COMMUNITY / Thanksgiving with The Florentine
6.30pm, November 25
Come dine with us!
At 6.30pm on November 25, join us at Ruffino’s Poggio Casciano wine estate to celebrate the occasion while nestled in the Tuscan hills just 20 minutes from Florence. Book your place for 38 euro per person, and dine on traditional stuffed turkey and American classics with a Tuscan twist. Get a headstart on Black Friday with special discounts on all Ruffino wines and gift boxes. Make the most of the holiday with an exclusive overnight stay: 180 euro includes Thanksgiving dinner and a night in a double room for two. Email: letrerane@ruffino.it, T: +39 378 3050220.
Ruffino Poggio Casciano wine estate, via Poggio al Mandorlo 1, 50012 Bagno a Ripoli
EXHIBITION/ Alter Eva: Natura Potere Corpo
Until December 12, 2021
Silvia Rosi and IED student. Ph/ Stefano Casati
The female perspective on natural and social coexistence is reflected on by six Italian women artists: Camilla Alberti, Irene Coppola, Martina Melilli, Margherita Moscardini, Silvia Rosi and Marta Roberti. Mediums vary from sculpture and painting to photography and installations, with weighty political arguments posited alongside nature in various guises. The personal and intimate are often at the centre of the pieces that interrogate the patriarchy, gender roles and power relationships, while also exploring potential futures. Part of the Palazzo Strozzi Future Art programme, the exhibition is produced by the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, in collaboration with the IED Firenze Master in Curatorial Practice class of 2020/2021.
Palazzo Strozzi, Florence
CINEMA/ Lo Schermo dell’Arte
November 10-14
Cinema and contemporary art come together
Matthew Barney’s Redoubt kicks off the 14th edition of the festival dedicated to cinema and contemporary art that’s completed by Land of Dreams directed by Shirin Neshat (present at the screening) and her partner Shoja Azari. The line-up is sprinkled with stars like Oliver Laric, Roberto Fassone, Beatrice Favaretto and Sara Sadik, as well as curators Valentina Tanni and Luca Lo Pinto, who will make in-person appearances. The films will be viewable through mymovies.it until November 21. In addition to the films, the tenth edition of VISIO: European Programme on Artists’ Moving Images forms part of the festival, with works by ten artists curated by Leonardo Bigazzi presented at NAM – Not a Museum at Manifattura Tabacchi in an exhibition titled Thinking Beyond – Moving Images for a Post-Pandemic World from November 9 to December 12.
Cinema La Compagnia, Manifattura Tabacchi + various locations
ART/ Restoration Conversations: The New Woman Behind the Camera
6.30pm, November 16
Tune in for curatorial conversations
From the 1920s to the 1950s, women photographers changed history by capturing it. On November 16, Restoration Conversations will feature exhibition curator Andrea Nelson with sights and insight from The New Woman Behind the Camera, on show at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. until January 30, 2022, following its three-month stint at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Showcasing the talent of 120 photographers from 20 countries including Italy, India, Japan, USA, France and Mexico, it exemplifies a period of newfound professional independence for women in a shifting century. As social and political change triggered the rise and fall of regimes, the “new woman” carved her place in the field of photojournalism. Labour protests and peace marches, air pilots and freed prisoners of war, these photographs are signs of their times. Portraiture, still-life and self-representation also gained a new edge as professionals like Tina Modotti, Wanda Wulz, Tsuneko Sasamoto, Homai Vyarawalla and Alma Levenson explored a principle espoused by US photographer Dorothea Lange: ‘To be good, photographs have to be full of the world.’ To join the event, tune into The Florentine’s YouTube channel at 6.30pm on November 16 (or see here theflr.net/newwomanbehindcamera) with host Linda Falcone.
