Judi Benvenuti: Photo Exhibit of Italy in the Fine Arts Center

First DaVinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and now Judi Benvenuti! Benvenuti is a great Italian artist whose work is on display and you won’t have to travel thousands of miles to see her exhibit.  On November 14, the Italian Club and the Art Department held an opening reception to display Judi Benvenuti’s photo exhibit in the Fine Arts Center. This installation depicts a wide array of photos of Venice and Tuscany that capture the culture and daily lives of these cities. Not only are they impressive in their substance and beauty, they were also shot with an iPhone 6. This unique collection of photos will be displayed through January 13th.

Judi Benvenuti began taking pictures during her childhood. From that point on, Judi harnessed her skills and still works to perfect them today. Indeed, her work has been featured in several prominent publications. For example, her images of the Festivals in Europe were published in National Geographic School Edition. Furthermore, the National Park Service commissioned her to produce a photo collection titled Morristown the War Years 1775-1783. She also received the New York and New Jersey State Council of the Arts Grants, a prestigious feat. In addition to her many accomplishments, Judi was given the opportunity over the years to work with several renowned photographers, such as Ansel Adams, George Tice, and Lynn Davis. Currently based in Mendham, Judi enjoys taking photos that depict everyday life and the beautiful scenery around us.

The reception was attended by students, parents, and several people from the greater Morristown community. With a cheese platter, desserts, and drinks, many students and adults enjoyed the event as a whole, but particularly admired the photos. Throughout the evening, Nicholas Brancatella ‘17 and Kevin Zhong ‘19 played the violin and the piano, respectively. With live music and Mr. Pieraccini bartending, everyone had a great time. As Italian Club member Michael Harper ‘18 stated, “The photography exhibit was wonderful. As someone who is part of Italian Club and has a deep appreciation for beauty, I really enjoyed Judi Benvenuti’s photos and her attention to detail and substance.” In addition to everyone having a wonderful time that evening, the proceeds gained from sales will be donated to the Civil Protection Department in Italy that is responsible for ensuring the safety of Italian earthquake victims. Sometime in the next two months, be sure to visit the photo exhibit in the FAC and be temporarily transported to the beautiful streets of Italy!