Celebrated musical artist Michéal Castaldo has organized a special showcase of art that exalts the glories of Italy and her people.

The exhibit of original artwork—created by 15 professional artists—will be on display in the Grand Lobby of the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in South Orange, New Jersey, on September 21, 2014.

Artists selected to participate in the art exhibit will include renowed Italian artists Andrea Viviani, Claudia Giraudo, Dorianno Tosarelli, Giuseppe Bianco, Lido Bettarini, Pillino, Rubens Fogacci, and Salvatore Magazzini, all represented by the Just Art Gallery in Providence, Rhode Island; Italian artist Yleni Mino of New York, New York; American artists Colette Shumate Smith, David Smith and Luann Hume of Leominster, Massachusetts; Greek artist Iphie Burg of Fitchburg, Massachusetts; German artist Ilse Buchert Nesbitt of The Third and Elm Press in Newport, Rhode Island; and American editorial photographer Simao Ago of Newark, New Jersey.
The framed artwork on display will be part of a Silent Auction benefiting La Dolce Vita Foundation (www.ladolcevitafoundation.org), a nonprofit organization founded by Michéal Castaldo to grant severely ill children, teens, or adults with the ultimate "Joy Ride" in a classic, exotic, two-seat convertible roadster designed for Driving the Blues Away™.

The Art Exhibit is open to the public from noon to 8:30 pm. Admission to the exhibit is free. The Silent Auction winners will be announced at 8:30 pm.

The art exhibit is being held in conjunction with A Musical Celebration of the Italian Spirit—A Feast for the Ears, Eyes, and Soul, Michéal Castaldo's première performance at SOPAC, which is sponsored by Investors Bank and produced by Majestic Castle Music, of New York City. There will be two distinctly different shows, a 2 p.m. matinee, and a 6:30 p.m. evening performance. Each show runs 90 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission.

Professional dancers from the Rocha Dance Theater will perform vibrant routines to compliment the songs performed by Castaldo, and The John J. Cali School of Music Strings will accompany Castaldo. Stunning visuals of beautiful Italian landscapes will appear on a large projection screen above the stage throughout each show.
Tickets to the Italian Cultural Event may be purchased at http://www.sopacnow.org/450/MichaelCastaldo, where ticket prices range from $37 to $57. For more information, please call SOPAC at 973-313-ARTS(2787).

For questions and further details regarding the art exhibit, contact the exhibit coordinator, Tamar Russell Brown, at 718-974-3328 or [email protected].