NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013
ISSUE 2 - YEAR 10 | FUA/PALAZZI | APR 2020
BREAKING NEWS
LEARNING IN (AND FROM) CHALLENGING TIMES BY MELISSA ROSSI, FUA-AUF FACULTY MEMBER AND COUNSELOR | PHOTOS BY CAYLYN DOWNEY AND BRONWYN MORGAN Spring semester started off in a fairly standard
future sessions and new courses. On the other side of
way. My psych classes were brimming with curious
the globe, a flu-like virus was an important topic of
students ready to learn, full of excitement along with
conversation that rapidly became a point of interest
confusion about being in a new culture. Many students
in Italy, around the same time it received a new name:
were reaching out to me for counseling for help with
COVID-19. As the number of participants in my classes
adjustment to their new life in Florence, while others
abruptly diminished and students left Florence, many in
were taking in stride classes and travels in Europe. In
tears, the reality of the situation began to sink in, along
the Academic Affairs office, we were busy with planning
with a sense of doom that my own world was about
to spin out of control. In less than
classroom; rather, it is about learning to adapt to new situations and coping
a week, the abroad portion of the
with the constant feeling that you have no control over an environment.
Spring 2020 semester was over for
Recognizing that there is also an affective component to adjustment is
the majority of my students, who
part of developing proactive strategies that help us to go with the flow in
were left with just study.
ecological shifts. COVID-19 has made us reflect on what learning really
The Italian government, along with
means, and to contemplate the cloud of confusion in the midst of transition.
self-isolation measures, mandated
As a counselor, maybe I am particularly sensitive to this aspect of our
that all K12 / higher ed systems
new learning environment, hyperaware of the emotions behind seemingly
guarantee
to
mundane concerns from students and instructors alike that resonate with a
students nationwide. The greatest
need to grasp for threads of control; a need that echoes worldwide as more
challenge hasn’t necessarily been
communities enact orders to shelter in place. The more we talk about the
how to address remote delivery, but
emotional aspects, the more we realize that they are universal, that we are
rather how to manage the emotions
all feeling the same way, which helps us to feel less alone in our confusion
generated by this unexpected shift.
and to develop new coping strategies. This is a moment of global change,
The miracle of technology allows
and the natural next step for me is to reflect on how I can apply what I learn
us to engage with others across
on a daily basis to the next phase of education, once we are allowed to go
the globe in ways unthought of
outside again. International education is a process of personal growth; in
decades ago, but does not fully
the end believe we can all grow from this, and together develop a greater
address all the affective needs of
sensitivity to what learning really means from an emotional perspective.
remote
delivery
the classroom. We have emojis to help us transmit our feelings by text, but this is not of much help when it comes to learning in global crises. Maintaining academic integrity in such situations is a huge test for any academic institution, and asks for an even greater level of selfreflection for an institution such as
FUA-AUF
whose
strength
is
learning-by-doing. As my students already know, my battle horse in the classroom is reflection on how their learning personally applies to their own lives, and I find myself taking this process of reflection to heart on a daily basis. Each day of this pandemic is a new challenge in assisting students and instructors in moving forward, and reflecting on how to best support learning from an emotional perspective in a constantly changing world. And I ask myself: Why aren’t we hearing more about this? Why isn’t the emotional fallout in education making the news? One of the most important outcomes for international education has little to do with what is learned in the 2
NEWSLETTER APR 2020
HOW THE “FLORENTINE DNA” SURVIVES BY LIVIA STURLESE TOSI, FUA-AUF PRESS COORDINATOR | PHOTO BY BRONWYN MORGAN In these uncertain times, there is a
all healthcare staff are tirelessly combatting Covid-19. Florence in particular applied
certainty to be found within Florentines,
a greater outreach to help the weakest community impacted by the virus, which in
the fact that they never deny their
this case are the elderly.
unique identity.
Volunteer associations, supermarkets, and anonymous groups of young people
There have been many instances in
are working to bring groceries, medicine, and basic necessities to individuals over
which the community of Florence has
65 living in the San Frediano district, where the elderly population exceeds 60%.
shown compassion towards those in
Many live in the center of Florence, in the same buildings that saw the Plague of 1348
need of it. In 1244, Florence became
or the Spanish flu after the first World War. Boccaccio, the famous writer of short
the first city in the world to establish a
stories who retired in the town of Fiesole, wrote during the 1348 plague the famous
volunteer association, the Misericordia.
Decameron, which states, “Human it is to have compassion for the unhappy."
