DE RE MEDI TERRA NEA Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
T
DE RE MEDI TERRA NEA Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
On Friday, December 4, 2015 at 6pm, the Corridoio Fiorentino at Palazzo Doni will host the opening of the “De Re Mediterranea” exhibition presented by the students and faculty of DIVA and the School of Fine Arts of FUA. The exhibition features FUA student work in the form of photography, painting, drawing, choreography, and other media based on the Mediterranean theme. A special section will be dedicated to the research project “Florence, a Multiethnic Mosaic” guided by Matteo Pretelli. The student work shown in this exhibition is a collaboration of learning and doing. All the students, this semester, have been learning about the Mediterranean culture and not only have they been learning about it - they have been immersed in it. These are their fi nal projects, expressing their inspirations from this unique culture. Participating classes and their professors: Classes from DIVA: Simone Pierotti Street Photography and Advanced Digital Photography Juri Ciani Introduction to Creative Videomaking Ivka Markovic Introduction to Computer Design Classes from SAS School of Fine Arts Gaetano Cunsolo Advanced Painting Nicoletta Salomon Words, Painting, and Emotions: the Mindmap of Creativity Paride Moretti Mixed Media Classes from the J School Fabio Binarelli Intercultural Communication
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
The Mediterranean is defi nitely the space in which
of cultural traditions help provide not fragile bases to
human civilization has achieved a very early and rich
processes of ethnic, social, and political integration.
development. But it is also the space of the most
The cosmopolitan vision inherited from the Greek-
intense crossing and exchange between different
Roman world and revisited by Christianity can underpin
cultures for ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious,
non-mercantile process of unification of the world.
political structure. This feature will become the
In this context, an important responsibility goes to
hallmark of “Western civilization� and will be the
France, Italy, Spain, that are more advanced in the
master of it will bloom in literature, philosophy, science,
process of modernization. They have at the same
music and visual arts. In the age of globalization
time the function of representing the views of the new
and advanced technology, and secular humanist
members facing the international community and
inheritance of classicism, it gives important functions
that to assert in the less developed the principles of
the Mediterranean space. Universalism and versatility
coexistence set by the new democratic international law.
Giovanni Rossiello Faculty Coordinator
Matteo Pretelli Research Project Coordinator
Florence, a Multiethnic Mosaic
Florence is the place of destination for immigrants of different ethnicities, nationalities and races, mostly attracted by the city’s reputation for tolerance towards ‘outsiders.’ The presence of an array of communities, in particular from Africa, East Europe and South America, is transforming Florence into a globalized cosmopolitan city. Based on Experiential and Field Learning core activities, the project “Florence, A Multi-Ethnic Mosaic” aims to bring students of the Florence University of Arts closer to the fascinating realm of immigrants living in the city. With the objective of generating prolific cultural encounters, students with different backgrounds were encouraged to meet, interview and film members of these communities, and to participate in their cultural events. Videos, photos and captions (mostly extracted from students’ research papers) displayed in this exhibition are the outcome of student research.
De p ar t m e nt of M ass Communica tion Fabio Binarelli
Florence a Multiethnic Mosaic Students: Erica Kavanagh, Sarah Waller Interns - FUA Communication and Marketing Office Cassandra Kernick, Chelsea Robinson, Hailey Hansen, Andrew DiGiovanni, Sara Allison, Ben Saef, Carmela Pearsall, Abigail Ashe Intercultural Communication
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Florence, A Multiethnic Mosaic
Cassandra Kernick “Arriving in Florence, I was an outsider. With blue eyes and pale skin, I stood out. As I am not from any part of Europe, in all technicality I am extra-comunitaria. However, I do not face the discrimination or prejudice that those from less privileged countries do here. [...] Through this project I have had the ability to interact with Eritreans, Colombians ,and Somalis and the thing that remains constant for all of their cultures is the importance they put on gathering together. Maybe this is simply the reaction of being in a foreign place-sticking together becomes the only way to really adjust. Or maybe it simply comes from the importance of community that is ingrained in civilizations other than America and Europe, where the ‘every man for himself’ mentality is more commonly accepted. [...] From this project I chanted at an Eritrean wedding and heard the stories of a Somali refugee. I drank traditional Colombian coffee and typical Somali tea. I talked to people with stories of triumph and stories of tribulations. But at the end of the day, I was able to connect with them all on a human level. We shared hugs and handshakes, and ultimately exchanged our worldviews and culture. Immigration may be a topic of heated opinions but one thing is certain-we are all human and we’re all just trying to make the best of the life we’re given.”
