Magazzino Italian Art: Home of Post-war and Contemporary Italian Art
40 minutes south of Poughkeepsie, just off Route 9, is Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, NY. Founded by Sardinia native, Giorgio Spanu, and New York native Nancy Olnick, this space was created to house Post-war and Contemporary Italian Art. It also contains an extensive library with over 5,000 books open to students, scholars and visitors.
Their current exhibition pays homage to Margherita Stein, a trailblazer in the Arte Povera (“poor art”) movement — an Italian avant-garde movement in the art world during the 20th century. During this period, artists of Arte Povera would typically assemble commonplace materials such as rocks, clothing or rope in their work.
Stein created a gallery in Turin under the name of her husband “Christian Stein” in order to gain easier access and acceptance into the art world. She worked with artists like Domenico Bianchi, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Remo Salvadori to name a few, and it was her goal to bring her artist’s work to the United States. It is a part of Magazzino’s intention to fulfill her dream.
Magazzino, translating in Italian to “warehouse,” was originally a dairy distribution center turned computer factory. Architect Miguel Quismondo who hails from Madrid, maintained the structure’s original L-shape design and enlarged the space by adding the three galleries. The end result is a 20,000 square foot exhibition space.
“Our owners are from Garrison,” says gallery attendant, Meghan O’Brien. “They have been living there for about 25 years and they wanted to have the space on their property. They had understandable rebuttal from the community so they chose this space (in Coldspring) instead.”
The glass corridor entrance that connects the warehouse and galleries looks out into the courtyard and beyond into the surrounding foliage. Pistoletto’s reinterpretation of the Italian flag made of vibrant green, white and red shredded fabric sits opposite of the front desk that is lined with pamphlets and a bowl of customized grey and white M&M’s that read “Magazzino.”
Viewers start with a screening of an informational film about Margherita Stein’s accomplished career as a gallerist and then proceed from one room to the next, looping back to the entrance. Upon entering or exiting Magazzino, viewers will often share their thoughts on the art.
“Excuse me,” interjects a visitor, “I thought the descriptions of the work was very pretentious. It almost made the work seem (pause) artificial. Like a form of PR.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” responded O’Brien.
Most visitors are impressed and delighted by the works of Magazzino. A large group of visitors entered the glass foyer in awe while two visitors exiting shouted out, “This place is incredible!”
Since their opening in June, Magazzino has become a unique destination for many local and international visitors alike who flock here to learn more about the Post-war and Contemporary Italian art. They have also received a lot of attention in the media — art publications and even the New York Times have recognized this as upstate New York’s latest gem. While they do not currently offer tours, they highly encourage visitors to freely wander the space and immerse themselves into the world of Magazzino.