DOCUMENTARY/ Festival dei Popoli
November 20-28
Delve into documentaries
The international documentary festival makes its 62nd appearance on the city’s cultural calendar, with the Soviet Union getting a particular focus this edition with a range of archival documentaries looking at the 30 years since the dissolution of the bloc. As always, a fascinating range of documentaries from Italy and elsewhere makes up the programme in the festival that’s one of the oldest of its kind. A retrospective titled ‘Burning Borders’ looks at Nicolas Klotz and Elisabeth Perceval, who will be in Florence to present the films and participate in round tables and workshops.
Various locations
BUILD/ Bricks in Florence Festival
November 6-7
Festival for our favourite toy
Lego lovers of all ages will be delighted by the brightly coloured bricks at Tuscany Hall. AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) from Italy and abroad showcase their creations and reveal the secrets of their works, while younger builders can realize their wildest Lego dreams in the Young Builders’ Gallery, trying out their skills in a speed building competition. Click into the colour at www.toscanabricks.it.
Tuscany Hall, via Fabrizio de André angolo, Lungarno Aldo Moro 3
URBAN/ Mìles: Il legno e la carne
November 14-28
Pinocchio as you’ve never seen him before
The gallery dedicated to urban art in Florence presents works by street artist and illustrator Simone Miletta (Mìles) dedicated to the well-known Tuscan puppet, Pinocchio. The stunning spaces of the ARTiglieria fill with the wood and flesh exhibit, in collaboration with independent publishing house Contrabbicona. Fairy tales and classics get a contemporary urban twist, with over 75 works on display. Alongside the show, there will be a digital event on the gallery’s new web platform where multimedia material can be found. Musicians from the Orchestra della Toscana are also set to perform. Find out more by emailing info@streetlevelsgallery.com.
Street Levels Gallery, via Cittadella 4
POET/ Dante Alighieri, gli Uomini illustri e il Bene comune
Until November 15
Dante dedicated exhibition
Curated by Carlo Francini and Valentina Zucchi on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri, an immersive experience comes to the spectacular space at Palazzo Vecchio. Sounds and images blend the Middle Ages with contemporary life together with an ancient code from the Laurentian Library. Actors from Teatro della Pergola also take part in the mesmerizing encounter that reflects on the Dante-related work on display in the Palazzo and delve into the figures portrayed alongside him. Find out more at www.musefirenze.it.
Sala dei Gigli, Palazzo Vecchio Museum
VINTAGE/ Charity Market
November 5-7
Shop for a good cause
The charity market to raise funds for the Smile Project takes place from 9.30am to 7pm, November 5-7, at the Tepidarium del Roster. Clothes, accessories, bags and more will be on sale with funds going towards social and humanitarian projects in Eritrea.
Tepidarium del Roster, Giadino dell’Orticoltura, via Vittorio Emanuele 11, 4, Florence
CRAFTS/ Handmade market
11am-8pm, November 7 and 14
Handmade with heart
Two Sundays are dedicated to high quality Italian craftsmanship and food and wine in the spectacular setting of Palazzo San Niccolò in Florence. With all sorts of clothing, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics, home decorations, food and wine, it’s the perfect chance to get ahead on Christmas shopping. The Voa Voa! Onlus will be present at the event. Free entry.
Palazzo San Niccolò , via di San Niccolò 79, Florence
CINEMA/ Florence Short Film Festival
November 3-4
Get flicking through films
The 7th edition of the festival dedicated to short film takes place at Cinema La Compagnia with an array of screenings from all over. Filmatic works compete for awards with guests from the world of cinema featuring in the line-up.
Cinema La Compagnia, via Camillo Cavour 50, Florence
COMMUNITY EVENTS
UK Nationals living in Italy are invited to attend an in-person town hall event hosted by the British Ambassador Jill Morris at 5.30pm on November 11 at The British Institute of Florence, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, Florence. Sign up using this link (on Google Chrome/Edge) to complete the mandatory registration. An introduction will be followed by a Q & A session aiming to answer questions on citizens’ rights now that the UK has left the EU. Green pass and face mask required.