De p ar t m e nt of Photogra phy Simone Pierotti
Florence, a Multiethnic Mosaic Students: Spencer Sisselman Advanced Digital Photography Cavarocchi Shannon, Rebecca Menezes, Sydnie Kroneberger Street Photography
The works presented by students of Street Photography and Advanced Digital Photography represent the starting point of a larger and ambitious research project conducted by FUA, which aims to expose students to the migrant community in Florence.
For the creation of this project, students have been challenged on two different levels: the technical aspect of the image production, as well as a human and personal aspect, that will inevitably involve the photographer when approaching at a different reality from his or her own.
An ability to observe and listen with an unbiased perspective that goes beyond all forms of prejudice is fundamental for this innovative project, for which the students have portrayed representatives of the various communities of migrants in Florence.
During the course of this project, FUA students have explored these stories of migration, the success, and the difficulties of individuals forced to leave their home country, which we can all relate to in some way through our personal and family backgrounds.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Florence, A Multiethnic Mosaic
Rebecca Menezes Santos, Brasil U n i v e r s i d a d e P r e s b i t e r i a n a M a c ke n z i e
Colombian mosaic maker Mario Navarrete Ni単o Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Rebecca Menezes Santos, Brasil U n i v e r s i d a d e P r e s b i t e r i a n a M a c ke n z i e
Ayan (Community of Somalia) Mario Navarrete Ni単o at work in his studio in Florence Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
in her bar in Via Palazzuolo, Florence Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Florence, A Multiethnic Mosaic
Spencer Sisselman Louisville, Colorado, USA
Migrants Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Sydnie Kronenberger D e n v e r, C o l o r a d o , U S A
Shannon Cavarocchi B r y n M a w r, Pe n n s y l v a n i a
S a i n t M a r y ’s C o l l e g e o f C a l i f o r n i a
Colombian mosaic maker Mario Navarrete NiĂąo Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Independent
Angolan students dancing their traditional dance Kizomba at the Biblioteca delle Oblate, Florence. Media digital print 60 x 42 cm
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
De p ar t m e nt of Vi d eo Juri Ciani Florence, a Multiethnic Mosaic Student: Ramzi Malouf, Margherita Innocenti , Spencer Sisselman Introduction to Creative Videomaking Experiential Learning
Starting from De Re Mediterranean then passing through Migrants Project, students have had the possibility to meet people with many different cultures. During these meeting it has been possible to make interviews, taking pictures and - in some cases - having the opportunity to go deep in experimenting of mores that are coming from lands all around Mediterranean Sea or more far away, but that eventually meet here. Students who had the chance to focus on roommate discovering deeply their origin and their willingness and wishes: A Colombian mosaicist who opened us his laboratory to show the students’ particular handworks. Representatives of the community of Benin who told us about their experience in meeting Italian and Florentine culture. An Eritrean wedding party with dances and songs of popular culture. And many other exciting experience told in this documentary.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Florence, A Multiethnic Mosaic
Ramzi Malouf Beirut, Lebanon Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Margherita Innocenti Bagno a Ripoli, Florence, Italy Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Spencer Sisselman Louisville, Colorado, USA
Untitled Video
De p ar t m e nt of Fi ne Arts Gaetano Cunsolo
De Re Mediterranea Student: Natalie Heddens Advanced Painting
The work of Natalie Hedens is situated in a space just right before painting. Probably in the multiple possibilities that the practice of drawing deserves. We started to think in our meetings how to deal with the Re Mediterranea theme and we ended up thinking almost immediately to the concepts of shifting, displacement and movement. But Natalie’s paintings shows an interrupted movement, where the subjects disappeared, and what is left is just masses of objects and clothes. Her representations are the narrations of unknown paths, where everything is suspended. Her colors are bright, evanescent, and inconsistent. The masses of clothes and objects are now the first subject, hung and arrested in the projection of time.Those masses are the leftover, depersonalized and useless, but the only things that makes us question about the unknown paths of their owners.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
De Re Mediterranea
Natalie Heddens Edina, Minnesota, USA Universit y of Nor thern Iowa
Overabundance or Necessity? oil on canvas 100 x 150 cm
Natalie Heddens Olive Green Sleeveless Shirt
Mustard Crocheted Tights
oil on paper - 57 x 77 cm
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Eggshell Turtleneck
De p ar t m e nt of Photogra phy Simone Pierotti
Waiting Student: Emily McColl Street Photography
The work of the student Emily McColl is a part of the collective installation “De Re Mediterranea.”
