The Little Italy Merchants Association hosted a Street Light and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony entitled, “Sogno Americano” (American Dream): A “Talking” Street Light Installation on the corner of Broome and Mulberry Streets in Little Italy, New York City. Presented to Little Italy from our compatriots in Naples, Italy.

“Sogno Americano” (American Dream) is a unique artistic “talking “street light installation, a project curated by the artistic director of Seven Ars, Tiziano Corbelli, and created in Naples by craftsman Antonio Spiezia of Ceit Europea. The event was a collaboration with the artist and sponsored by The Little Italy Merchants Association. It is the first of its kind in the United States.

Strung up in segments along Mulberry Street, the light installation illuminates the words of the 1958 song made famous by Domenico Modugno “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” (…so happy I could be walking on air) or “Volare” (…to fly). LIMA dedicates it to the many Italian immigrants who settled in Little Italy and elsewhere in America at the end of the 19th until the mid-20th century in search of the American dream, and their fortune.

This event was also intended to promote Italian Culture by initiating a series of programs and events reflecting authentic Italian culture.