John D. Calandra Italian American Institute
@calandrainstitute.bsky.social
The Calandra Institute is a CUNY research institute under the aegis of Queens College dedicated to the study of the Italian diaspora. 25 West 43rd St, Manhattan.
Check out the 3D model of the Calandra Institute's exhibit "Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States" curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra. @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
August 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Check out the 3D model of the Calandra Institute's exhibit "Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States" curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra. @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
For those of you who were unable to attend our conference "The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora" in April you can now watch the presenters on YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?lis...
August 14, 2025 at 11:30 PM
For those of you who were unable to attend our conference "The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora" in April you can now watch the presenters on YouTube: youtube.com/playlist?lis...
WRITERS READ SERIES
Nov 10, 6 pm
Marianne Leone reads from Christina the Astonishing: A Novel (Akashic Books, 2025)
This novel is told from the perspective of the irrepressible yet lonely Christina, an Italian American teen in 1960s Catholic Boston.
Nov 10, 6 pm
Marianne Leone reads from Christina the Astonishing: A Novel (Akashic Books, 2025)
This novel is told from the perspective of the irrepressible yet lonely Christina, an Italian American teen in 1960s Catholic Boston.
August 14, 2025 at 12:16 PM
WRITERS READ SERIES
Nov 10, 6 pm
Marianne Leone reads from Christina the Astonishing: A Novel (Akashic Books, 2025)
This novel is told from the perspective of the irrepressible yet lonely Christina, an Italian American teen in 1960s Catholic Boston.
Nov 10, 6 pm
Marianne Leone reads from Christina the Astonishing: A Novel (Akashic Books, 2025)
This novel is told from the perspective of the irrepressible yet lonely Christina, an Italian American teen in 1960s Catholic Boston.
WRITERS READ SERIES
Oct 27, 6 pm
Frank Ingrasciotta presents excerpts from Blood Type: RAGU (Next Stage Press, 2025)
The one-man play involves 22 characters exploring a 2nd gen Italian American child’s delicate balance between searching for identity, embracing culture, & understanding forgiveness.
Oct 27, 6 pm
Frank Ingrasciotta presents excerpts from Blood Type: RAGU (Next Stage Press, 2025)
The one-man play involves 22 characters exploring a 2nd gen Italian American child’s delicate balance between searching for identity, embracing culture, & understanding forgiveness.
August 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
WRITERS READ SERIES
Oct 27, 6 pm
Frank Ingrasciotta presents excerpts from Blood Type: RAGU (Next Stage Press, 2025)
The one-man play involves 22 characters exploring a 2nd gen Italian American child’s delicate balance between searching for identity, embracing culture, & understanding forgiveness.
Oct 27, 6 pm
Frank Ingrasciotta presents excerpts from Blood Type: RAGU (Next Stage Press, 2025)
The one-man play involves 22 characters exploring a 2nd gen Italian American child’s delicate balance between searching for identity, embracing culture, & understanding forgiveness.
Oct 7, 6 pm The Piccirilli Factor (2025), 69 minutes, Eduardo Montes-Bradley, dir.
A documentary exploring the legacy of the Piccirilli Brothers, Italian American sculptors who significantly contributed to shaping New York City’s urban landscape by carving some of its most iconic monuments.
A documentary exploring the legacy of the Piccirilli Brothers, Italian American sculptors who significantly contributed to shaping New York City’s urban landscape by carving some of its most iconic monuments.
August 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Oct 7, 6 pm The Piccirilli Factor (2025), 69 minutes, Eduardo Montes-Bradley, dir.
A documentary exploring the legacy of the Piccirilli Brothers, Italian American sculptors who significantly contributed to shaping New York City’s urban landscape by carving some of its most iconic monuments.
A documentary exploring the legacy of the Piccirilli Brothers, Italian American sculptors who significantly contributed to shaping New York City’s urban landscape by carving some of its most iconic monuments.
Sept 23, 6 pm
Unpacking Memories of World War II Italian Captivity in Africa: Music, Theater, Literature, and Art Making in POW Camps
Elena Bellina, New York University
This presentation analyzes the diverse forms of artistic production developed by Italian POWs in different African regions.
Unpacking Memories of World War II Italian Captivity in Africa: Music, Theater, Literature, and Art Making in POW Camps
Elena Bellina, New York University
This presentation analyzes the diverse forms of artistic production developed by Italian POWs in different African regions.