Emily’s interpretation of the conference theme is expressed through a series of black and white photographs portraying landmarks of the Florence city center. Squares and streets become places of transition where blurred shadows dart around single figures, immobile and waiting without an apparent individuality: waiting.
The photographs express the distance between the individual and place. Despite the historical identity, place is reduced to a mere background where silhouettes of people in constant movement flow along the streets of this magnificent city, still immobile and tenaciously anchored to the past.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Waiting
Emily McColl N e w Yo r k , N e w Yo r k , U S A
Untitled oil on canvas 100 x 150 cm
De p ar t m e nt of Fi ne Arts Paride Moretti Decostruction of Depersonalization Student: Natalie Heddens Mixed Media
Through myths and tradition, all around the Mediterraneo, the primordial aspect of weaving has been experienced in projection upon the great mother who weaves the web of life and spins the threads of fate, regardless whether she appears as one Great Spinstress or , as so frequently, in a lunar triad. Weaving is a conscious act involving all the qualities necessary for creating and producing. The deconstruction in the title is directly related to the literal deconstruction of the canvas happening string by string and the act implies all connections opposite to the creation, also touching the intimate aspects of the person.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Decostruction of Depersonalization
Natalie Heddens Edina, Minnesota, USA Universit y of Nor thern Iowa
Decostruction of Depersonalization Te a r i n g s t r i n g b y s t r i n g o f r a w c a n v a n s (w a l l p i e c e a n d p e r f o r m a n c e) 160x90 cm
“Depersonalization is an anomaly of self-awareness; it is essentially when a person feels they are watching themselves from outside of their own body (like they are on auto-pilot). I want to dissect this anomaly that I’ve experienced as well as the canvas, so participating in such a monotonous and tedious action can allow me to do so. I wanted both pieces to be raw, natural, and simple so as to only focus on this particular action of taking apart a canvas.”
De p ar t m e nt of Fi ne Arts Nicoletta Salomon Wonder Students: Carolyn Alessi, Hannah Boyd, Vincent DelaCruz, Tiana
variations of textures, research for symbols of the
Ferrante, Courtney Keating, Stephanie Leone, Susan Meyers,
Mediterranean culture, fruits of the Mediterranean tradition
Alexis Petersen, Nicholas Redeker, KasMone Vasha Williams,
as employed as painting tools are combined in a final work
Brooke Wise, Gabriella Andino, Nichole Leger
which preserves the mystery of the spiritual roots of our culture.
