Thursday, March 5th, 6:30PM

Italian American Museum - 155 Mulberry Street (Corner of Grand and Mulberry Streets) - New York, NY 10013

Acclaimed author, Anthony Vigorito presents a retrospective of his works including excerpts from Pier 48 South Brooklyn, 17 West and Seeing in 17 at the Italian American Museum on Thursday, March 5th. A third generation Italian American, Mr. Vigorito's work speaks to the Italian American experience.

About the Books:

Pier 48 South Brooklyn is a poetic autobiography that chronicles the author's life growing up in Brooklyn.

"From Span to Strand, the Promenade to Seagate, Bay Ridge to Flatbush, buy a 15 cent token the size of a dime, bump the wooden turnstile and enjoy the time, down McDonald Avenue on the Independent line."

17 West is a slim sheath of twenty five poems that chronicles the author's life, from 1955-1965, with his paternal grandparents, Emilia (Grandma Emily), and Antonio (Grandpa), from a child's perspective in many instances.

"In Goshen New York, there was a bungalow warmed by a coal stove, a free standing garage on a three acre plot, dirt roads, cul-de-sac, tool sheds in the back, an outhouse (there was a full bath in the house), well (hand pump), hammock, and a roller-tamped bocce alley under the elm."

"There was a huge garden that bore year after year. There were many fruit trees: mulberry, cherry, apple, pear, and peach. Grandma's rock garden, in the shape of a skeleton key, was under the poplar trees."

Seeing in 17 is a collection of ekphrastic poems in the haiku tradition that represent the author's attempt to capture the essence of some of his favorite works of art in just seventeen syllables. The major portion of these poems deal with paintings-abstract, impressionist, post-impressionist, cubist, expressionist, pop-art, street-art, graffiti, realist, and surrealist. Also included are some poems about sculpture, photography, performance art, and museum installations.

About Anthony Vigorito:

Anthony Vigorito is a lifelong Brooklynite, a proud product of the New York State educational system, and a retired New York City special education teacher. Anthony was mentored by and worked closely with Ken Siegelman, Brooklyn's third Poet Laureate for the past ten years, assisting in the implementation of Brooklyn Poetry Outreach, the Ken Siegelman and Marty Markowitz creation, from its inception until now.

Aside from his newest release, Seeing in 17 - Art Haiku, Anthony is the author of three chapbooks, 17 West; Clefs & Palettes; and Pier 48 South Brooklyn. Anthony lives with his wife Ann in Windsor Terrace, and is currently working on his second collection of poems.

Anthony hosts Ken Siegelman's Brooklyn Poetry Outreach at the Park Slope Barnes & Noble. He also hosts Tom Kane's Boulevard Bards at Boulevard Books & Cafe in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.

Suggested donation of $10 per person

RSVP Code: Vigorito0305

For reservations, please call the Italian American Museum at 212.965.9000

or Email: [email protected]

*** Please Include RSVP Code When Making Your Reservation ***

Source: Italian American Museum