ITALY/Dawn of a Nation
March 16-July 22
Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, Florence
Journey through the artistic twists and turns of the 20th century in Italy at Palazzo Strozzi’s forthcoming exhibition, which culls together 80 works from such renowned artists as Renato Guttuso, Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Enrico Castellani, Mario Merz, Mario Schifano, and Piero Manzoni. Dawn of a Nation explores the vibrant culture and spurts of creativity in Italy over twenty years, starting in the immediate aftermath of World War II and continuing through the protests of the 1960s and the pivotal shifts of 1968. The artistic narrative begins with the sharp divisions between Realism and Abstraction, next touching on the Informal and Pop periods and moving onward through Arte Povera and Conceptual Art. For additional information, see Palazzo Strozzi’s website or take a look at our preview.
SOCIAL/Florence Update
March 20
Fortezza da Basso, viale Filippo Strozzi, Florence
The first conference of its kind dedicated exclusively to travel blogging and influencer marketing, #FUP2018 will focus on what makes an influencer and what skills it takes to become one. Eight of the most prominent Italy-based travel bloggers and influencers will share their thoughts in a free-entry panel discussion. But it’s not just geared at individuals looking to make a living online: afternoon sessions will focus on building business relationships with influencers and bloggers and are particularly geared at tourism industry professionals and marketing teams. Registration is required for all events, which will take place within the Teatrino Lorenese at Florence’s Fortezza da Basso. Read our preview for additional information about participants and what to expect.
POP/Lorenzo Baglioni
March 21, 9pm
Obihall, via Fabrizio de’ Andre/lungarno Aldo Moro, Florence
After the runaway success of his Sanremo tune Il Congiuntivo, a humorous play on the perils of misusing the Italian subjunctive—with a viral video to match—Florentine Internet sensation Lorenzo Baglioni brings his trademark blend of pop music, social commentary and cutting humor to the stage. The show takes place to celebrate his new album release, Bella, Prof!, a 12-track project with an accompanying TV program on Sky Uno. A former teacher, Baglioni takes his didactic prowess to original and amusing places in each song, explaining Kepler’s laws, the human cardiovascular system, apostrophe usage and other school-system fundamentals in a flurry of different musical styles. Tickets start at 15 euro; for more information see the Obihall website.
ORATORY/World Speech Day
March 15
Various venues in Florence
Photo via WorldSpeechDay website
Training for a TED Talk? Contemplating a political career? Perhaps you’re already a regular Cicero, but most of us could stand to sharpen our public speaking skills. With the tagline “Thoughts for a better world,” World Speech Day is a global celebration of the power of words. The event’s afternoon sessions will take place in the Regione Toscana auditorium, where professionals in urban planning, architecture and engineering will share their points of view (1-4pm); and the Fondazione Zeffirelli, where figures from the food and wine worlds will offer a taste of their thoughts (5-8pm). Most speeches will be in Italian, but expect English input from the organization’s global president and guest of honor, Simon Gibson. More information here.
