Makers and Muses: Women in Italian Art, Cinema, and Literature
The Makers and Muses workshops will explore contributions by Italian women protagonists in the arts and culture, be they artists, patrons, directors, actors, writers, cultural critics, and beyond, and will encompass a broad cross section of Italian culture spanning diverse chronologies and geographies.
Potential workshops explore the relationship between older women and artistic achievement in Italian sculpture, and English author Lucy Baxter's life and literary contributions while living in Tuscany. Other workshops may explore women in Italian cinema, music, and popular culture.
Workshop DetailsWHEN: Fridays, 10:15 am –11:30 pm WHERE: Melville Library, 4th flr, Room E- 4340 WHO: Current OLLI members who selected the workshop with their Spring 2026 registration. Others may attend if space is available; please contact the OLLI office. |
| Date | Title | Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2/13/2026 | Lucy Baxter’s Life in the Tuscan Apennines | Andrea Fedi |
| 2/20/2026 | From La Strada to Ginger and Fred: The Face of Giulietta Masina | Michael LoMonico |
| 2/27/2026 | What If the Other Were You? Filming Maka | Simone Brioni |
| 3/6/2026 | Dry, Bumpy, and Wrinkled: Old Women and Artistic Achievement in Italian Sculpture | Karen Lloyd |
| 3/13/2026 | Finale Speciale Inglese: Fashion, the Market, and the Moral Switch in Italian Diva Films. | Giuseppe Gazzola |
| 3/27/2026 | Painting with Needles and Brushes: Women Makers in Early Modern Italy | Christine Griffiths |
| 4/3/2026 | Nancy Savoca's Migrant Muses | Loredana Polezzi |
| 4/10/2026 | Ferrante Fever: Mothers and Daughters, Friends and Foes | Mary Jane Dempsey |
| 4/17/2026 | Swept Away: Wertmuller and Italian Film in the 1970's | Joshua Cabat |
Speakers
About the Center for Italian Studies
Founded in 1985 by Stony Brook University Distinguished Service Professor Dr. Mario B. Mignone, the Center for Italian Studies serves as a cultural and intellectual bridge between the University and the Italian and Italian American community on Long Island. Through a vibrant calendar of events, research initiatives, and community collaborations, the Center fosters interdisciplinary scholarship, promotes dialogue on Italian and Italian American studies, and supports fellowships and programs that advance cultural understanding, inclusion, and engagement at the local, national, and international levels.