The Italian Cultural Institute and ADC & Building Bridges are dedicated to producing international arts-exchange programs; this month they coordinate their efforts in a pair of exhibitions introducing a trio of eminent Italian painters to what is probably a whole new audience. In a way, the story of “Call for Papers: Italo Bressan, Franco Marrocco and Alessandro Savelli” is as much a story about friendship as it is about modern European painting. The three artists are close in age. All attended the Brera Art Academy in Milan, and all currently teach there (Marrocco is also the school's director). Although they worked independently and experimented with other media during the conceptual and stylistic reformations of the 1970s and '80s, all three eventually not only returned to Brera but to abstract painting as well. Curated by Anna Dusi and Giovanni Iovane, the show (as its name implies) comprises works on paper and references the academic and poetic idioms in which they remain rooted. Concurrently, Bergamot Station's ADC/Building Bridges hosts “Franco Marrocco: Work on Paper,” curated by Dusi and Marisa Caichiolo, exploring the artist's versatility in creating substantial works of art with the most ephemeral of materials. After all, he is the director. “Call for Papers:” Italian Cultural Institute. 1023 Hilgard Ave., Wstwd.; Wed., March 5, 6:30 p.m.; continues through April 5, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. & 2-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; free. (310) 443-3250, www.iiclosangeles.esteri.it. “Franco Marrocco”: Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Unit F2, Santa Monica; Sat., March 8, 6 p.m.; free. (310) 770-1961, adcbuildingbridges?art?exchange.org.

Mondays-Saturdays. Starts: March 5. Continues through April 5, 2014
(Expired: 04/05/14)

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