The Artists of Casa Italia spectacular Art Exhibition of 2013 will be held August 9th-13th at Casa Italia in Stone Park, Il (Artists' Reception at 7PM on Friday the 9th) and then will move to Little Italy Fest West in Addision, Il (August 14th-18th) and finally will be shown at the Addison Village Town Hall Rotunda August 19th-30th (Artists' Reception on Friday August 30th). Be there!

1. FAITH
OF
OUR FATHERS
CHICAGO ITALIANS
AND
CATHOLICISM
Artists of
Casa Italia

2. 2
The Artists of
Casa Italia
Italian Cultural Center at Casa Italia
1621 N. 39th Ave. Stone Park, IL 60165
708-345-5933 http://www.casaitaliachicago.net/
Presented by
Page
Horacio Baggio 6
Lorraine Caposieno 8
Anne Marie Cina 10
Vincent Coppola 12
Giovanna Hopkins 13
Bruna Corso 14
Ivan Lazcano 16
Dominick M. Maino 18
Louis Mustari 20
Claudia Pontarelli-Hallissey 21
Gesualdo Romeo 22

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Faith of Our Fathers
Chicago Italians and
Catholicism
Welcome to the
Casa Italia Art Exhibition 2013
We have a new Pope. Pope Francis I was born in Argen-
tina of Italian parents. As with Italian Catholics in
Chicago, his heritage is part of old world Italia and the
new world of the Americas. Bringing what is old into the
new is the basis of what is rooted deep within our Ital-
ian culture. The heritage of our ancestors and the
influences of the new world have created the Italian-
Americans of today. Our history in Chicago as Italian
Catholics is a great and ever continuing adventure. The
Artists of Casa Italia continue to advance the Italian
spirit and sense of style using incredible creativity to
showcase the Italian culture and our faith within the
New World
Embrace this heritage. Enjoy the art, the Italian Spirit
and Faith of our Fathers. Thank you for your participa-
tion. Benvenuti a tutti!
Horacio Baggio, Exhibition Organizer
Acknowledgments
We want to thank Dominic Canderolo, Dominick M. Maino, Joanne
Spata, Casa Italia Chair and all Casa Italia Officers and Board
members; Darrell Marchioretto, and all the artists and their sup-
porting families and friends.

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The Artists of Casa Italia
Presents
Faith of Our Fathers
Chicago Italians and Catholicism
A Traveling Exhibition at the following locations
Casa Italia
August 9-13th
Stone Park, Il
Little Italy Fest West
August 14th-18th
Addison Village
Hall Rotunda
August 19th-30th
Artists’ Reception Friday August 30th
An “Old Neighborhood Family Reunion”. Great food, family fun, music,
and activities. Centennial Park at Rohlwing Rd. & Lake St. Addison, Il.

5. 5

6. 6
Horacio Baggio
Artist’s Statement:
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I immigrated to America when I was
four years old. Raised in Chicago, I was the first in my family to earn a
college degree, - Industrial Design, University of Illinois, Chicago. I
have worked as an industrial designer and product development engi-
neer for over thirty years.
Creativity and inventiveness have earned me 13 patents mostly in
hazardous location lighting and electrical connector design. My inter-
est in art has always been part of my life. Since grade school I have
always been drawing and creating art as time permitted. High school
included classes in graphic arts, mechanical drawing, and painting.
My college curriculum was in engineering, mechanical design, pho-
tography, graphic arts, industrial illustration, mechanical drawing, and
painting.
In the '90s' my appetite for art brought me to the adult continuing edu-
cation program at the Art Institute of Chicago where I studied still life,
landscape, and figure drawing.
My Italian heritage and interest in realism drew me to eventually study
in Italy. So, in the fall of 2000 and 2002 I studied figure and portrait
drawing in Florence at the Michael John Angel Academy. This was a
great experience and gave me motivation to continue working and
developing my art. I don't know where it will lead, but I'm enjoying the
work I am producing. It is very rewarding and each piece is a new ad-
venture.
My passion for mechanical, landscape as well as the figurative and
portrait work continues to grow. I hope you enjoy what I have done
and what I will continue to do in the future.
Contact Information:
Address 8733 N. Ozanam Niles, Il, 60714
Phone 847-965-3186 Cell 847-212-8478
Email hbaggio@excite.com
Website: horacio.baggio@molex.com

