“Graces Received: Painted and Metal Ex-Votos From Italy” is Dr. Leonard Norman Primiano’s new art exhibition which is being held in the Grace and Joseph Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery. The exhibition was opened on Wednesday, Sept. 10 and will continue to run throughout October.
Dr. Primiano, chair and professor of religious studies, has quite the collection of ex-voto art. An ex-voto is a voluntary offering to a saint or divinity. This offering is created in thanks for a favor or healing to a saint or Catholic figure.
The tradition started in 1450 but many pieces had been lost and stolen throughout time. His collection of this art includes metal creations representing the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and dates back to 1865. The gallery includes dramatic religious painted tablets as well.
Sam Sheridan, sophomore education major, is one student who has visited the gallery. “I think it’s really cool that we support things like this. It’s also pretty interesting to see art from so many years ago because it’s not something that you see every day,” said Sheridan.
The pieces in which Primiano had purchased all have history and a story to tell. He mentioned that he usually purchases his pieces online due to how rare the art is in the United States. “If you wanted one around here, you just wouldn’t find it,” he said. Many of his paintings, in fact, are bought online from a married couple who decided they would make their living off of buying and selling art. At first when he found the couple’s pieces he said, “Collectors in Europe wanted them and so did I… so I started bidding!”
The economic downturn happened so the purchasing and selling of art slowed down for the couple from whom Primiano bought. He contacted them in Italy and they mentioned they had eight pieces so he bought them all.
Primiano has all of his purchased works framed, one piece still has its original wooden frame. This piece is currently on display in the exhibition.
Although Primiano is fond of online bids for such specific art, he had also traveled throughout the world and has bought many pieces on his journeys. One piece, in particular, he found in Rome for $2000 and was his first metal piece ever bought. This piece is a silver heart which is on display in the exhibition as well.
Danielle Kane, a senior finance and international business double major and former student of Primiano, said, “The art was really interesting and we went to support Primiano. He’s a director of the honors program which I’m involved in.”
Primiano has developed Cabrini’s Religious Folk, Popular and Liturgical Arts Collections. He is also on the executive board of American Folklore Society and is involved as co-producer of The Father of Divinity Project.
A reception was held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 18. It was held for those who are involved at Cabrini College as well as the public.
