Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu visit Fondazione Calzolari for studio tour | April 19, 2017

Fondazione Calzolari invited Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu on a tour of Arte Povera artist Pier Paolo Calzolari’s private studio on April 3, 2017. They were treated to various of the artist’s works and performance pieces, as well as a visit from the artist himself.

Pier Paolo Calzolari, Mangiafuoco, Olnick Spanu, Magazzino, Fondazione Calzolari — From left to right: Karine Marcelle Arneodo, Giorgio Spanu, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Nancy Olnick. Photo by Michele Alberto Sereni courtesy of Archivio Fondazione Calzolari.

“There’s nothing that Giorgio and I love more than being able to visit an artist’s studio and get to know the artist. For us, this is what motivates us beyond anything—what really creates our life—is doing this exploration together and being able to further understand the motivations of the artist,” Nancy Olnick said.

Pier Paolo Calzolari was one of the first artists the couple were exposed to at the beginning of their exploration of this avant-garde movement. Nancy and Giorgio always admired the juxtaposition between the industrial and natural elements portrayed in many of his pieces. A wide space at Magazzino Italian Art, opening June 28, will be dedicated to the installation of his works.

Pier Paolo Calzolari, Olnick Spanu, Magazzino, Fondazione Calzolari, Mangiafuoco — Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu with Calzolari’s performance piece, ‘Mangiafuoco’ (1979). Photo by Michele Alberto Sereni courtesy of Archivio Fondazione Calzolari.

The biggest performance piece of the tour was the artist’s ‘Mangiafuoco,’ (1979). The couple was also pleasantly surprised by the meticulous research behind ‘L’albero di Giuda,’ as well as an overall realization of the depth and magnitude of each work in real life.

“To see the work behind us in actual performance was nothing you can get from the picture or anywhere else; seeing it here was truly astonishing,” Giorgio Spanu said.

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Magazzino and Olnick Spanu House tour | April 6, 2017

Students studying under Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza—revered creator of the Olnick Spanu House—toured the house as well as the Magazzino premises in a private tour given by Miguel Quismondo, the project’s own architect, on April 3, 2017.

UPM Students visit Magazzino, courtesy of Magazzino, April 6, 2017 — Courtesy of Magazzino Italian Art, New York

The 95 Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) guests were treated to the various Art Program works throughout the Garrison property followed by a luncheon and a detailed tour of the yet-to-be-finished warehouse art space opening in Cold Spring, NY, on June 28, 2017, by appointment only. The tour is part of a 10-day visit in New York City and Boston for the collegiate visitors who are touring the cities in regard to their architectural layouts. They are under the guidance of UPM professors Alejandro Vírseda, Jesús Donaire and José Jaraiz, among others.

CARNET DE MIART in conversation with Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu on Italian Avant-Garde in the USA | December 22, 2016

Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu in conversation with Bianca Stoppani, editor Carnet de Miart, Milano on the main challenges in bringing Arte Povera and Italian Art to a US audience.

Photography by Marco Anelli © 2016 — Massimo Bartolini, Conveyance (Vitalia), 2005-2006. Courtesy of Olnick Spanu Art Program, New York. Photo: Marco Anelli © 2016

Read the article here.

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017: special Mention prize to San Lorenzo Atelier, Milan, for the PAN999 collection designed by Tobia Scarpa | November 4, 2016

GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2017: the San Lorenzo Atelier, founded in Milan in 1970 with the aim of renewing the language of silverware following the principles of design, has been awarded a Special Mention prize for the PAN999 collection designed by Tobia Scarpa, one of the artists of the Olnick Spanu Collection.

tobia-scarpa-pan
PAN999 collection by Tobia Scarpa

More info can be found here

Magazzino of Italian Art is introduced to the Hudson Valley community by the featured article in the Highlands Current | September 20, 2016

The Highlands Current announces the launch of Magazzino of Italian Art, an art warehouse and library built by Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu of Garrison, NY to house their personal collection of postwar and contemporary Italian art.

Magazzino is located in Cold Spring, NY and will be open in summer 2017 by appointment only and there will be no charge for admission.

“The idea is not only to contain the art, but also to share it, to host students and scholars,” said Magazzino’s director, Vittorio Calabrese.

MIA-Magazzino of Italian Art Photograph by Marco Anelli New York, 2016
The new building under construction at Magazzino of Italian Art (Photo by Marco Anelli)

Designed by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo, the complex consists of two buildings, one is the renovated Cyberchron space, the other is new. The buildings are linked by a glass connector and separated by a courtyard. The name Magazzino, which means warehouse in Italian, was deliberately chosen to avoid any association with a museum, galleries or commercial enterprises of any kind and to indicate that it is a private space.

New York Times announces the launch of Magazzino of Italian Art | September 14, 2016

New York Times announces the launch of Magazzino of Italian Art, a new art warehouse and library in the Hudson Valley devoted to Postwar and Contemporary Italian art.

Located in Cold Spring, NY, the new space and initiative will be led by Director Vittorio Calabrese. Magazzino will be open in summer 2017 by appointment only and there will be no charge for admission.

MIA-Magazzino of Italian Art Photograph by Marco Anelli New York, 2016 — Magazzino Italian Art. Photograph by Marco Anelli

Founded by art advocates Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, Magazzino will house works from the Olnick Spanu Collection.

The new art warehouse conceived and designed by Spanish architect Miguel Garcia Quismondo will feature a permanent collection which will be rotating as well as an extensive library of Italian art.

Magazzino will also host programs for the local community, surrounding universities, art historians and scholars.

As residents of the Hudson Valley community for more than 25 years, Nancy and Giorgio look forward to opening a space that gives access to works of Italian art not previously seen in the United States.