Avant-garde Jewelry Collection Trunk Show Launch at Hip New Gallery Space benefiting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Los Angeles Affiliate

Founder Francesca Munzi, a native of Rome, spent much of her life overseas in Spain, China, and Africa, where her father served as the Italian Ambassador to The Republic of Congo. “It was in Uganda, where I observed artists sculpt malachite exclusively by hand, creating out of rough stone beautifully polished necklaces, bracelets, and pendants. Their unique craftsmanship, combined with my knowledge of the ancient art of Spanish silversmiths crystallized my concept of a cross-continental approach to jewelry design,” she says. After moving to the States following a U.S. Embassy tour of Rwanda with her husband, an American diplomat, Francesca realized her vision of sharing her unique work with the American market thus IOLANDA GIOIE.

This ingenious new collection will launch with an informal trunk show and sale on April 23, 2005 from 12:00 noon until 4:00pm at the newly opened INFUSION GALLERY, the brainchild of artist/curator Dover Abrams and his wife/artist/gallery coordinator Jill. After single-handedly creating an art scene in the NoHo Arts district with their successful operation of the Lankershim Art Gallery for five-and-a-half years, they now have set their sights high, making the plunge into the new 8,000 square foot gallery located on Los Angeles’ Gallery Row.

Uncle Darrow’s, Voted Los Angeles Times Magazine ‘Best Cajun/Creole’ restaurant 4 years running, will provide what the magazine calls “slow and easy, palate -pleasin' best Cajun/Creole food west of the Mississippi River”. Say’s Owner Norwood J. Clark, Jr. “we are proud to share our family legacy with Los Angeles”. While still a young lad, Norwood’s family was serving up the finest Creole delicacies to New Orleans elite at the world famous Commander's Palace.

Musical entertainment provided by <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=21&k=guitar" onmouseover="window.status='guitar'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">guitar</a> master DAVEED, whose powerful compositions are a canvas of poetic hypnotic sounds.

Proceeds from the show, sale, and silent auctions will benefit The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Los Angeles County Affiliate. The foundation's mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The Vision and Goal of the Los Angeles County Affiliate is to prevent the medically under served and uninsured populations from "falling through the economic cracks" for screening, diagnostic tests and treatment for breast cancer. The Komen Los Angeles County Affiliate works to raise funds for community-based programs that will serve these women.

Additional title sponsors, include BJ Shaw, Stylist Extraordinaire of The Peninsula Salon. In addition to being a Color Educator for L’Oreal of Paris USA, as Head Stylist for some 24 years, BJ shared her knowledge, passion, and skills with new stylists at both Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus throughout the U.S. A silent partner of The Salon of Beverly Hills, BJ continues to broaden her horizon sharing her talents with clients from around the world at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

Additional sponsors include The Coffee Bean & Tealeaf - Westwood & Ohio location, Monster Energy Drink, Designs By Sangina, URBuzz, Looking Good Solutions by Dr. Sally Schultz, Harbor House Marina del Rey, YB Cookin Caters, DermaRadiant of Beverly Hills, H2O ProShine, SkinCare90210 by Ronit Falevitch, and Proper Villains Event Marketing and Sponsorship Specialists, a division of Outward Media, Inc.

Contact us at 310-274-5312 or events@outwardmedia.com, to be placed on our guest list for this event, schedule a private Iolanda Gioie viewing or contact our supportive sponsors.