In 1445, the institution “Spedale degli
Today, social media is used to share both an abundance of bad news and reassurances
Innocenti” was opened with the goal
about the future, whether they be absurd memes or messages of encouragement.
to save children born illegitimate and
For example, because all hairdressers are closed and root touch-ups are out of the
abandoned. In 1786, the Grand Duke
question, one viral joke pokes fun at the real number of blonds that will be left post-
Pietro Leopoldo made Tuscany the first
quarantine. Another stated,"80% of coronavirus deaths are men, do not be fooled
place in the world to abolish the death
by your wives who want to convince you to leave the house." These few examples
penalty. This city has distinguished
demonstrate some of the creative efforts Italians have made, along with collective
itself over the centuries for altruism,
singing from balconies, to shed light on an unfortunate situation. If one can make
generosity, and sense of community.
another smile - even if it’s a bitter smile - and make a mockery of bad luck, it proves
This is not said to detract from the
that the trademark, centuries-old Florentine cheekiness is still intact.
Italians of other regions, as many in
On Feb 17, 1530, Florence was under siege by Charles V after the sack of Rome.
these days are active in the newspapers,
However, a game of calcio storico was scheduled in Piazza Santa Croce. So what
on social networks, and even from the
did the Florentines do? They continued playing, well aware of the misfortune, but as
private terraces of their homes with
they said: “You can take everything away from us, but altruism and irony will never
songs or applause. Doctors, nurses, and
be missing in this city!”
3
STUDENT PHOTOSTORY: CREATIVE SOLUTIONS DURING COVID-19 PHOTOS BY ARON AGUILERA AND TEJAS BALAPALLI MURALI | COORDINATED BY THE DIVA PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT
ARON AGUILERA DIVA students continue to document through
photography
and
this
issue features a section specially edited DIVA faculty member Marco Gualtieri. Photography Coordinator David Weiss explains the technique behind the images, and how it has been a tool for teaching resilience in the craft in adverse situations:
“I remember back in the 1980s there was a myth going around: Either Robert Capa or another well-known
photographer
had
figured out a way, out of necessity, to develop film that was still in the canister in a toilet out of necessity,
- Movement
since he was on the frontlines of World War II and there was the need to develop images as quickly as possible. Faced with the current pandemic and the national requirement of
self-isolation
in
Italy,
we
developed a similar technique with the film photography students in Florence. In addition, we looked at solutions for scanning and presenting work to faculty, and created a way to digitize using tools available at home. By taping wax paper on a window and then taping the film on it, students were able take pictures using a digital camera with a macro-lens and send them to us.� - Symmetry 4
NEWSLETTER APR 2020
- Lights in the tunnel
- Shadows play
- Empty street
- My hand 5
TEJAS BALAPALLI MURALI
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NEWSLETTER APR 2020
7
FASHION ART
ARTIST MATILDE GAGLIARDO BRINGS PORTRAITS TO LIFE BY MEGAN KEENE | PHOTO BY MATILDE GAGLIARDO
Artist Matilde Gagliardo creates a new type of portrait in which the subjects are brought to life. With a video where the model doesn’t speak or move, viewers are brought into the room to share the moment.
Matilde Gagliardo is an Italian artist who has brought
the model and the onlooker. Although there are no words,
new meaning to the concept of a “portrait.” Rather than
you can almost hear what the model is thinking, as if you
a lifeless painting in a frame, Gagliardo gives viewers a
are carrying on a conversation.
live image of her muses. She films 10-minute-long videos
Take for example Gagliardo’s portrait of Olga Tokarczuk,
in which her model just stares into the camera, showing
a writer and Nobel Prize Winner. She is often seen in the
real human emotions and movement. You get to see
media as a very strong and intelligent woman, someone
the steady rising and falling of the person's chest, the
who does not show weakness and stands to promote
blinking of their eyes, and the display of their personal
peace and understanding between European nations. In
body language.
the video portrait, we see an unexpected vulnerability in
This type of portrait allows for a connection with the
Tokarczuk. You can tell she is feeling a bit nervous in the
subject, you feel as though you are in the room with them.
beginning and she isn’t sure where to look or what facial
Matilde’s style is simple. She shows her subject sitting in
expression to hold. We can all relate to the way she is
a room from the waist up. We see them in a place that
feeling as we have all been in positions that made us feel
they are connected to such as their office, backyard, or
awkward. It is moments like these in Gagliardo’s portraits
bedroom. There is no music playing, no one speaking,
that are so different. They allow for the onlooker to
just stillness. The only sound comes from nature or the
connect with the subject and relate in a way that isn’t
rustling of the space, creating a serene moment between
possible with a still image.
