GENIUS LOCI FLORENCE AND GALILEO
More than 400 years ago, Galileo Galilei forever changed the world by deepening our understanding of it. In addition to his invaluable scientific discoveries, his creative method of exploration, revolutionary ideas, and intellectually rebellious character caused a shift in critical thinking that still ripples today.
Galileo’s presence in Florence left an indelible mark of brilliance on the city. Because of this, he is inextricably linked to its genius loci, the collective creative spirit that is unique to Florence.
For this exhibition, students of street photography, interior design, videomaking, and illustration and cartooning explored the relationship between cultural context and creativity, revealing their individualistic interpretations of Florence’s genius loci.
Genius loci is not a fixed reflection of the past, but is instead an ever-changing quality that is enhanced by those who engage with it. By visually representing genius loci, these students have helped shape and preserve the creative heart of Florence.
Lillie Strudthoff
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
DACIA CARTER Waterloo, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa This project is titled On The Way Encounters. Its focus is on the minorities of Firenze, specifically, the African culture. I could only use gestures to ask to take their pictures and many declined, but those who agreed were able to tell their story through their eyes and were able to communicate with me through their expressions which was much more than words itself.
D i va / I d e a s S t re e t P h o to g ra p hy
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
DACIA CARTER Waterloo, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i va / I d e a s S t re e t P h o to g ra p hy
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
DACIA CARTER Waterloo, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i va / I d e a s S t re e t P h o to g ra p hy
NEAL JOHNSON Wilton, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa My street photography project is titled Workers of Firenze Anyone who was working hard, whether it be doing their job or just being a human, was a viable subject. The city is full of people who are trying to make enough money to survive, so it was very neat to dive into those people’s days and discover what they were doing.
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
NEAL JOHNSON Wilton, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i va / I d e a s S t re e t P h o to g ra p hy
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
NEAL JOHNSON Wilton, Iowa, USA University of Northern Iowa
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i va / I d e a s S t re e t P h o to g ra p hy
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
CHELSEA KOZMA Austin, Texas, USA Clemson University South Carolina My artwork takes a satirical view of the Last Supper painting by inserting geniuses taken from different historical periods all gathered around Jesus. In my work, I deconstruct the idea that geniuses, although not accepted by society during their times, speak the truth. In the case of many of these geniuses, religious figures did not agree with their life’s work, having engaged subjects as diverse as the civil rights movement, appreciation of the human figure, and classical architecture. However, all of these concepts are now widely accepted and have evolved to even become acceptable in society and the church. My work reproduces familiar visual signs, arranging them into new conceptually layered pieces in order to convey this idea of the Last Convention where great thinkers can speak at will without judgment or threat to their ideas.
D i v a / I d e a s I l l u st ra t i o n A n d C a r to o n i n g A r t s
BRIANNA GREENWELL Georgetown, Texas, USA Baylor University Art has been used for centuries to promote products, goals, and ideas. My work focuses primarily on the iconic images we recognize today and how Galileo’s theories can be promoted through the use of the same format and techniques. Galileo became the face of a movement and the face of change. His work in philosophy, mathematics, engineering, and astronomy paved the way for new methods of thinking to be explored and for existing theories to be tested. The use of propaganda was to highlight the political struggle of the time between the two clashing philosophical ideas, heliocentricism and geocentricism. The works were also created to simulate commercialized images so that you would believe that his message was not just for the upper class but for the common people. Galileo’s theory would never have been accepted in his time because of the church’s support of geocentricism, but his theories managed to survive and develop until today.
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
BRIANNA GREENWELL Georgetown, Texas, USA Baylor University
We Can Discover Digital Media 50 x 70 cm
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i v a / I d e a s I l l u st ra t i o n A n d C a r to o n i n g A r t s
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
ELIZABETH RAGO Lafayette, California, USA Baylor University These three pieces show Galileo hard at work in his lab one evening. He gets to a point where he is willing to try anything to get his results. A tryptic, these three pieces are drawn in a Victorian style, but put on an antique paper background and done in sanguine to be reminiscent of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo-type drawings. Genio Ubriaco is about the creative process and the necessity for any artist to push themselves to the far end of insanity in order to make a break through.
Three Drawings Digital Media 50 x 70 cm
D i va I d e a s I l l u s t ra t i o n A n d C a r to o n i n g A r t s
D i va / I d e a s M u l t i m e d i a S t u d i o I
AMANDA RICCIARDI Camden, New Jersey, USA Florence University of the Arts Finding the genius loci of a place is a difficult task to communicate. To see a “spirit� of Florence, such an old city FULL of art and character, is incredibly endless. The first challenge when communicating this concept is how do I narrow down my story, to just one topic, in a city with infinite spirit? My first step to the solution was research... my solution was to tell the story of human existence not being the center, rather human existence merely being part of a greater universe.
Genius Loci Video and audio
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
LAUREN FROMIN Hollywood, Florida, USA Florence University of the Arts Being new to video production, conceptualizing a theme was challenging for me. As a newcoming to proper video techniques, it was difficult to create a moodboard and storyboard. Figuring out where to shoot was stressful too, since Florence is a hotbed of unique locations and history. Once all the types of shots were taught to the class and upon visiting several locations that embodied the Genius Loci ideals, it was possibile to organize the production plan.
