Beginning Aug. 1, Riddick’s Folly will be the home to an exhibit of artwork that was collected by Mr. and Mrs. Amedeo Obici.

The fact that the exhibit, which will be on display until Aug. 15, happens to exactly coincide with Suffolk’s first annual Festa Italiana, is actually an unplanned, but nonetheless perfect match, says Lee King, museum director at Riddick’s Folly.

King said that this has been in the works for the last six or seven years, but this year, the historic downtown home-turned-museum was finally able to bring the collection to Suffolk.

&uot;I spoke with someone at the hospital (Obici) this time,&uot; said King, &uot;and they were really excited about doing it, especially this year.&uot;

That collection includes 30 to 40 previously private photos and personal items, 12 paintings, a few photo portraits of the Obici family, two marble statues, and two lamps.

The pair of lamps are a unique story according to King.

&uot;They are a pair of lamps purchased by Amedeo Obici while in Italy around 1940.

They were for a Suffolk family and brought back here, but this is the first time they will be in public,&uot; said King.

Many of the photographs in the exhibit are private photos from the Obici family and of their Italian home and birthplace, Oderzo, which is Suffolk’s sister city.

Most of the artwork will have labels and descriptions in both Italian and English.

&uot;It is only here for a two-week period,&uot; said King, &uot;and it could be the only time we have the whole collection like this, so you never know if there will be another chance to see it again.&uot;

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com