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NEWSLETTER APR 2020
FASHION FOOD & WINE
MACELLERIA LUCA AT THE MERCATO DI SANT’AMBROGIO BY KATHRYN HALVERSON, EMMA HYNEK, IAN SALINAS | PHOTO BY THE AUHOTRS For almost a century, the Macelleria Luca has been an essential part of the Mercato Sant’Ambrogio where customers come daily to get the best quality meat for their meals. Currently, the shop is run by Luca Menoni, but the business has been in his family for generations. The butcher shop was founded by Mr. Menoni’s grandfather in 1921 and it’s been passed down through the family all these years. Mr. Menoni started at the age of 13 when he would bike to the butcher shop during the summer in order to help his father. “I was eager to start, I was there so often they made a special small apron for me,” he shares. Almost a hundred years later, Macelleria Luca has doubled in size. The processing of meat has also changed by becoming more complex, and involving an intense refrigeration and display system. When he took the shop over from his father, Mr. Menoni made changes to fit his personal style of business. “My father set me free to run the business my own way and I understood that I had to be myself,” Mr. Menoni comments. He changed the way the business deals with clients and has consistently brought new technology into the shop. Over the past few years, the shop has been remodeled several times and now includes a restaurant, delivery services and online ordering. One of the most important lessons his father taught him was to welcome new practices into his business. “I try to apply this attitude towards all new things,” Menoni says. The Menoni family has always valued the quality of the shop’s products. “Meat should give you pleasure and nourishment,” Mr. Menoni said. He believes one of the things that helped the business is competition in the market, saying they chose to compete with better quality instead of lower prices. Additionally, the business prefers to have their meat produced locally to maintain its distinct Italian taste. Over the years, Macelleria Luca has become a household name in Florence. Mr. Menoni believes this success shouldn’t be a celebration of himself, but an example of how all butchers produce quality meats.
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ITALIAN LANGUAGE ADVANCED I COURSE: ITALIAN RAPPERS
ALLA SCOPERTA DEI CANTANTI RAP ITALIANI GHALI BY ARIANA SANTILLI | PHOTOS BY ARON AGUILERA
Quando la maggior parte della gente ascolta il nome
Secondo me, Mamma è una delle più grandi canzoni
Ghali, pensa a qualcosa di più di un rapper e un
scritte sul tema dell’immigrazione. Il testo è schietto,
cantautore; pensa a un artista che ha rivoluzionato il rap
onesto, per questo devastante. Già dal primo verso
e ha incoraggiato una nuova generazione a discutere di
mostra la paura che una famiglia ha quando il pubblico
problemi sociali e politici.
ha discussioni sulle espulsioni degli immigrati: Il sole si stiracchia e sale sempre più su / Batte sul suo
Ghali è nato a Milano da genitori tunisini. Nel 2011 ha
quartiere, sui mattoni rouges / Mamma è già sveglia.
formato il gruppo Troupe D’Elite (un gruppo che include l’altro famoso rapper Ernia). Nel 2017 ha pubblicato il
Con canzoni come Mamma, Ghali ha aiutato a far
suo primo album da solista.
passare il rap italiano da un genere di volgarità alla poesia. Anche se le canzoni discutono di temi seri, lo
La musica di Ghali è stata immediatamente un successo
fanno in uno stile narrativo.
perché è stato uno dei primi a rappare sull’argomento
del razzismo. Con genitori immigrati e un background
Un’altra canzone che riflette lo stile di Ghali è Cara
multiculturale, Ghali ha osservato una certa deriva
Italia. Il messaggio della canzone è che l’Italia è un
nazionalistica in Italia. Le sue canzoni raccontano così
paese bellissimo che lui è orgoglioso di chiamare casa.
una storia di unità, ma anche individualità e diversità in
Anche se niente è perfetto e l’Italia deve migliorare le
una società divisa.
sue politiche sull’immigrazione.
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NEWSLETTER APR 2020
CAPO PLAZA BY MATTHEW NICOLINI | PHOTOS BY ARON AGUILERA Capo Plaza è un artista Italiano che fa la musica rap/trap. È il più popolare tra i giovani rapper italiani ed europei, già da quando aveva vent’anni. A quell’età ha registrato il suo primo album, nel 2018. Il titolo è infatti 20 e contiene molti singoli di successo come Tesla e Uno Squillo. La sua canzone Tesla ha vinto il disco di platino per quattro volte nel mondo. Queste due canzoni hanno più di 50 milioni di ascolti su Spotify. 20 è il suo unico album, ma ha collaborato con altri cantanti per registrare nuovi
singoli.
