DANCE/La Democrazia del Corpo
Until December 30
CANGO, via Santa Maria 25, and various venues in Florence
To paraphrase Dana Gould, our bodies all enter this world in the same way. They may not be equalizers, but they help us empathize: celebrate these democratic instruments and their many capabilities at the Virgilio Sieni dance and choreography company’s annual autumn festival, La Democrazia del Corpo. The program features workshops, conferences and meetings with international artists, dancers, choreographers and members of the art world, along with performances and lectures. Site-specific installations are set up and around 30 far-flung individuals and dance companies take part. The full program is still being defined at publication of this article; for details, see the Virgilio Sieni company’s website.
CONTEMPORARY/Florence Biennale
Until October 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.
FILMS/Festival dei Popoli
Until October 17
Cinema La Compagnia, via Cavour 50r, and various venues
Festival dei Popoli, now in its 58th edition, is one of Florence’s longest-running vehicles for the promotion of social documentary cinema. The grand tradition continues with this year’s stellar lineup of films, which range from humorous commentaries to hot-button exposés. Among the highlights is sure to be the French-German documentary Good Luck by Ben Russell (pictured), which narrates daily life and working conditions in two mining communities in Serbia and Suriname. Russell will be present at the screening (6.15pm, October 12, La Compagnia). For the full program, see the festival website.
PARTIES/Seasonal Venue Kickoffs
October 14, from 9pm
Various venues in Florence
Biga
The passing of September means saying goodbye to open-air summer venues, but with the arrival of autumn come additional spots primed for a party. BUH Circolo Culturale Urbano (via Panciatichi 16) comes back with a splash on Saturday beginning at 10.30pm, hosting a live performance by the Street Clerks and Hugolini with a DJ set by Ghiaccioli e Branzini to follow. Its main “competition” this Saturday night will come from GLUE (viale Manfredo Fanti 20), the up-from-underground “Alternative Concept Space” which will host its Opening Party with a DJ set by Biga (also from 10.30pm, October 14).
PREHISTORIC/The Fragility of the Sign
Until November 26
Archaeological Museum, piazza Santissima Annunziata 9b, Florence
Dig deep at the newest exhibition from Florence’s archaeological museum, which highlights prehistoric cave art and paintings, portrayed in images conserved by the Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, largely from Libya and the Horn of Africa. Among these are photographs from cave sites in the Tadrart Acacus mountain range, recently added to UNESCO’s list of world heritage in danger, in part due to migratory patterns that mimic those of prehistoric times. Threats to these early art forms are the inspiration for the exhibition’s “fragility” theme: the show begins with an introduction to the work of Paolo Graziosi, founder of the Istituto, woven into the larger topic of treasures in peril. Museum hours and information here.
