April 11–May 11, 2019. Mon-Fri 9-5 pm, Sat except 1-4 pm, Sun closed April 20. Rectory Gallery, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral - 263 Mulberry Street, New York, New York 10012. Opening Reception: Thursday, April 11, 6–8 p.m.

An exhibit of art by an immigrant, about immigration, circa 1900. A skilled artist and artisan, Donatus Buongiorno had a successful career in two countries. His works are a window into the mind of a man who migrated to America in the late 1800s. His images express appreciation for the opportunity to make the U.S. his home, while also recalling memories of the people and landscapes of his native southern Italy.

The Shrine Church of the Most Precious Blood, built in the early 1900s on Baxter Street when Italian families settled Lower Manhattan, contains 38 Buongiorno murals telling the stories of both spiritual salvation and of immigrants seeking a better life.

This exhibit displays samples of his secular work, easel paintings from private collections—images that capture the same passion for human life seen in his inspirational murals at the church. “We gaze upon these pictures from a distance, measured by the passage of time, and find ourselves mystically connected to the people of this disappeared world.” “These fine paintings remind us of who we are and inspire us to see the world around ourselves as a beautiful place to live and work.” —Msgr. Donald Sakano, Pastor