Per
esempio,
un
anno fa ha scritto una canzone con l’artista americana Boogie With A Hoodie e anche una canzone con Aya Nakamura. Questi brani sono remix di originali, diventati popolari quanto gli originali. Capo Plaza ha registrato altri singoli in precedenza, tra cui tre canzoni. Allenamento 1, 2, e 3 nell’anno 2017. Molti dei suoi concerti fanno ancora il tutto esaurito molto rapidamente. La maggior parte della musica che registra ha un messaggio positivo rivolto ai giovani. L’attenzione di molte delle sue canzoni è sul non arrendersi mai per seguire i propri sogni.
che ci si può sempre riscattare. Sono
caso raro nella musica rap, perché
Capo Plaza si può dire che incoraggi
questi messaggi che lo rendono così
la maggior parte dei rapper cantano
soprattutto a credere in se stessi e
popolare fra i giovani. Questo è un
di droga o di violenza.
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FASHION FASHION
FLY LOOK OF THE MONTH PHOTOS BY: SOPHIA MANNING MODELING BY: ASHLEY BETH SANTOS STYLING AND WRITING BY: SOPHIA MANNING AND ASHLEY BETH SANTOS
Early 2000s Baby All of the students in our Fashion Retail Management class were born at the end of the ‘90s, so by the time early 2000’s fashion became a thing, we were unfortunately not old enough to wear it. We grew up obsessed with everything Britney Spears and Paris Hilton wore, much to the bewilderment of our disapproving parents. Now that decade-based trends are once again popular we can finally have fun with it. Yes, we’re talking about teeny-tiny handbags, cargo pants, and bandana kerchiefs – some of the signature items of
the decade's
aesthetic. Many trends from the earlier half of the 2000s were born out of globalization, the rise of fast fashion, and the growing influence of celebrities as style icons.
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NEWSLETTER APR 2020
The outfit we created for the Look
interesting and comfortable.
of the Month is the epitome of the
This is also the decade when it
early 2000s fashion. The vintage
became socially acceptable to mix
D&G jeans we chose are pink, the
designer and street fashion. For
most popular color for women’s
the accessories, we tied an orange
clothing at the time seen with Reese
bandana inspired by the ones that
Witherspoon in Legally Blonde (2001)
Carrie Bradshaw wore in Sex and the
or Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls
City (1998-2004). Lastly, we chose
(2004). To balance the colorful pants
a small baby pink bag with a circle
we chose a nude lycra turtleneck,
handle, made by one of the Leather
matching with leather boots of the
Design students last semester. It’s
same color. The medium squared
just the right size for your flip phone
boot heel makes the shoes both
and your essential items!
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STUDENT VOICE
WHERE DO DREAMS GLISTEN IN THE SUNLIGHT? BY ALEXANDER MAST
On the shore of the French Riviera, about half way between Marseilles and the Italian border, stands a large, proud, rose-colored hotel. Its exterior beamed in the heat of the mid-July sun as a man pulled into the lot out front, parking his old little Fiat, the engine extinguishing with a short sputter. He was aging, simply dressed in a professorial tweed coat, gray loose-fitted slacks, and black leather shoes that had seen many miles and journeys over the years. Tired from a long journey across the Riviera, he ambled across the gravel courtyard. At the center stood a spectacular stone monument of an important looking man from a time long ago, atop a fountain filled with coins from all over the world. The man stops and gazes up at the statue, then down to the coins strewn about the water, wondering what wishes and dreams lay decaying at the bottom of the fountain. He imagines a family walking into the courtyard, tired but excited for the vacation that lies ahead. A little girl stands ahead of her parents, clothed in the inexhaustible energy bestowed upon all children. She sees the fountain and begs for a small coin from her mother; a noble sacrifice towards her greatest wish. Her mother, in the generous spirit of travel, chooses to believe in the importance of the little girl's wish and hands her a coin. Standing at the head of the fountain, the girl pauses, thinking intently of her deepest wishes and desires. Her parents, older and more jaded, wait impatiently for her to choose while secretly scoffing at these childish games. But the girl does not notice, caring only for the wish. After some time, a decision is made. With closed eyes, seeing only her wish that manifested before her, she tosses the coin into the water, and watches it slowly drift to the bottom, joining a cavalcade of coins. The girl then hurries along. What the wish was, or the result of her payment towards this wish matters not. It was a payment towards the thought of her future, a brief yet tactile moment to ponder what could be. These little monuments to fleeting desires glisten in the sunlight as the man passes along. He steps into the immense wooden doors at the front of the hotel, disappearing under the proud roof of this rose colored hotel, filled with dreams and hope. 14
- Photo from unsplash
NEWSLETTER APR 2020
ALUMNI PROFILE
ALUMNI INTERVIEW WITH ETHAN ZUK BY THE FUA-AUF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Introduce yourself
Have you taken part in
Hi, my name is Ethan Zuk. I am from Highland, Michigan
any Alumni events yet?