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The Work of Horacio Baggio

8. 8
Lorraine Caposieno
Artist’s statement:
I originally attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illi-
nois, and more recently have studied with Dominic Vignola of Oak
Park, and Thia Malenchik of Palatine. I am a member and Program
Director of the Elk Grove Village Art League. Recent winner of sev-
eral awards by the Elk Grove Village Juried Art Shows and various
exhibits.
I put my art aside for many years while I raised my daughters and
worked outside my home. Later as a “reluctant retiree” I went back
to painting. I find it rewarding in so many ways, as well as being
“therapeutic”. My husband and I have traveled through Italy exten-
sively , so many of my paintings of the Tuscan countryside, and vari-
ous cities come from photos taken during those trips.
I trust that my appreciation for the art of the old masters and my love
of painting will influence each of my six amazing grandkids. They all
know that they can play with paints and brushes at "Nana's"
house.
Thanks to my very supportive husband, Jim and my family, I have
been able to devote a lot of my time to painting, and promoting my
artwork.
Recent Exhibits:
Mather Senior Café, August through September, 2010;
Midwest Palliative and Hospice Center in Glenview, Illinois
October through November, 2010; Newport Coffee House, Bannock-
burn, Illinois November through December, 2010; Elk Grove Public
Library, “Trees” Exhibit Honorable Mention Ribbon; Russian Cultural
Center in Wheeling and Lincolnwood, IL March and July, 2011; Ital-
ian Cultural Center in July, 2011; Elk Grove Village – “Trees” exhibit
–September 2012; Current Spring Wall Exhibit at the Elk Grove Vil-
lage Library; Art in the Park, Elk Grove Village, June 10, 2012;
Monthly exhibits at the Elk Grove Village Library
Contact Information
Website: http://www.artbylorraine.com

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The Work of Lorraine Caposieno

10. 10
Anne Marie Cina
Artist’s Statement:
I received a B.A. in Art from Columbia College of Missouri. After paint-
ing for many years in oils, I switched to watercolors which is now ex-
clusively my media. I have had solo shows of my "Chicago" series,
which consists of 18 paintings with attached narratives at McHenry
County College in the Borden Library in Elgin; Caffe Luna Gallery in
Crystal Lake, Il., and in 2011 at Casa Italia in Stone Park, Il.
Additional examples of my art can be viewed at
annswatercolors.blogspot.com
Through my art I have recorded a visual history of a time and place
and special memories.
Contact Information:
Website: http://www.annswatercolors.blogspot.com

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The Work of Anne Marie Cina

12. 12
Vincent Coppola
Artist’s Statement:
SAIC with BFA in painting, Art teacher jr. high level- Addi-
son School administration elementary level, Murals in the
Fullerton School: abstract design school subject in wall tile,
and large wall painting “Winning the American Freedom.” in
the Oak School (now township offices). Work: mainly fig-
urative, although also landscapes and portrait work. Media:
oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc. Lately, for the past 15 years I
have been Concentrating in sculpture- modeling and plas-
ter casting. Recently I completed a sculpture memorial to a
faculty member of the middle School in Westchester, Ill.
Contact Information:
2626 Sunnyside Ave., Westchester. Il 60154
Phone 708 562 8113
Email vincentcoppola@yahoo.com
Website http://vincentcoppola.angelfire.com/homepage.html

13. 13
Giovanna Cecchi-Hopkins
Artist’s Statement:
“Through art I can express my sen-
sibility; a pencil can be a powerful
tool to draw myself near the most
hidden aspect of reality… I discov-
ered the passion of painting after
leaving Italy and realizing I was
missing a lot of beauty and harmo-
ny in which my life was exposed
while there. For me painting is a
moment of joy and creativity, in
which I can express something
which in words I would never be
able to do”. I have a Master‘s
Degree in Foreign Languages
and Literature from the Universi-
ty of Urbino, Italy. My major is in
French Language and Litera-
ture. I am also a teacher and
translator in Italian and French
and a member of the American
Association of Teachers of For-
eign Languages.
Giovanna is having her third Art Show
at Casa Italia.
Contact Information: Email: giovan-
na.hopkins@sbcglobal.net
“Casa Italia is a home for all Italian-
American organizations in the Chicago
area. Here, we meet to pursue common
goals, preserve our past, celebrate our
heritage and ensure passage of values to
future generations.”

14. 14
Bruna Corso
Artist’s Statement:
I came into this world through Brazil in 1962, born to Italian immi-
grants. This is a common story for Brazil where there is a large Ital-
ian community even today. In 1979 my whole family moved to Italy
to apply for American visas and after 2 years the United States
adopted me. I am a practicing lawyer but my real passion is art. I
lose myself in it. Time and space are irrelevant when I am painting
or sculpting. I also enjoy dancing, religion and soccer (probably not
necessarily in that order). But all these interests and passions
show through who I am and my art. My first art teacher was Karen
Exiner of the Exiner Studio of Elmhurst and now I learn from Maes-
tro Coppola of Casa Italia. I hope you enjoy some of my work.
Contact information:
Bruna Corso & Associates, P.C.
150 E. Schiller Street, 814
Elmhurst, IL 60126

