Your Thursday forecast: best events in Florence

Your Thursday forecast: best events in Florence

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Thu 05 Oct 2017 3:00 AM

MOVEMENT/Sonic Somatic

October 5-8

Centro Commerciale Novoli, Florence

Ph. Michelle Davis

Sonic Somatic returns to rock the suburbs this year with its first-ever edition outside the historic center, set to take place in the San Donato/Novoli area, particularly its standout shopping complex. This hybrid visual art-contemporary sound festival places the human body at the center of its performances and installations, touching down in a variety of venues to better explore how sound is diffused and perceived. Group listening sessions, guided walks with headphones and individual exercises will all be organized, aiming to explore the relationships between space, time and body and how they shift. A key name in the lineup is Christina Kubisch, a German sound-art pioneer who will lead several “Electrical Walks” sessions in high-tech headphones (October 5, slots from 6.30-8.30pm and October 6, slots from 3-8pm, piazza Centro Commerciale Novoli; sonicsomatic@gmail.com to book). Gym bunnies and budding fitness fiends will want to take part in the T.Rex* Training to Dance session (October 6, 6pm, Virgin Active, Centro Commerciale Novoli; sonicsomatic@gmail.com to book), guided by two performers who’ll teach you how to best prime your body for a dance session or workout. View the full program on the website.

 

CLASSIC/30 years of A Room with a View

October 5-8

Various venues in Florence

Tip your hat to Lucy Honeychurch and enjoy tea with the moviemaker who helped bring E.M. Forster’s heroine to life. James Ivory, director of the screen adaptation of A Room With a View, filmed largely in Florence, will be in town to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Briton-in-Italy classic. A gala movie night will take place at the Odeon (October 5, 8.30pm; tickets sold out at publication of this article), with Ivory and select cast members in attendance, as well as an Edwardian-style “Tea with a View” in the company of Ivory and other VIPs in the Harold Acton Library of the British Institute (October 7, 5-6.30pm; library@britishinstitute.it to register; 20 euro donation requested for non-lifetime members of the library). Already gotten your fill of the screen version of E.M. Forster’s story? Cinema La Compagnia is hosting a retrospective of some of Ivory’s other films, selected by the director himself and shown in original language with Italian subtitles (October 6-8, via Cavour 50r).  

 

ALL’APERTO/Picnic on the Grass for ATT

October 8, 12.30pm

Serre Torrigiani, via Gusciana 21 (Porta Romana), Florence

Give back while you take part in a glamorous 19th century style picnic in the lush private garden of Serre Torrigiani, only open on rare occasions. The second “Picnic on the Grass” is a fundraiser for cancer charity Associazione Tumori Toscana and an opportunity to get your Manet on (the dress code calls for hats). Baskets of Tuscan delicacies are included in the 30 euro entrance fee (10 euro for children under 10), with meat and fish options available. Once the Déjeuner sur l’herbe is done, have your portrait painted by the artist on tap, or move between the live music, readings, and straw hat exhibition by Tuscan company Grevi. Call 335 6586211 or 347 0164466 to book.

 

PLACE/Genius Loci

October 6-7

Basilica of Santa Croce complex, Florence

See Santa Croce in a whole new light. The unprecedented event “Genius Loci” brings 15 international artists to the Temple of Italian Glories, performing in varied backdrops of the complex—the Cenacolo, the Pazzi Chapel and Brunelleschi’s cloister—at three distinct parts of the day (Sunset at 6.30pm, Night at 9.30pm and Daybreak at 6am). To live up to its title, the series will aim to showcase the spirit of Santa Croce, while turning it on its head and using the venue as a contemporary stage. All events are free, but require a reservation on EventBrite. View the full program and links to bookings here.

 

CONTEMPORARY/Florence Biennale

October 6-15

Fortezza da Basso, viale Filippo Strozzi, Florence

The 11th edition of this contemporary art showcase zeroes in on eco themes this year, submitting that sustainability is not just about preserving our planet, but respecting all life forms on Earth. As such, artwork on display will explore not just naturalistic themes, but the value of varied cultural traditions and identities and the protection of world heritage. New for 2017 is a prize in the digital art category, while standard recognitions for excellence in photography, installation, performance art, painting and a variety of other media will also be given, along with the well-established Lorenzo Il Magnifico award for lifetime achievement. For the full program, see the website.

 

Plus

Studio Arts College International (SACI) will host “Resetting the Table: A Symposium on Feminist Art and Herstory” all day on October 9 at the Palazzo dei Cartelloni campus (via Sant’Antonino 11). The event will highlight the pioneering work of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum, as well as background on the presence of women in art and art criticism here in Florence. Book your space (required) by emailing rsvp@saci-florence.edu.

 

Kanō Shigenobu, Heads of wheat and poppies, Edo period

The Uffizi’s Aula Magliabechiana just inaugurated “The Japanese Renaissance. Nature on Painted Screens from the 15th to 17th Centuries“, running until January 7, 2018.

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