The Search for Genus Loci Video and audio
D i va / I d e a s M u l t i m e d i a S t u d i o I
RAMZI MALOUF Beirut, Lebanon Florence University of the Arts During the pre-production stage of the Genius Loci project, I was very confused. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I knew it had something to do with nature, since I am always inspired by God’s creations...the hard part was connecting Genius Loci to Galileo in a single video, but at the end it was a challenging concept, with a lot of options and things to do and places to visit.. ..how beautiful a city can be, when it has a lot of green within it!
The city that inspired Galileo Galilei Video and audio
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
GEOFFREY PONCELET Belgium Florence University of the Arts During the production of this video, I first needed to understand the concept of Genius Loci. Fortunately, the exploration made me think of a place I love, here in Florence: the banks of the Arno river. As we were discovering more and more about this concept, I was afraid it wouldn’t be fit, because nobody “lives” there nor could tell me its story.
Inspiration Video and audio
D i va / I d e a s M u l t i m e d i a S t u d i o I
BRIAN POTOPOWICZ New York City, NY, USA Florence University of the Arts Initial challenges for Genius Loci were represented by capturing enough emotions and content for the story. During pre-production I planned many of my shots and left some open. If I had more time, I would reshoot some earlier timelapse...I think my concept was well thought-out, but the execution can be tough. In the end it was a great experience.
Genius Loci Galileo Video and audio
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
D i va I d e a s M u l t i m e d i a S t u d i o I
VALENTINA GONZALEZ Barranquilla, Colombia Florence University of the Arts
Florence, Eternal Inspiration Video and audio
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
D i v a / I d e a s I n te r m e d i a te I n te r i o r D e s i g n
Hotel Cellai The Cellai Boutique Hotel in Florence, is in via XXVII Aprile, 14. Not far from Piazza San Marco and Piazza dell’Indipendenza it is in the historical center of the city. The Hotel is located in the heart of historic Florence, surrounded by monuments, churches and buildings of extraordinary beauty. All the most interesting and evocative city sites are within a short walking distance, passing through little streets full of charm and mystery. The 58 individually decorated guestrooms at the Cellai Boutique Hotel feature original antiques, warm lighting and elegant classic-contemporary touch, original artworks, refined prints, and tasteful Italian fabrics.
Genius Loci: Florence And Galileo Galileo Galilei was an astronomer, physicist, engineer, mathematician, and philosopher. Despite his contemporaries’ reluctance to accept his ideas at the time, he is now viewed as “the Father of Modern Science.” Galileo’s immense scientific and cultural contributions have become a crucial part of Florence’s genius loci. Genius loci is defined as “the prevailing character or atmosphere of a place.” It is an intangible quality, the collective spirit of inspiration that is inextricably linked to a unique location. Genius loci manifests itself in individualistic ways, but it can only be found through intellectual exploration and the pursuit of knowledge. In these projects students explore this relationship between cultural context and creativity. How can the traces of brilliance left behind by historical figures shape the character of a city and the creative pursuits of its inhabitants? How can one discover genius loci without merely seeing it as a fixed reflection of the past? This is an opportunity to define a different concept of the genius loci of Florence.
P ro j e c t o f a Ro o m f o r C e l l a i B o u t i q u e H o te l
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
REBECCA BOHLS
KAITLIN DESBIENS
Macedonia, Ohio, USA Endicott College
Midland Park, New Jersey, USA Endicott College
DANIELLE BOUCHER
CHRISTINE DONOHOE
Bedford, New Hampshire, USA Endicott College
Woburn, Massachusetts, USA Endicott College
D i v a / I d e a s I n te r m e d i a te I n te r i o r D e s i g n
LAUREN ECKER
TEAGAN FORTUNE
Saratoga Springs, New York, USA Endicott College
Essex Junction, Vermont, USA Endicott College
TAYLOR FARRELL
CHELSEA GLYNN
Columbia, South Carolina, USA Winthrop University
Macedonia, Ohio, USA Endicott College
P ro j e c t o f a Ro o m f o r C e l l a i B o u t i q u e H o te l
G E N I U S LO C I F LO R E N C E A N D G A L I L E O
C ATA LO G ST U D E N T E X H I B I T FA L L 2 0 1 4
SABINA GRASSO
AMANDA MERSEREAU
Cumberland Foreside, Maine, USA Endicott College
Manchester, New Hampshire, USA Endicott College
STEPHANIE LOWE
COURTNEY MUSSELL
West Hartford, Connecticut, USA Endicott College
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, USA Endicott College
D i v a / I d e a s I n te r m e d i a te I n te r i o r D e s i g n
SARAH NARBURGH
LAURA VARJABEDIAN
Cicero, New York, USA Endicott College
Middleborough, Massachusetts, USA Endicott College
JOHANNA PICARIELLO
LAURA WUNSCH
Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA Endicott College
Albany, New York, USA Endicott College
P ro j e c t o f a Ro o m f o r C e l l a i B o u t i q u e H o te l
DIVA/IDEAS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Gabriella Ganugi PALAZZI and FUA President
Thomas Brownlees FUA Academic OfďŹ ce and Conference Curator
David Weiss DIVA Chair
Giulio Vinci DIVA and IDEAS Academic Coordinator
Enrica Quaranta DIVA staff
Francesca Gassani IDEAS staff
Lillie Strudthoff DIVA Intern
DIVA Jacopo Santini Street Photography
Ivka Markovic Illustration and Cartooning Arts
Juri Ciani Introduction to Creative Videomaking
Kirsten Hills Multimedia Studio I
IDEAS Giulio Vinci Intermediate Interior Design
SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FUA COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICE
November 2014