Words, Painting, and Emotions: Gabriella Andino’s project can be read as a two-sided
the Mind Map of Creativity
research about the lighted appearance of life and the quest We entered the Mediterranean as a cradle of natural and
for its dark abyss depth. In her series of colorful acrylic
cultural visual wonder, and wonder is the emotion of the
paintings a soft surface gets pierced by unstable and
philosopher, as stated by Plato in his Theaetetus. So, we
unsettling organic forms of life emerging from the unknown,
entered this travel as wanderer, with the hope of experiencing
while – in her video whith her choreography “Power that
those wonders as artists, and of developing our awareness of
Black” as matched with her somber acrylic under the
them as philosophers would do. I guided my class into tuning
same title – she dared digging into that abyss of a scaring
to colors and shapes, learning how to deeply sense them,
potential of life and death, an energy’s dark abyss made of
connecting with individual sources of inspiration, and only
earth and fires, which hosts as a cradle the contemporary
after that inner process which stays beyond each piece of art,
troubled waters of the Mediterranean culture.
facing the canvas or paper. The Mediterranean concentrated energy, made of centuries
And, lastly, the group project “Fragment of Blues” stem
of artistic gestures and philosophic reflections helped us to
as a wonderful surprise to me, which I interpreted as a gift
gain an emotional contact with the riche palette of waters
of the Mediterranean Blue itself. The class worked in a
and skies tones, greenery tones, and earth tones. The class
friendly atmosphere of mutual sharing of ideas, feedbacks
was able to witness the emotional reactions as raised by
and working, while being able to exchange discoveries and
mindfully living each color’s vibrations as displayed by the
doubts, and to witness each individual path of research: in
Mediterranean nature, both it’s surface and deep perspective,
this way it grew faster while enjoying the process. The idea
and than to transform them step by step into visual pieces
of building up a mosaic of small size blue tesseras need to
of art, while always getting back to the first fresh impact: the
be viewed at as a wish of the Mediterranean itself to keep
wonder. We lived that as a blind wandering in the unknown
on preserving and nurturing its diversity in communication,
with the excitement and awe that accompanies each of us
where the manifold nuances of blue and types of brushing
when entering the Mediterranean Nature and Culture.
allude by synecdoche to the diverse individuality of the thousand of component of its historical and future
Nichole Leger’s project (“A Metamorphosis of Colors and
cultural contribution to the World. Blue, the king color of
Symbols of the Mediterranean”) displays an experience of
the Mediterranean sea, is the color of deep thought and
the Mediterranean nature and culture through an elegant
communication, which are probably the highest wishes we
and rhythmic series of acrylics: subtle chromatic transitions,
can formulate for the Mediterranean heritage today.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Wonder
Gabriella Andino Moline, Illinois, USA Universit y of Georgia
Power that B A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 1 9, 5 x 2 3 , 5 c m A c r y l i c a n d p i g m e n t o n p a p e r, 3 7 x 3 0 c m A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 1 4 x 1 3 , 5 c m A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 2 1 x 2 0 , 2 c m A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 1 9,1 x 2 0 , 5 c m A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 2 0 , 5 x 1 9, 5 c m
Carolyn Alessi, Hannah Boyd, Vincent DelaCruz, Tiana Ferrante, Courtney Keating, Stephanie Leone, Susan Meyers, Alexis Petersen, Nicholas Redeker, KasMone Vasha Williams, Brooke Wise Fragments of Blue P a p e r/c a n v a s , 1 2 x 1 2 c m
Blue is a shrine of wonder. Precious, vibrating, deep or light, blues convey the hope of communication as well as ineffable states of mind that connect with subtle thoughts and the transcendence. Blue is the king color of the Mediterranean, and we dared entering it in his manifold declinations. As a source of inspiration the class also worked in my studio, where I shared with students my present artistic and philosophical meditation on the powers of Blue. Small tesseras-paintings are exhibited as traces of that collective meeting with the Blue, while witnessing in it ephemeral moments of nostalgia, tenderness, melancholy, and regality: all gifts of the Mediterranean sea.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Wonder
Nichole Leger S u d b u r y, M a s s a c h u s e t t s Lasell College
A Metamorphosis of Colors and Symbols of the Mediterranean A c r y l i c o n p a p e r, 2 2 x 2 5 c m
