The Italian American Museum Cordially invites you to attend the opening reception for "Who Do You Think I Am?/Chi Pensi Che Io Sono?"

Solo Exhibition by Antonio Petracca

Friday, March 27, 2015 - 6:30 P.M.

Refreshments will be served

R.S.V.P. 212.965.9000 [email protected]

Artist's Statement:

I am honored to be invited by the Italian American Museum, here in historic Little Italy, on the corner of Mulberry and Grand Streets, New York City. "Who Do You Think I Am?/Chi Pensi Che Io Sono?", is a mini-retrospective selected from a larger body of work begun in 2002. Although I've made art based on other themes, the art work in this exhibition is solely about my mus­ings, memories and viewpoints concerning Italian immigrants and Italian Americans.

Some of this art incorporates little known and historical facts. The rest is more playful, poking fun at me and Italian Americans in general for their susceptibility to tolerate and accept stereotypical, often derogatory depictions of themselves. Is it okay to lampoon our looks, mannerisms, religious ceremonies, importance of food and family? Since our immigrant precursors arrived at these shores, others have tried and partially succeeded in distorting "who we are and what we do". It's your choice to recognize this as a problem or to dismiss it. My mission simply is to provide the viewer an opportunity to consider and reflect on these issues. If one is inspired to learn more about the his­tory of Italian immigration and the Italian American story, then I am most rewarded!

Italian American Museum
155 Mulberry Street
(Corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets)
New York, NY 10013