NetWorks Rhode Island and the Chazan Collection Exhibition, WaterFire Arts Center (2024) Bio:
Salvatore Mancini is a Rhode Island based photographer. He was born in Itri, Italy in 1947 and emigrated with his family in 1952 to the United States. His photographic career of fifty years has been highlighted by extensive travels around the world, an intense interest in varied subject matters and a recipient of artistic awards and fellowships. Some of the subjects he has photographed are Italian immigrants in Rhode Island, religious shrines from around the world, Rock Art for the American southwest, the industrial revolution of the Blackstone River Valley, the deinstitutionalization of Rhode Island’s State hospitals, Narragansett Bay, and most recently, ”Shrines of Healing”. He has received Rhode Island’s Pell Award and Italy’s Bolaffi Prize as well as numerous grants from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts and Rhode Island Council for the Humanities to support different projects. His photographs have been exhibited, published and collected throughout America and Europe and China
Original NetWorks Catalogue Bio:
Looking back throughout my 40 years of photographing what do I see through that clear singular reflective lens of time? From my first photograph, a self-portrait with dark glasses and a beret, to my most recent photograph, a self-portrait in a rat temple in Bikaner, India, the one word that jumps out at me is remembrance. Every photograph I’ve taken is an act of remembrance. I want to remember my passage on this earth (sentimental as that may seem). I want to remember the journey of my life, who I was, where I’ve been, what I thought, what I felt, what I dreamed and what inspired me. I want to remember all of my relationships, family, lovers, and friends, what questions I’ve had and which got answered or didn’t. I don’t want to forget what the experience of living has been all about. There is my passage from childhood to adulthood, from primordial urges to evolving into a fully sexual and intellectual being. I want to remember all the experiences that formed my identity, from my birthright to my travels. I want to remember the age-old questions that we all ask – who are we? where did we come from? and, where are we going? I want to have a photograph to represent those questions and their conclusions. I want to remember every sight and insight along this human journey. I’ve been given the freedom to explore and make visible many of the yearnings that make life fulfilling, and even painful. I want photographs of all of that. Every photograph I’ve taken is an attempt to not forget my own existence. The act of photographing keeps me a few steps back from a void, slows down the fleetness of time, and puts a frame around my memories. To photograph is to remember. I want to remember moments through the exactness of a shutter speed.
Source: NetWorks 2008 Catalogue
Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 in.
Credits:
Made by: Paul Marsella
Interview conducted by: Sarah Lupo
Additional footage provided by: Richard Goulis
Executive Producer: Joseph A. Chazan M.D.
Additional Information:
- Artist’s website
- Salvatore Mancini at The Center for Creative Photography
- Salvatore Mancini at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Highlighting the work of selected artists who have played vital roles in shaping the contemporary visual arts community in Rhode Island. This collection of brief video portraits provides a window into the lives, practices, and cultural contributions of professional artists.
I’ve just found out about DIVINE PROVIDENCE: THE REBIRTH OF AN AMERICAN CITY, a film directed by Salvatore Mancini. I know there’s a showing on 11/04/19 at District Hall but my work schedule will not allow for attendance. Will there any any other public showing a on another medium or on-line availability?
Hi Gerry, it doesn’t look any additional screenings are currently scheduled. We’ll try and share any info if future dates become available.