August 12, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Sept 23, 6 pm
Unpacking Memories of World War II Italian Captivity in Africa: Music, Theater, Literature, and Art Making in POW Camps
Elena Bellina, New York University
This presentation analyzes the diverse forms of artistic production developed by Italian POWs in different African regions.
Unpacking Memories of World War II Italian Captivity in Africa: Music, Theater, Literature, and Art Making in POW Camps
Elena Bellina, New York University
This presentation analyzes the diverse forms of artistic production developed by Italian POWs in different African regions.
Sept 9, 6pm
Captive Sites of Memory: Conflicting Italian Identities in the United States During World War II
Laura E. Ruberto, Berkeley City College
This talk considers the material legacies of surveillance, restrictions, and imprisonment of different groups in the US in the WWII era.
Captive Sites of Memory: Conflicting Italian Identities in the United States During World War II
Laura E. Ruberto, Berkeley City College
This talk considers the material legacies of surveillance, restrictions, and imprisonment of different groups in the US in the WWII era.
August 11, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Sept 9, 6pm
Captive Sites of Memory: Conflicting Italian Identities in the United States During World War II
Laura E. Ruberto, Berkeley City College
This talk considers the material legacies of surveillance, restrictions, and imprisonment of different groups in the US in the WWII era.
Captive Sites of Memory: Conflicting Italian Identities in the United States During World War II
Laura E. Ruberto, Berkeley City College
This talk considers the material legacies of surveillance, restrictions, and imprisonment of different groups in the US in the WWII era.
The brochure for our fall programming is now ready. Stay tuned for more information.
August 9, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The brochure for our fall programming is now ready. Stay tuned for more information.
We’ve concluded another exciting Italian Diaspora Studies Summer Seminar at Roma 3 Univ, an intensive 3-weeks of classes and lectures in the fields of history, folklore, literature, cinema, and much more. The brilliant fellows made this year especially intellectually stimulating.
June 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We’ve concluded another exciting Italian Diaspora Studies Summer Seminar at Roma 3 Univ, an intensive 3-weeks of classes and lectures in the fields of history, folklore, literature, cinema, and much more. The brilliant fellows made this year especially intellectually stimulating.
Brando Bonsanti, a Università Roma Tre student, has been awarded the Institute’s 2025 Pietro “Pete” Panto Fellowship for his dissertation topic “A Matter of Identity: The Representation of Labor in Italian/American Literature." Panto who was killed in 1939 for his fight for Bklyn dockworkers.
June 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Brando Bonsanti, a Università Roma Tre student, has been awarded the Institute’s 2025 Pietro “Pete” Panto Fellowship for his dissertation topic “A Matter of Identity: The Representation of Labor in Italian/American Literature." Panto who was killed in 1939 for his fight for Bklyn dockworkers.
Interview with co-curator Laura Ruberto about the exhibit CREATIVITY and WORLD WAR II ITALIAN POWS in the UNITED STATES which shows the artistry of Italian soldiers held by Allied forces in the US. tv.cuny.edu/homepage/sho... @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Interview with co-curator Laura Ruberto about the exhibit CREATIVITY and WORLD WAR II ITALIAN POWS in the UNITED STATES which shows the artistry of Italian soldiers held by Allied forces in the US. tv.cuny.edu/homepage/sho... @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social
We are pleased to announce that Stefano Morello is the recipient of the 2024-2025 Francesco Durante Italian Diaspora Award for his essay “Networks of Influence: Divagando’s Italian (and) American Literary Infrastructure." Dr. Morello will present this essay at the Calandra Institute in the fall.
May 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
We are pleased to announce that Stefano Morello is the recipient of the 2024-2025 Francesco Durante Italian Diaspora Award for his essay “Networks of Influence: Divagando’s Italian (and) American Literary Infrastructure." Dr. Morello will present this essay at the Calandra Institute in the fall.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for a special issue of the ‘ITALIAN AMERICAN REVIEW’
Mobilizing Memory: Sacco and Vanzetti on the Centennial of Their Executions
Abstracts Due: July 1, 2025
Mobilizing Memory: Sacco and Vanzetti on the Centennial of Their Executions
Abstracts Due: July 1, 2025
May 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for a special issue of the ‘ITALIAN AMERICAN REVIEW’
Mobilizing Memory: Sacco and Vanzetti on the Centennial of Their Executions
Abstracts Due: July 1, 2025
Mobilizing Memory: Sacco and Vanzetti on the Centennial of Their Executions
Abstracts Due: July 1, 2025
May 20th, 6pm, screening Stephen Mancini’s ‘Fedeltà: Soldati. Prigionieri’ about Italian POWs held at the Letterkenny Army Depot outside Chambersburg, PA, during WW II, in conjunction with our exhibit “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States.”
