Portrait of a Man, known as the Old Man of Otricoli, mid-1st century BCE
Roman, late Republican period. Torlonia Collection, Rome. © Torlonia Foundation. Photo by Lorenzo De Masi. Obj. 269790 (MT 533).
In celebration of the exhibition Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection, the Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a reading by actor Vincent Piazza of poems by Gabriele Tinti. Piazza will read Tinti’s verses, which are inspired by works in the show, which highlights the most significant private collection of classical sculpture in the world.Â
This program is part of an ekphrastic writing series created by Tinti and recently celebrated by The Times and The Guardian. For years, Tinti has been composing poems inspired by works of art and mythological places. The readings aim to reactivate the aura of ancient art through poetic composition and interpretation.
The average visitor spends only between 15 and 30 seconds in front of a work of art and very little time in archaeological sites. This project represents a unique opportunity to establish a different relationship and understanding of the myths of the ancient world through Tinti’s poetry and Piazza’s interpretation.
about the speakers
Gabriele Tinti is an Italian poet. He has worked with the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Capitolini Museums (among many other institutions), and his poems have been performed by actors including Abel Ferrara, Willem Dafoe, and Kevin Spacey.
In 2018, his ekphrastic poetry project Ruins was awarded the Premio Montale with a ceremony at the Museo Nazionale Romano in Palazzo Altemps. His recent publications are Last Words (Milan: Skira Rizzoli, 2016), The Earth Will Come To Laugh and To Feast (New York: Powerhouse Books, 2020), Ruins (London: Eris Press; Milan: Libri Scheiwiller, 2021), Bleedings (Milan: La Nave di Teseo, 2022; New York: Contra Mundum Press, 2023), Confessions (London: Eris Press), and Hungry Ghosts (London: Eris Press, 2024).
Vincent Piazza is an American actor known for his roles in film and television. He starred as Lucky Luciano in the acclaimed series Boardwalk Empire and portrayed Tommy DeVito in Clint Eastwood’s film adaptation of Jersey Boys. With a background in both drama and independent cinema, he has built a diverse career, bringing depth and authenticity to his performances.
what to expect
The group will meet in Griffin Court, which is closest to the Modern Wing public entrance. Attendees will be led into the Myth and Marble exhibition spaces for the performance. The performance will take place in front of multiple artworks. The program may be recorded.
sponsors
Songs of Stone is presented in collaboration with the Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities and Global Antiquities Northwestern, The Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, and the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago. Accommodations for the artist provided by the Langham Hotel.
