Middle East Now
April 5–10
Odeon Cinehall and various venues, Florence
Every year, spring at the Odeon means turning our eyes eastward—Middle East Now is an annual film and culture festival that’s now in its 7th edition. This year’s program features a special tribute to Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu (April 5, 9pm); 44 films (in or subtitled in English); cool culinary events (like the VegetArab tasting and film screening at 8pm on April 6; info@middleastnow.it); two photography exhibitions spotlighting Syrian refugees; and a series of events and talks aimed at breaking down media stereotypes about the Middle East. Also mark your calendar for “Love-ism,” a contemporary dance performance staged by Israeli choreographer Mor Shani (April 8, 6pm at Le Murate). The show is inspired by Erich Fromm’s The Art of Loving and the human experiences of intimacy and mutuality.
Creative Factory
April 3, 10am–8pm
Museo Bellini, Lungarno Soderini 5, Florence
Make your way to this carefully curated marketplace featuring work by emerging Florentine designers and artists. Stock up on statement jewelry, accessories, home décor, graphic prints and clothes. If you’ve never explored the intriguing venue—the historic gallery of the antiques collector Luigi Bellini—guided visits will be offered at 11.30am and 4.30pm (with a 5 euro donation and required reservation; email info.heyart@gmail.com to book). Aperitivo and live music will begin at 6pm.
Suddenly Last Winter
April 6, 6.20pm
Room 13 at Syracuse University, piazza Savonarola 15, Florence
Syracuse’s annual LGBT-themed lecture will feature activists Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, who will speak about the making of their films on civil rights and today’s shifting situation in Italy. The talk will be based mostly on their critically acclaimed 2008 film Suddenly Last Winter, which was released after a February 2007 draft law acknowledging the rights of unmarried and same-sex couples sparked fear, outrage and homophobic hate speech. In the film, Hofer and Ragazzi aimed to capture the arguments both for and against the law on camera.
©MUSIWA-RT
April 1–13
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, via Cavour 3, Florence
The Ripples Must be Endless by Nathalie Vin
Now in its 5th edition, © MUSIWA-RT is a contemporary arts festival organized by the association © MUSIWA. focused on modern mosaics and the incredible variety of materials used in creating them, from gold leaf to recycled objects. Mosaics will be juxtaposed with work from other disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, design and installation. This year there is particularly high participation from young Chinese artists. Though works will be on display in the Galleria delle Carrozze and the Museo Mediceo beginning April 1, the official vernissage will be held on April 4 at 4pm.
A Florentine Paradise in London: Exhibiting Francesco Botticini at the National Gallery
April 5, 6pm
Villa La Pietra, via Bolognese 120, Florence
The exhibition “Visions of Paradise: Botticini’s Palmieri Altarpiece” ran until March 28 at London’s National Gallery, showcasing recent research on this mysterious masterwork, which was installed at Florence’s former church of San Pier Maggiore in 1477. This talk, given by Jennifer Sliwka, Curator of Art and Religion at the National Gallery, will shed light on how the exhibition came about and the fascinating findings that coincided with it. Particular focus will be given to the National Gallery’s and the University of Cambridge’s joint project to digitally reconstruct the church, which was mostly destroyed in the 18th century. Spots are limited and booking is required: email lapietra.reply@nyu.edu.
