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The Chrysler and The Azalea Festival Collaborate to Celebrate Italy

In collaboration with this year’s International Azalea Festival the Museum has organized a series of events and programs (see below) that spotlight Italy—the Azalea Fest’s 2004 most honored nation. Italy is also home to Murano glass and this year’s Festival, which takes place April 18 – 25, coincides with the final week of the Chrysler’s wonderful presentation of Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection.

The long-standing tradition of the International Azalea Festival began in 1953, one year after the establishment in Norfolk of NATO. During that year the citizens of Norfolk organized a tribute to the allied forces in order “to create new friendships, provide a basis for cultural exchange, recognize the military's role in maintaining peace in the world and pursue new lines of trade between Norfolk and the world;” and each year the Azalea Fest organizers choose a country to be awarded the honor of most celebrated nation.

On view since October, the Chrysler is the first venue for Murano on its North American tour, and both Museum and show have received national acclaim. The collection, formed by Georgio Spanu and his wife Nancy Olnick, is arguably the greatest collection of 20th-century Venetian vessels in America. Following the Chrysler, the exhibition will continue its tour and travel to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; the Museum of Glass, Tacoma; The Detroit Institute of Arts; and the Frist Center for Visual Arts, Nashville.

In addition to Murano, this spring the Chrysler is pleased to host a group of outstanding Venetian paintings generously lent by collectors Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Saunders, III. On March 19 Museum visitors will be able to enjoy five masterful works by artists Antonio Canal, better known at Canaletto, and Francesco Guardi. These masterpieces of 18th-century “view painting” present one of the world’s most beautiful and fascinating cities in all of its glory. The exhibition in the Kaufman Furniture Gallery also includes a life-size portrait Julia Peel, daughter of English Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, painted in 1826 by Sir Thomas Lawrence with great freshness and vivacity.

Please visit the Museum to celebrate Italy with the Azalea Festival, and enjoy all of the Chrysler’s Italian-inspired events and programs throughout April.

Murano is organized and circulated by Exhibitions International, NY. The national tour is made possible by Venini with local support generously provided by the Chrysler’s Business Exhibition Council.

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In collaboration with Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival, the Museum has organized programming that spotlights Italy, this year’s most celebrated nation and the home of Murano Glass.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Public Tour with the Curator: Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection
Wednesday, April 21, 5 p.m.
Join Queen Azalea for this special tour of Murano! The Museum’s Curator of Glass, Gary Baker, will offer an in-depth look at this exceptional exhibition featuring nearly 300 pieces of Venetian glass dating from the beginning of the 20th century to the present. Hear about the traditions of glassmaking in Murano, a small island in the Venetian lagoon. This event is free and open to the public.

Italian Sunday Fun Day
Sunday, April 25, 1 – 4 p.m.
Join us for this celebration of Italian and Italian-American culture. In conjunction with Norfolk’s International Azalea Festival, this program will highlight the art, culture, food, and music of this year’s most celebrated nation, Italy. The Murano exhibition provides the perfect atmosphere for the day’s events, with Venetian musicians, dancers, gondolas, and glass taking center stage. Italian food specialties will fuel your appetite for hands-on art activities, scavenger hunts, performances, and more. Public Tours and films will highlight the art and culture of this millennia-old civilization. This event is free with Museum admission.

Italian Art Public Tour series
In conjunction with Norfolk’s Azalea Festival, these special Public Tours will use examples from the Museum’s Permanent Collection to explain different time periods and movements in Italian art. Tours begin at the Information Desk at 2 p.m. and are free with Museum Admission.

  • Wednesday, April 21: Ancient Rome
  • Thursday, April 22: Medieval and Renaissance
  • Friday, April 23: Baroque
  • Saturday, April 24: 17th & 18th Centuries
  • Sunday, April 25: Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection

Postcards from Italy Film Series
All films will be shown at 3 p.m. in the Gifford Seminar Room and are free with Museum Admission.

Travels in Europe: Florence
(1992) 28 minutes
Wednesday, April 21
The cultural richness of Florence can be overwhelming with the myriad things to see and do. Host Rick Steves takes breaks for cappuccino on a selective ramble through Renaissance Florence. Highlights include Michelangelo’s David, the Inferno frescos in the Baptistery, and the Uffizi Gallery, home to many of Botticelli’s masterpieces.

Rome and the Alban Hills
(1988) 50 minutes
Thursday, April 22
This tour of Rome and the Alban hills features art and architecture as well as fascinating insights into the ancient Roman world. Among the sights are: the Roman Forum; the Campidoglio; Piazza Navona; the Appian Way; the Vatican; and treasures of the Sistine Chapel.

Travels in Europe: Milan and Lake Como
(1995) 30 minutes
Friday, April 23
In this short film, we follow the history of this Northern Italian region, as well as glimpse the newest fashions, and sample healthy fast food cuisine. Explore an impressive duomo, an opera museum, and learn about a project restoring a famous Da Vinci painting. For a quiet escape, there’s a train ride to serene Lake Como for a team-built gourmet dinner, and an exploration of the elegant Villa Carlotta and Villa d’Este.

Travels in Europe: Naples and the Amalfi Coast
(1995) 30 minutes
Friday, April 23
Highlights of this film include visiting Naples’ impressive Museum, exploring its back streets, surviving its “Vespa mania,” and sojourning to the resort town of Sorrento. From there we will explore the Roman ruins at Pompeii and Greek temples at Paestum, the Amalfi coast, and the gorgeous seaside resort of Positano.

The Magic of Venice
(1991) 74 minutes
Saturday, April 24
For over a millennium, Venice has delighted visitors. Art and literature flourished here while the rest of Europe plummeted into the Dark Ages. See the grandeur of St. Mark’s Square, the Basilica, and the Doge’s palace in a gondola ride that takes you on to Murano, where you will have a unique chance to watch glass being made. Hear about the various restoration projects that mark Venice’s struggle to survive and preserve its glorious past.

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For general information, please call (757) 664-6200. For media information, please contact the Public Relations Department at (757) 333-6295 or publicrelations@chrysler.org.

 

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