturer, collaborated with Dolce & Gabbana to produce a limited edition of hand -painted refrigerators and a collection of small appliances inspired by the Sicilian carretto. It will be the first time many of these appliances will be displayed in the United States.