which is about an hour outside of Detroit. I recently
I was one of the original
graduated from Robert Morris University with a Bachelor's
collaborators of FUA-AUF
degree in Culinary Arts.
on the Lake in Chicago, which I look forward to
When did you study at FUA-AUF?
taking part of in the future
I actually studied at FUA-AUF three different times. The first time was for 2 sessions in the fall of 2017. The second
What
are
your
favorite
FUA-AUF
memories?
time was for the culinary competition in February of 2018.
My favorite memories are of the students and staff I had
Finally, I came back in the fall of 2018 to participate in the
the pleasure of meeting along the way. All of the evening
TuttoToscana program.
gelato trips, and conversations about each person’s hometown and backgrounds, creating lifelong connections
Why did you choose to study at FUA-AUF?
all facilitated by FUA-AUF.
My school has a partnership with FUA where fellow culinary students from my school will only attend FUA-AUF to study
Are you still friends/in contact with someone you have
abroad. Furthermore, traveling to Italy has always been a
met at FUA-AUF?
dream of mine, so everything came together well.
I remain in contact with a lot of the people I met while attending the institution. Even though they might live in
Did you do an internship or SPEL placement through
different parts of the world almost everyone is just a phone
FUA-AUF?
call away. I recently met up with my first roommate while
During my second session I participated in a SPEL at Ganzo.
in Firenze along with some other friends we made during
It was a wonderful time where I collaborated with different
our stay.
classes and I got to experience a professional context in Italy. I would highly recommend the opportunity to anyone
What would you say to any future students looking into
who attends FUA-AUF.
FUA-AUF? I would say that FUA-AUF is more than a institution. It is a
What did you do at FUA-AUF that helped you in your
place to make lifelong connections with people you would
career and/or in your personal growth?
probably never meet during the course of your life.
While studying at FUA-AUF, I learned many new cooking techniques not traditionally taught at schools in the States,
If you had 60 seconds to convince a friend that they
while also getting an in depth look into traditional Italian
should study abroad at FUA-AUF, what would you say?
cuisine I wouldn't have been able to get anywhere else.
I would say the information you gather at FUA will be
I also learned a lot from the interaction between all the
equally helpful to your career as the connections you make
students around the world finding a way to learn and
along the way.
collaborate together. Describe your FUA-AUF experience with a word. Have you traveled with FUA-AUF? How was it?
Impactful.
I went on two field learning activities with FUA-AUF; the first was to Cinque Terre and the second was to Torino.
What are your plans for the future?
They were both phenomenal sightseeing and learning
Currently, I am working as a lead in a Tapas Restaurant. In
experiences where I got an inside look of Italian culture
the future, I hope to be able to start my own restaurant, but
while being guided by FUA-AUF staff.
for now I just hope to gain as much experience as possible. 15
BLENDING NEWSLETTER
Coordinamento Editoriale | Managing Editor Jessica Lynch
Supplemento di | Supplement to Blending Magazine
Coordinamento grafico e impaginazione /
Reg. Trib. di Firenze n° 5844 del 29 luglio 2011
Managing Designer
Anno 10 - Numero 2 - Aprile 2020
Nora Ferrucci
Year 10 - Issue 2 – April 2020 Redattore Associato | Editor Livia Sturlese Tosi Editore | Publisher Florence Campus per INGORDA
Collaboratori Accademici | Faculty advisors
Editore Via Masaccio 45/A 50132
A lice Cozzi
Firenze
A ndrea M ancini Catia Ballerini
Blending is a newsletter created
Rosaria Parretti
with and for students of Florence
Sede editoriale |
University of the Arts, the
Editorial Headquarters
academic member of Palazzi FAIE.
Corso Tintori 21
Redazione testi | Copy Editors
The newsletter collaborates with
50122 Firenze
Harton Megan
the Student Life Department and
Tel. 055 2469016
Victoria De A ngelis
Development Office.
For information contact:
Stampato in proprio |
blending@fua.it
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REDAZIONE | MASTHEAD Direttore Responsabile | Editor in chief Livia Sturlese Tosi Caporedattore | Editorial Director Tommaso Monaci
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