May 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
May 20th, 6pm, screening Stephen Mancini’s ‘Fedeltà: Soldati. Prigionieri’ about Italian POWs held at the Letterkenny Army Depot outside Chambersburg, PA, during WW II, in conjunction with our exhibit “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States.”
Call for Papers for the Institute's 2026 annual conference on the theme of "Religions, Beliefs, and the Supernatural in Italy and across Italian Mobilities." DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: SEPTEMBER 15th.
May 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Call for Papers for the Institute's 2026 annual conference on the theme of "Religions, Beliefs, and the Supernatural in Italy and across Italian Mobilities." DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: SEPTEMBER 15th.
Here are a few images of the amazing presentations given during our 2-day conference “The Bitter Bread of War.”
April 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Here are a few images of the amazing presentations given during our 2-day conference “The Bitter Bread of War.”
Our exhibit, opening May 1st, “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States,” curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra, and designed by Polly Franchini, is coming together. @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Our exhibit, opening May 1st, “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States,” curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra, and designed by Polly Franchini, is coming together. @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
Monday, April 14th, 6pm
The Valley of Wine: A Century of Italian Presence in the California Wine Industry (1850–1950), Pietro Pinna, University of Turin
The Valley of Wine: A Century of Italian Presence in the California Wine Industry (1850–1950), Pietro Pinna, University of Turin
April 8, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Monday, April 14th, 6pm
The Valley of Wine: A Century of Italian Presence in the California Wine Industry (1850–1950), Pietro Pinna, University of Turin
The Valley of Wine: A Century of Italian Presence in the California Wine Industry (1850–1950), Pietro Pinna, University of Turin
Here is the program for the Institute's conference "The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora," April 25th and 26th, which is open to the public.
April 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Here is the program for the Institute's conference "The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora," April 25th and 26th, which is open to the public.
The poster image for our April conference “The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora” is a digital rendering of Henry DiSpirito’s linocut End of Fascism/Man Destroying Swastika, ca. 1940. Collection of the New York State Museum. shorturl.at/WR23a
March 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The poster image for our April conference “The Bitter Bread of War: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from Italy and the Diaspora” is a digital rendering of Henry DiSpirito’s linocut End of Fascism/Man Destroying Swastika, ca. 1940. Collection of the New York State Museum. shorturl.at/WR23a
Here’s a test panel for our upcoming exhibition “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States” curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra, and designed by Polly Franchini. Stay tuned! @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
March 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Here’s a test panel for our upcoming exhibition “Creativity and World War II Italian POWs in the United States” curated by Laura E. Ruberto and Joseph Sciorra, and designed by Polly Franchini. Stay tuned! @laura-e-ruberto.bsky.social @josephsciorra.bsky.social
Tmrw at 6pm Tracey Arcabasso Smith’s doc ‘Relative’ which explores 4 generations of an Italian American family as they uncover and begin to share their experiences of sexual trauma.
March 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tmrw at 6pm Tracey Arcabasso Smith’s doc ‘Relative’ which explores 4 generations of an Italian American family as they uncover and begin to share their experiences of sexual trauma.
Tomorrow is the last chance to see this unique exhibit!
March 5, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Tomorrow is the last chance to see this unique exhibit!
WRITERS READ SERIES * SPRING 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6pm
F. K. Clementi reads from South of My Dreams: Finding My American Home (University of South Carolina Press, 2024)
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6pm
F. K. Clementi reads from South of My Dreams: Finding My American Home (University of South Carolina Press, 2024)
February 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
WRITERS READ SERIES * SPRING 2025
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6pm
F. K. Clementi reads from South of My Dreams: Finding My American Home (University of South Carolina Press, 2024)
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 6pm
F. K. Clementi reads from South of My Dreams: Finding My American Home (University of South Carolina Press, 2024)