Pointing to the maiolica roundel on the facade of the Pazzi Chapel, Dr. Peter Weller (best known for his role as Robocop, and a recent doctoral graduate of UCLA in art history) says: “Luca della Robbia is as important as Donatello, Michelangelo, Raffaello or all the other ninja turtles.”
Dr. Weller came to Florence yesterday to meet with the team behind the #CrazyforPazzi campaign to restore the loggia of the Pazzi Chapel. Having completed a masters in art history at Syracuse University in Florence over a decade ago, he has lived in Florence and has come to love the city and its art and architecture. Between acting in and directing more than 70 films and tv shows, he has found the time to complete a PhD in art history on the topic of Alberti and the author’s relationship with Florence and its art. At Santa Croce this Sunday, he spoke with the team about the restoration that is necessary, and for which funds are being raised on Kickstarter. He then recorded his own personal plea to the public to support this project.
“This building is important, indigenous, organic and seminal to the entire development of Western architecture, and this loggia needs your money, time and grace to be restored so that future generations can come here and adore it, like I have for so many years,” states Weller, who, says that you can trace all of architecture up to Frank Ghery from this building.
The crowdfunding campaign for the loggia ends December 19, 2014, and Opera di Santa Croce must reach its $95,000 goal on that date, or none of the funds pledged so far will be transferred. More than 625 people have offered support so far on the platform, for a total of $73,271.
//
Post by The Florentine.