St Mark’s English Church will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Florence War Cemetery (via Aretina 34, San Jacopo al Girone), on November 14. The newly formed Florence Photographers group led by Robbin Gheesling will bring together budding photographers and those with more experience. Find out more by contacting artisticdirectory@stmarksitaly.com. A yoga workshop takes place from 2 to 4pm on Nov. 6, all abilities welcome, and a choir workshop for all will be held from 4 to 6pm on the same day. The Armchair Drama Club takes place at 8pm on Nov. 9, an LGBTQ+ social at 7pm on Nov. 24, and barre class with Claire Kolb at 11am every Saturday. A new concert series launches on November 11 at 8.30pm with chamber music by the Associazione ‘Il Contrappunto’ serenading audiences bi-weekly on Thursdays and Saturdays at 8.30pm. Tickets can be purchased here. An Organ Open Day led by the St Mark’s Director of Music, James Short, takes place from 1-4pm on November 27 for those keen to put their keyboard skills to use or simply if you’d like to listen. All abilities welcome. Book a place by emailing music@stmarksitaly.com. See www.stmarksitaly for more info. Donations are welcome for all events, which go towards the church and the running of the cultural calendar.
At the Marina Calamai store on via Santo Spirito 22 at 6.30pm on November 25, the limited edition jewellery and artworks dedicated to Corona Venus will be unveiled, with an opportunity to meet the artist and enjoy bubbles. The ECO-OCA sustainable tour through the Laurel Love Labyrinth in Poppiano can be booked by groups of friends and families, with a chance to play the game in the lifesize labyrinth, tour Marina Calamai’s studio, and visit the medieval castle of Poppiano to observe the wine production methods and savour a 1-hour wine tasting. Details at www.marinacalamai.com/eco-oca.
Cinema Odeon Firenze shows Madres Paralelas by Pedro Almodovar from November 1 to 6, with Penelope Cruz in the lead role in the film that explores the journey of two mothers in Madrid. From November 11 to 21, Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch comes to the big screen, featuring Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Frances McDormand, Adrien Brody, Léa Seydoux and others in a stellar cast that chronicles a selection of stories from a newspaper. Films are shown in English, with Italian subtitles. For the full programme, see www.odeonfirenze.com.
On November 22, Faustini Arte Gallery will unveil a personalized exclusive work for Palazzo Tornabuoni by the artist Uliviero Ulivieri. The donation from the gallery will be an occasion for Tornabuoni residents, representing the history of the magnificent palazzo with the work exploring the artist’s vision of “Strafantasia”, which means “more than fantasy”.
The Children’s Lending Library at the St. James Episcopal Church (via Bernardo Rucellai 9) opens every Sunday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm, with only one family unit allowed inside at a time given the small size of the library. All are welcome. See the @stjames Facebook page for more.
The British Institute of Florence (lungarno Guicciardini 9) host the Wednesday Lectures Series both in person and online via Zoom at 6pm each week, with Alan Pascuzzi giving a talk titled ‘The Secret Techniques of the Florentine Masters pt1’ on Nov. 3, Lisa Kaborycha will speak about ‘Jews in 17th Century Florence’ on Nov. 10, Duncan Geddes delivers a lecture called ‘Ward Round at the Uffizi – The infant Christ seen through medical eyes – Not a normal child’ on Nov. 17, and Timothy Verdon speaks about the ‘Religious History of the Duomo’ on Nov. 24. At 5pm on Nov. 5, meet Vanessa Nicolson, author of Angels of Mud. From Nov. 12 to Dec. 18, Fukushima Flowers, an exhibition by Joshua Cosimo, will be on display in the Sala Lungarno, with works reflecting on the nuclear disaster ten years ago. Alexandra Lawrence, Justin Butcher and Francesca Mazzotta host four ‘Speaking Dante’ Zoom sessions on Tuesdays at 6.30pm from Nov. 2 to 23. See www.britishinstitute.it or contact bif@britishinstitute.it for info.