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The Work of Bruna Corso

16. 16
Ivan (Ivano) Lazcano
Artist’s Statement:
In this humble piece I tried to portray an image of the Blessed
Mother Mary accepting God’s commandment to become the
Mother of Jesus. Many times I wondered about moments of
the life of Jesus that lack narratives in Sacred Scripture; this is
one of them. In this piece Mary receives the Spirit of God. Her
eyes are closed in contemplation and her face demonstrates
both serenity and acceptance.
Ivan (Ivano) Lazcano first encountered clay last Fall at the art
studio of Casa Italia. With the guidance and discipline of Maes-
tro Vince Coppola, Ivano fell in love with sculpture.
“Ecco, io sono la Serva del Signore” is his very first finished
piece dedicated to the Mother of God. Ivano is an accountant
by trade and a Catholic Deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago
and works with the Divine Word Missionaries in Techny.
“Ecco, io sono la Serva del Signore”
“I am the Servant of The Lord”
Based on the Gospel of Luke narrative of the “Annunciation of
the Angel to Mary” The Angel of the Lord announces to Mary
that she will give birth to Jesus. Mary’s answer to God’s calling
is: YES! She took on a Mission to bring forth light, peace and
love to the world.
Contact Information:
Email:lazcanoivan@gmail.com

17. 17
The Work of Ivan Lazcano
Plaster of Paris with bronze finished on a wooden oval base.
Aprox. 10” x 8”

18. 18
Dominick M. Maino
Artist’s Statement:
Dominick easily brings his profession into the act of photographic
creation. As a Professor at the Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois
Eye Institute, he is aware of the importance of single, clear,
comfortable, two-eyed/binocular vision.
As a tenor and musician, he understands the interplay of melody,
harmony and even dissonance within a work written for a chorus, an
orchestra or opera.
Each of these concepts is applied to his photography. Whether he is
making an image of a single subject, Christ on His Cross, a Scottish
“Hairy Coo” or a single dandelion seed. Dominick also understands
and uses a cacophony of pictorial melody and harmony….....with
occasional dissonance appropriately placed within his work of
photographic image creation.
Dominick’s art speaks of his clarity of vision; his understanding of the
universal rhythm that surrounds us all, his ability to process visual
information into an artful expression, and his enthusiastic outlook on
the world.
Dominick's exhibitions as a featured artist have taken place at the
NINE2FIVE Gallery (Kansas City); Gallery ABBA (Beloit, WI); a
"Gallery of faith" (St. Bartholomew Church, Chicago), Addison
Rotunda, Cook County Treasure’s Office, and at Casa Italia, as well
as other venues. His photographs have appeared in Kansas City
Voices (juried art/literary journal), The Archdiocese of Chicago: A
Journey of Faith and published on the covers of the Catholic New
World, Optometric Education and Optometry & Vision Development.
He is also a freelance photographer for the Irish American News, a
Chicago Fringe Festival photographer, a blogger
(MainosMemos.com), sings tenor with the Northwestern University
Summer Choir and the St. Bartholomew Choir and is in private
practice at Lyons Family Eye Care in Chicago.
Contact information:
Email: dmaino@ico.edu Phone:312-949-7282
See additional Maino Images at flickr.com/photos/92160342@N07/

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The Work of Dominick M. Maino

20. 20
Louis F. Mustari
Artist's Statement:
Recently retired from Northern Illinois University, Professor Louis
Mustari received his BAE and MAE from the Art Institute of
Chicago and his PhD in Mediaeval and Italian Renaissance Art
History from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. He has received
numerous awards and recognition including the Art Institute of
Chicago Van de Vries Scholarship, Schwartz Gallery, Chicago:
1st
Place Award, University of Florence Fulbright Scholarship,
the Northern Illinois University Excellence in Teaching Award,
and the Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois Fine Arts Exhibit
Drawing Award.
Contact Information
612 N. 5th St
DeKalb, Il. 60115
Phone: 815-756-1175

