Exhibits, concerts, shows, dance, cinema, literature, insights, retrospectives, lectures. Over fifty events – but lots more if we count the many re-runs – almost forty collaborations between public and private institutions, 150 days of programs, a logo of its own. These are the main features of “Autunno Americano”(American Autumn), a whole schedule of events that will invade the streets, theaters, many spaces in several areas of the city for the next few months.

“On the occasion of the Year of Italian Culture in the U.S., we wanted to pay a tribute to the tradition of a friend nation whose culture in the 20th Century contributed to the construction of modern trends and many people’s education” City Councilman for Culture Filippo Del Cornohas said. “For this reason, we have created a very rich program, with a multidisciplinary approach, which constitutes an in-depth study on American arts and culture from the Thirties up to today”.

“Autunno Americano”, which has the patronage of the Consulate General of the United States, is a project by the Comune di Milano, and it has been made possible thanks to the support of Costa Crociere, main sponsor of the whole review, with the partnership of 24ORE Cultura - GRUPPO 24ORE and Arthemisia Group, with the support of laFeltrinelli and laRinascente. The food partner is California Bakery with the California Prune Board.

The “Autunno American” runs around three main art events: at Palazzo Reale, from September 24th, “Pollock and the Angry Ones” shows art in New York from 1931 to 1966, thirty five fundamental years for the disruption of traditional art standards; while as of October 24th, again at Palazzo Reale, an exhibition on Warhol will take place, focusing on a genius who, up to this day, contributes to make the United States an icon in the world; lastly, as of October 18th, at the Museo di Storia Naturale, “Brain. Instructions for use”, a scientific exhibit dedicated to the brain, will open to the public. It comes directly from the National Museum of Natural History of New York and it represents the fascinating and typically American scientific-educational approach.

Castello Sforzesco, Palazzo Reale and Museo del Novecento will host a series of lectures dedicated to the American art and culture of the ’50s.

Among the initiatives to celebrate the music of those years, the 22nd Milano Music Festival will be centered on the great US composer Morton Feldman; a special version of Song for Drella, a masterpiece by Lou Reed and John Cale in memory of Warhol; while for three consecutive nights, Milan will host Bob Dylan and his band. While at Palazzo Reale, there will be four concerts: a homage to the music of John Cage, a concert by Sentieri Selvaggi, in which like in a “New York Telephone Book” some of the pieces of the most representative contemporary composers of the city will be executed; the execution of Quartetto II, written by Morton Feldman for the Kronos Quartet and, on 30th November, the concert by the pianist from Bari, Emanuele Arciuli, one of the most important interpreters of the American repertory; he will play pieces by Crumb, Rzewski, John Adams and Kyle Gann, some of which were written expressly for him.

On several Milanese theater stages we will see milestones such as The Ivory Tower and Death of a Salesman, or plays that represent topical moments in America’s history, whether they be artistic, social or political: the Frost/Nixon “duel”, the historical TV clash between the former President who resigned after the Watergate scandal and anchorman David Frost; or The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, which intermingles Jobs’ and Apple’s successes with revelations on the human “price” paid to achieve them; or still, extraordinarily in the Sala delle Cariatidi at Palazzo Reale for two reruns, Red, a play inspired by the life of Mark Rothko, an American painter, master of abstract expressionism, whose works, together with others from the New York School, are displayed in the exhibit “Pollock and the Angry Ones”. And more.

There also will be room for cinema with three appointments: within the 23rd edition of Invideo, the International Exhibit dedicated to videoart and experimental cinema, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Exposition of music-electronic television work by US artist – of Korean origin – Nam June Paik, considered today as the first example of video art; the Milano Design Film Festival, which represents a review of architecture and design movies, in cooperation with the American Foundation Design on screen; and the film series “From Pollock to Pop Art - from canvas to screen‟, articulated in three “chapters”: the first is dedicated to the two masters of abstract expressionism, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko; the second on Andy Warhol and Pop Art; the third one to explain the New York avant-guardcinema industry from the ’50s to the early ’60s.

“Swing’n’Milan” is the first edition of a festival that brings Swing to Milan: live music with lindy hop, Charleston, boogie woogie, balboa, in a typical American ballroom of the ’30s and ’40s, with vintage dresses and make-up that will render “groovy” atmospheres, typical of those years.

In “Autunno Americano” there will be a chapter on food culture. Among other appointments, there will be an “open day” of traditional cooking workshops where, together with pastry chefs, one can learn how to cook brownies, and a “Thanksgiving Special Night” at Palazzo Reale on Thanksgiving Day, for all visitors to “Pollock and the angry ones” and the “Warhol” exhibits.

‟Autunno Americano‟, will also be featured within Bookcity, whose second edition will take place in Milan from 22nd until 24th of November, with a special series of thematic events. Among the many appointments, a focus on Miles Davis with images, words and notes dedicated to the great composer for the release of his biography, and one Reading Jam Session at Palazzo Reale.