CULTURE/ Manifattura Tabacchi Living Room series
Intriguing line-up as part of newly launched Living Room series
Manifattura Tabacchi have released a new digital programme centered on culture and contemporary art online. Titled ‘Living Room’, the series focuses on research and experimentation with regular content released via Facebook and Instagram. Film, books, podcasts, poems, interviews and various artistic contributions make up the packed programme and the multidisciplinary approach is sure to appeal. This week’s events see artist Laura Besançon present Alone, Together and Still, Play, with Radio Papesse looking at the theme of ‘space’ and examining the series Activities with Dobromierz by KwieKulik, featuring guests Tiziano Bonini, professor of Media Sociology at the University of Siena and photojournalist Fabio Bucciarelli, author of ‘We Take the Dead From Morning Till Night’ for The New York Times.
ORTICULTURE/ Plants and Flowers Market
Scenes of seasonal beauty
A highlight of this time of year for many of us is the plants and flowers market at the Giardino dell’Orticoltura, intended to have been held from April 25 to the May 1. Wandering the gardens with the vivid colours and intoxicating scents of such an incredible variety of botanical delights is an annual highlight. While not quite the same, we can still bring some floral joy to our own homes courtesy of the Società Toscana di Orticultura who have brought their fare to an online store. So that means succulents, orchids, fruit trees, bulbs, herbs and whatever else those with a green thumb might desire are available for purchase, and can be collected in the Giardino dell’Orticoltura, open only for collection purposes thanks to special permission by Comune Council member Cecilia Del Re for the use of a space inside the garden. The date for the virtual market is not fixed yet, but will be in about two weeks so keep an eye on the website given on the slide for updated information. In the meantime, there are regular Facebook floral updates and info to satiate your appetite.
EXHIBITION/ OnLife
Until May 5
Onlife online
Created by Giacomo Zaganelli in collaboration with Angelika Stepken, OnLife is an exhibition that “reflects the Zeitgeist, the current spirit of the time, the fact that we are all obliged to stay at home” only able to keep our social relationships alive using the web. Hosted on the Villa Romana website, contributing artists include Silvia Piantini, Fabrizio Silvia Piantini, Fabrizio Bellomo, Yao Jui Chung, Leone Contini, Mischa Leinkauf, Armin Linke, Johannes Paul Raether, Christian Naujoks, Rosa Barba, Gabriele De Seta, Takayoshi Kitagawa, Antje Majewski, Giacomo Zaganelli and Nasan Tur.
Florentine craftsmanship auction
Until May 4
The finest Florentine craftsmanship
Artisans are the heart and soul of Florence. Giving us even more reason to appreciate them, there is now a charity project launched by the interior design company Riccardo Barthel, in which 121 works by 24 participating artisans will be sold in an online auction, the proceeds of which will be entirely donated to Careggi Hospital. The auction will start at 10am on April 23 and end at 4pm on May 4, taking place online using the Pananti Auction House, who will not be applying commissions on the hammer price. Donations will be transferred directly to Careggi University Hospital. Click here for more information.
TF Together
Online community series
This week’s live line-up on our Facebook and YouTube channels includes a lecture titled ‘A Royal Tourist in Florence’ by Simon Gammell, director of the British Institute of Florence, (5pm, Wednesday 29) and co-founder of The Florentine Nita Tucker in discussion with editor-in-chief Helen Farrell and co-founder and CEO Marco Badiani on how the idea for The Florentine came about, and the road it has travelled since (6.30pm, April 30). For the full and constantly updated line-up, see here.
TALK/ The British Institute of Florence
6pm, April 29
ph/ Francesco Spighi
Helen Farrell, editor of The Florentine, reflects on what is happening in Florence right now, after seven weeks of lockdown and shares her insights into what this means for the city, its communities and its many visitors as we start to imagine life beyond the pandemic. To join this Zoom Meeting click this link. Meeting ID: 276 957 5320, password: 970164. The talk will last about 40 minutes, and will be followed by a discussion. A donation is requested to assist the Institute during this difficult time, with 50% of monies raised donated to “Il Cuore di Firenze Foundation”, raising funds for urgently needed ventilators in Florence.