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Claudia Pontarelli-Hallissey
Artist's Statement:
Someone spotted me drawing at Mass one time and
as I looked up startled, she said, “Beautiful! Go on.
It’s just another way of praying.” The manner in
which I express myself reflects my beliefs, my
passions, my fears, my personality. As a visual art-
ist, sometimes words fail me, so brush, drawing materials or fabric al-
low me to push around paint, tear through cloth or precisely contain my
thoughts with pencil. I can sincerely articulate what I feel. I hope this
artwork speaks to you in a manner, which inspires you to ponder
what and who is important to you, and what role God’s presence plays
in your life.
Claudia Pontarelli-Hallissey has a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree from the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an Associates Degree in Sci-
ence in Therapeutic Recreation from Triton College. She has
worked with many different populations, teaching art to older adults in
retirement homes and currently teaching Fashion Illustration at Colum-
bia College Chicago.
Claudia has exhibited at the Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park Village
Hall, Rush Oak Park Hospital, Janice Elkins Gallery, The Art House,
Calypso Moon, the Conrad Hilton and the Oak Park Art League, where
she has won a Best-In-Show award. Her piece, “Accursed Heart”, was
acclaimed by a Wednesday Journal art critic. “The Stuart Davies Pro-
ject,” which she developed for people in adult day service, won first
place as a therapeutic art activity targeted for people with dementia.
Contact Information:
Email:cphallissey@comcast.net
Phone: 708-383-7439

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Gesualdo Romeo
Artist’s Statement:
PERCIPIO, ERGO SUM. I PERCEIVE, THEREFORE I AM.
I draw inspiration for my work for the most part from the various and
diverse images of the urban landscape. My perceptual search finds its
ultimate purpose and gratification in the employment of the computer as
a tool of digital enhancement and manipulation of photographic
sources.
My aim is to capture, distill and reduce to essential metaphysical sym-
bols the various images (visual scapes) which typify the city. Time and
space are largely mental constructs (cogito) which structure our percep-
tions, and are therefore inherently subjective and ultimately elusive. The
computer and now the digital camera, by employing binary code to rep-
resent, encapsulate, and reproduce every aesthetic element of the pho-
tographic image, has irrevocably dispelled its perceptual unity, thus dis-
solving the (viewer's illusion of) unity of time and space within which it
appears to exist. Thus, stripped, the image has no choice but to revert
to the mutable and elusive pre-conceptual fluidity of the viewer's mind.
And what amazing worlds unfold right before his eyes when this hap-
pens!
Photographic images, whether computer or photo-chemically generated
are permanent visual condensations, capturing a specific point along
the time-space continuum, which we can willingly re-enter at any time.
In fact, they depend on us for their very existence and meaning. They
point at us in "the-here-now", trading a view of their past for a glimpse
of "our" future.
A passionate lover of the energy of urban life, Gesualdo Romeo ("Aldo") takes
to the streets with his camera, shoots the ordinary sights that attract him, and
then transforms his base images, through physical, chemical and digital inter-
ventions, into "panscopic visions" that breathe vitality into the everyday…..
Michael Weinstein, contributing writer CHICAGO READER and NEW CITY.
Contact Information:
8025 O'Connor Drive 5E River Grove, IL 60171
graphic.man@comcast.net 331-5512381

23. 23
The Work of Gesualdo Romeo

24. 24
Casa Italia’s Genealogy Department is starting two writing groups and a monthly
genealogy group this September! The latest information can be found on our blog,
http://casaitaliachicago.wordpress.com so subscribe and check in often to see all
the exciting things we have planned! We are also considering starting a Veterans
writing group for those who have served and those who wish to write the stories
about their family members who served. Please contact Jennifer Holik,
Jennifer@casaitaliachicago.org if you are interested in participating

25. 25
Celebrating our Veterans Friday, November 8th 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Italian American Veterans Muse-
um. Join us to hear Casa Italia Genealogy Manager Jennifer Holik talk about Stories of the Lost, which is
a continuation of Finishing the Story. Learn how you can tell the stories of your soldiers who died in
service. What you will learn can also be applied to those who came home after the war. Handouts filled
with resources to help trace your family’s genealogy and locate military records will be provided. After
the lecture join us for light refreshments and mix, mingle, and explore the Italian American Veterans
Museum. Fee: $10 per person. Pre-registration and pre-payment is required. Visit casaitaliachicagochica-
go.org to register or call 708-345-5933.

26. 26

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Please note: We are seeking copies of stories, records, photos, and other
items documenting Italian American soldiers and their families in all wars.
Please consider bringing copies of these items to the 11-08-13 meeting to be
added to the Casa Italia Genealogy Collection in conjunction with the
records for the Veterans Museum. If you have questions, please contact
Jennifer at Jennifer@casaitaliachicago.org (See page 25)

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Lyons Family Eye Care
Supports the
Artists of Casa Italia
3250 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, Il 60657
773-935-2020
LyonsFamilyEyeCare.com
Stephanie Lyons, OD
Dominick M. Maino, OD. MEd,
FAAO. FCOVD-A
(An Artist of Casa Italia and Professor, Pediatrics/Binocular
Vision Illinois College of Optometry/Illinois Eye Institute)
Primary Eye Care
Pediatric Eye Care
Binocular Vision
Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)
Strabismus
Vision Therapy
Vision Rehabilitation
Fashion Eyewear/Contacts