Temporary Exhibition bicentenary of don Bosco’s Dream of nine years

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s dream of nine years, Museo Casa Don Bosco proudly introduces a temporary exhibition running from May 22 to September 22, 2024 to celebrate the narrative, history and iconography of the Dream inspired St. John Bosco’s life and mission.

The exhibition, curated by doctoral candidate Ana Martín García, General Coordinator of the Museum, celebrates this prophetic event in the biography of John Bosco (1815-1888), foremost among the great social saints of 19th century Piedmont.

INAUGURATION PROGRAMME.

The inauguration of the exhibition will be held on May 22, 2024 at 6.30 p.m. at Museo Casa Don Bosco. Speakers: Dr. Ana Martín García, Exhibition Curator and General Coordinator of Museo Casa Don Bosco; Rev. Michele Viviano, SDB, Rector, Basilica of Mary Help of Christians; Rev. Valter Rossi SDB, Elledici Publishers; Very Rev. Leonardo Mancini, SDB, Provincial Superior of the Piemonte, Valle d’Aosta and Lithuania Circumscription.

The inaugural ribbon will be cut by His Emminence Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, Titular Archbishop of Ursona, 10th successor of Don Bosco and Rector Major of the Salesians. At the end of the inaugural event Rev. Michael Pace, Coordinator of Museum Visits, will presents certificates of recognition to photography competition winners.

THE EXHIBITION.

Deeply imprinted in John’s mind and heart, this dream would guide his future steps, inspire the birth of his work and shape his charism.

The exhibition traces the history of the dream, its iconographic representation in various art forms and its enduring importance, two hundred years on. This story is told through photographs and works of art that emerged between the beatification (1929) and canonization (1934) of Don Bosco, the period in which artistic depictions of the dream first appeared.

At the heart of the exhibition is a rich selection of original plates used to produce illustrations of the dream. These plates were commissioned by the Elledici Publishing House (1941-) for the mass production of print and other media in various languages for distribution around the world. The exhibition displays these original plates for the first time.

In January 2024, exhibition curator, Dr. Martín García, launched an international competition for original photographs depicting the Dream of Nine Years alive today in young people active in salesian works. The winning photographs form the second part of the exhibition. They are displayed with the description provided by the photographers themselves.

Completing the exhibition is a selection of dreams collected by the Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesian Congregation from over 200 young people worldwide in preparation for the Salesian Youth Synod they will host in August 2024.