In my Words Painting and Emotions class we were given guidelines to use blues and earth tones to paint with. Starting with visualizing the ocean, and traveling in a bubble we began working with blue tones. Experimenting how the watercolors mimic the flow of the ocean was where the process began. From there the class began experimenting with blues and earth tones. Focusing on how the colors we were using related to the Mediterranean concept and creating textures with different brush strokes. After experimenting with the color palette and discovering new brush strokes we were given our midterm assignment. Create a Mediterranean themed series of paintings. From there I experimented with painting techniques and came across splatter painting. I liked how unpredictable creating each piece was and how unique each one became. I stuck with the blue and earth tones and tried to create patterns and textures of how I felt about the Mediterranean. For the blue palettes I focused on creating the flow of the water, the ripples and bubbles formed as the water moves. I even used the end of a lemon to create a background texture that reminded me of sea plant life. I used deep blues on black backgrounds to represent the unknowing the depth of the ocean holds. Light and dark blue combinations represent the shallower parts of water and how the ocean varies in color depending on the daylight reflecting off it. As for the earth tones, I focused on representing the dirt and soil, which the grass and plants grow from. One painting I used a celery wedge to create a tree bark texture. Every painting was made in the makeshift studio I created in my apartment fireplace. Surrounding myself with stone and sitting on the hardwood floor added to my inspirations for the paintings. Each texture was created based on patterns I noticed on my walk to school or inspiration from the Louvre as well as other museums. The series was a process that took time and effort to form completely.
De p ar t m e t of Vi sual C om m uni c ati on Ivka Markovic
Recycling the News Students: Alessandra Moretti, Chau Minh Thai, Daniela Anselmo, Garrett Day, Harley Bode, Josh Berendes, Nick Mitchell, Sylvia Rojas Introduction to Computer Graphics
Students were given a number of high fashion, art, and lifestyle magazines to choose a limited number of pages from. This material was to be manipulated with the goal of conveying their own personal reflection, perspective of the refugee (migration) crisis. In the light of recent events and our perception heavily influenced by media outlets, students have analysed news reports and carefully developed their concepts before working with scans from their selected pages only. Final result are collages collected from another aspect of our reality communicating (instead) human suffering.
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
Recycling the News
Chau Minh Thai Vietnam Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Safety Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Alessandra Moretti Bagno a Ripoli, Florence Italy Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Vicious Circle Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Josh Berendes
Daniela Anselmo
Le Mars, Iowa, USA
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Purge
La Nave Dei Bambini
Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Student Exhibition
Universit y of Nor thern Iowa
Fall 2015
Recycling the News
Sylvia Rojas Q u e e n s , N e w Yo r k , U S A Hartwick College
Untitled Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Garrett Day Mobile, Alabama, USA Florence Universit y of the A r ts
Untitled Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Nick Mitchell We s t U n i o n , I o w a , U S A Universit y of Nor thern Iowa
Unknown Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Harley Bode Lost Women Digital print 60 x 42 cm
Student Exhibition
Fall 2015
CORRIDOIO FIORENTINO Via Magliabechi, 1 December 4, 2015
Gabriella Ganugi FUA President
David Weiss DIVA Chair
Giovanna Franciosa Sydnie Christine Kroneberger Brianna Suzanne Tepper Meaghan White Student Curators
Giovanni Rossiello Faculty Coordinator
Giulio Vinci DIVA and IDEAS Academic Coordinator
Matteo Pretelli Ph.D. Researcher, FUA Florence University of the Arts
Fabio Binarelli Intercultural Communication
Simone Pierotti Advanced Digital Photography Street Photography
Juri Ciani Introduction to Creative Videomaking
Gaetano Cunsolo Advanced Painting
Nicoletta Salomon Words, Painting and Emotions: The Mind Map of Creativity
Paride Moretti Mixed Media
Ivka Markovic Introduction to Computer Graphics
Susanna Bausi Grace Joh Press Office
Enrica Quaranta DIVA Staff
Alberto Simoncioni Graphic Design
Berna Aydin Intern
Printed on December 2015 by FUA Florence University of the Arts Ringraziamenti Acknowledgements
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DE RE MEDI TERRA NEA