Di Stasio Celebrating Italian Renaissance Art
Cafe Di Stasio is 25 years old this year and is renowned for celebrating cultural and artistic causes.
Owner Rinaldo di Stasio has for years been a patron, supporter and promoter of art and architecture, most recently with his successful campaign to find a replacement building for the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. The Australia Council has followed his lead and is in the process of appointing an architect with a design for the new pavilion, which will be built soon.
Now di Stasio has been appointed with exclusive Melbourne rights as promoter and patron of the famed exhibition – RENAISSANCE – now showing until 9 April 2012 at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra.
The exhibition from the Accademia Carrara, Bergamo, in northern Italy, is distinguished for its fine Renaissance collection, produced by artists including Raphael, Botticelli, Bellini and Titian. This is the first time the works have been exhibited in Australia.
On show are more than 70 works from painters in northern and central Italy during the period known as Early and High Renaissance, in the years 1400 to 1600.
Supporters of di Stasio’s Renaissance campaign include Janet Holmes a Court, AC, and University of Melbourne Professor Jaynie Anderson, along with the team that has successfully promoted the need for a new Australian Pavilion in Venice.
Di Stasio is promoting the exhibition to draw attention to the one-off opportunity for Australians to experience these fine works but also as an ongoing preoccupation by Rinaldo to bring together the worlds of art, architecture and gastronomy, and the civilising associations between Italy and Australia. Di Stasio’s campaign will showcase the art and link it with his Italian flair for fine food, good company and friendship.
The restaurant will adopt a Renaissance theme with a special menu and the facade will be emblazoned with a large installation and information about the exhibition. Other promotion will be via the media, including TV, newspapers, magazines, radio and the internet.
Di Stasio’s vineyard at Coldstream will become part of the cultural tableau when invited guests attend a Renaissance banquet on February 12 in honor of the celebrations, which will be documented by filmmakers for further exposition.
