By Shelby A. Winter
“Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art.”
Susan Sontag
On November 6th, 2019, Antonia Comi displayed her artwork at Florence University of the Arts (FUA), an American University in Florence, Italy. As a novice art writer, I chose to attend this show blind, hoping to simply see the walls of paintings and drawings without being influenced by too much information on the artist and the intentions behind her artwork.
By Emma Hynek
Looking through a window in your apartment in Florence provides a beautiful view, and can lead towards a new mindset. If you look closely, you might see more than you expect.
By Chelbie Smith
Photo by Amanda Cassels
A comfort zone is a situation where one feels safe or at ease, it means settling for something we already known. It is so easy to slip into the safely of routine, but living away from home encourages you to bring change into your life – in more ways than just admiring a different scenery.
Continue reading Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
By Emma Vallelunga
Photo by the author
Since 1946, Profumeria Invicta on Via Ricasoli between the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia is a family-run business, home to hundreds of beauty products for Florentine hairdressers, fragrance fanatics and visiting tourists.
Continue reading Discovering a Florentine’s One-Stop Beauty Shop
By Emma Vallelunga
Photos By The Author
Inside the Gucci Museum, an exhibit dedicated to Italian artist Ketty La Rocca showed visitors a look into the art of visual human expression beyond verbal communication as part of this year’s L’eredita delle Donna Women’s Heritage Festival in Florence.
By Chelbie Smith
Photo from Unsplash
Social media is probably one of my favourite outlets for not only communication, but also to platform my thoughts and creativity. I mean how amazing is it that I can connect to family who are thousands of miles away just by a few clicks? They can stay updated on what I am doing in all of my posts appreciating the charming, Firenze. But now that I am living in a town during tourists’ peak, it has made me question my treasured social media.
Continue reading Why Florence Makes Me Want to Ditch My Social Media
By Quincey Caldwell
Photo by the Author
When picturing the historic sights and spots of Florence, it is often people’s first instinct to imagine the grand churches and monuments that adorn the streets. While these attractions are significant in defining the culture of the area, they are not the only means of taking in the richness of the city’s past. For a look into a unique strain of Florentine artistry, one need not look further than Filistrucchi.
Continue reading The Quiet Artistry of Florentine Wig Making
By MacKenzie Gellner
Photo by Unspalshed
For the first time, I experienced a symphonic performance. It was held in St. Stephen Auditorium by the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, featuring violinists Marco Lorenzini and Kevin Mucaj. It may have had to do with it being a Florentine orchestra, but it was far more magical than what I had expected. Realistically, since having no previous experience to compare, I attempted to not have too high of expectations in case I got my hopes up. The only symphonies I’ve ever seen are in films (and I’m not really sure if that counts).
Walking the streets of Florence can uncover many different experiences, the Giardini di Boboli evoke a similar idea, as down every pathway are new and exciting sights. My favorite place I encountered is known as the Knight’s Garden.
While heading towards this spot I was encouraged to continue going up, past all the tourists that crowded around the bottom and up to one of the highest look out points. After venturing off to the side and up a small spiral staircase I encountered wonderful views, but not the ones I was expecting to see. While I saw the mesmerizing familiar city line, the garden offered something else too.
The Knight’s garden, a rooftop garden above the fountains and ornate decorations, is a stepping stone between historic Florence and the surrounding Tuscany countryside. The hills beyond the garden flow freely as you get a panoramic view of the cypress trees and olive groves. Sometimes, if the signs and food doesn’t remind you you’re in Tuscany you would never know, but here up above the city you are reminded by the colors you see in the hills.
You can spot many Italian villas nestled right between the hills where you can imagine the simplicity only such a retreat can offer. It’s a simple escape from the city, where you are connected to Tuscany and the magnificent city of Florence all at once. The view will remind you that there is plenty more of Italy to uncover as well.
The walls supporting the Knight’s Garden were made by Michelangelo in the 1500s. When they improved the Gardens, they created a villa for a knight, currently the Porcelain museum, and they added the gardens as well. Beneath the gardens there is an irrigation system that helps to water the many greenery spread around the hillside, it’s invention was one of the firsts of its time. Standing in a space that was so integral to this society was humbling.
The plants surrounding the rooftop were not in full bloom, but they were taken care of with precision, the gardeners just waiting for the spring to approach and with it the new blossoms.
The fountain in the middle of the square was also adorned with statues of monkeys, adding a mystic vibe to the scene.
Standing in the middle of such a unique place, I never wanted to leave. When it finally became time to make the descent down through the rest of the gardens I thoughtfully said my goodbyes to the panoramic view of Tuscany and parted towards the city once more.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
By Reese Bentzinger
Photo by author
In one of the first rooms of Palazzo Pitti’s temporary Animalia Fashion exhibit, there’s a small sign stating that none of the clothes on display involved harming animals. However, the sign adds, the issue is still important to consider.
The exhibit, which showcases nature’s influence on haute couture, begins in a long hallway of narrow rooms. The couture pieces were blocked from admiring viewers by velvet rope and a raised platform, transporting the viewer to the runway stages that they made their debut on.
Each room is backdropped by a cloth sketch displaying the animals that the nearby pieces were based on. With some of the pieces the influence was obvious. For example a golden snake, placed on the back of a navy gown, is clearly inspired by the animal kingdom. Othertimes it takes a little looking to realize how the piece reflects nature. This is the case with another snake inspired piece, a vest with twisting tubes that reflects the animal’s movements rather than have direct snake imagery.
The clothes are a reflection on how nature both fascinates and terrifies us, with many sources for inspiration. A bridal-style white gown has graceful curves that would perfectly reflect the moonlight that inspired it. The prickily nature of the pufferfish is seen in boldly spiked jacket. No matter which direction the inspiration came from, it’s clear that nature has an impression on fashion.
This impact is felt both ways, but it doesn’t always result in something to be admired. Many of the rooms also display stuffed birds and insects in glass, reminding viewers of how fashion can cruelly collide with the natural world. From hunting animals for prized fur to environmentally harmful factories, nature and fashion can be a dangerous combination.
The exhibit showcases hypocrisy in the fashion industry. They take influence from the beauty of nature, yet play an active part in its destruction. The message of the gallery is the same one as the sign in the front of it: it’s important to reflect on how fashion can impact nature.
Animalia Fashion will be at Palazzo Pitti until May 5, 2019.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.