Innovative exhibition in Florence, at Giorgio Vasari's house with video installation by Bill Viola

"500 OGGI Le Vite dell’Arte in Contemporanea" is a contemporary art project curated by Melania Lanzini and dedicated as part of the celebrations for the fifth centenary of the birth of Giorgio Vasari. Through an innovative exhibition that includes ten national and international artists, established and emerging who’s work with installation as a medium capable of embracing all other forms of art, 500 OGGI Le Vite dell’Arte in Contemporanea opens its doors to an exceptional setting in the palace that was once the former residence of Giorgio Vasari in Florence, close to Santa Croce.

The video installation Acceptance by internationally renowned and pioneering American video artist Bill Viola will be presented in the exhibition by FIRENZE ARTI VISIVE School of Fine Arts and will complement this important and prestigious event.
Credits for the image:
Bill Viola, Acceptance, 2008
Video in bianco e nero ad alta risoluzione su schermo al plasma cm 155,5 x 92,5 x 12,7
Performer: Weba Garretson
Foto: Kira Perov
8:14 minutes

During the inauguration the Sala delle Arti e degli Artisti will be open to the public. The Salon’s interior includes floor to ceiling fresco’s painted by Vasari and is considered one of Florence’s hidden treasures of the 16th century.

Installations by: Bill Viola, Melania Lanzini, Charles Loverme, Federica Gonnelli, Paolo Lauri, Marta Luppi, Fabio Chiantini, Avio Musetti, Stefano Castrucci & Piero Mazzoni.

Exhibition Hours

_Florence 22/30 October 2011

_Borgo Santa Croce, 8

_Opening: 22 October 2011 at 6:00 pm

Admittance to exhibition with invitation only. You can download and print the invitation from the website www.500oggi.org Open Monday thru Friday 4:00pm to 8:00pm by appointment only. During the gallery hours, the artists will accompany visitors along the path of the exhibition.

Contact T: 334 9029153

E: info@500oggi.org

Good wine bar in Florence where you can eat for cheap

Last saturday I went to Sweet Bar, a small wine bar not far from the center of Florence. It's a cosy place owned by 3 smart guys. You can find some of the best wine in town and some dishes from the kitchen: appetizers, first courses and some salads with vegetables, ham, fish... I ordered a gorgeous "Tagliatelle con tartufo" (=with truffle). Excellent! Only 12 euros.

The wine bar is nice, full of local people: young couples, guys coming out from the gym, moms with kids... If you don't speak italian don't worry, ask of Aliosha: he speaks english!

Sweet Bar (here on Foursquare)

via di Ripoli 8-10/r via Giampaolo Orsini

tel. 055.6587051

Rare plant exhibition and market in Tuscany

This weekend there will be "Botanica": the first exhibition and market of rare plants and collector’s plants. It combines artistic and scientific topics with the knowledge and the safeguard of the natural environment, particularly of the ancient and forgotten varieties of plants.

The monumental Park of Medicean Villa Caruso, close to Florence, will house on this occasion a great selection of flowers, shrubs, ornamental plants and fruit-bearing plants together with the association of the typical products of the florentine hills. Typical products and floriculture belong since ever to our heritage and therefore the development of our land as a resource is one of the main topic of the Public Administration of Lastra a Signa who stakes on the local peculiarities to achieve a sustainable development, according to the regional policies on agriculture. 

Entrance fee: 3 euros.

Massimo Sestini Photography Exhibition in the brand new Audi showroom in Florence

Tomorrow afternoon there will be the opening of the photography exhibition by italian reporter Massimo Sestini, that will take place in the new Audi showroom in Florence, owned by Volkswagen Group Firenze. The artist will present to the press his masterpieces and best pictures.

It's October... or July?

Never remember to have an October with this hot weather!!! It seems like it were July. Yesterday you could go to the seaside and swim! Today it's still 30° C degrees, that is more or less 86 °F (Fahrenheit). I wish I should't have to work. I took this picture of the Dome just few minutes ago...

Gucci museum in Florence

Tonight there will be the big event: the opening of Gucci Museum in the center of Florence! A special party will take places in central Piazza della Signoria square, with a very limited VIP list (only 250 guests) and the live performance of Blondie...

Live! when the art meets the rock music

You have still some days to visit the excellent exhibition devoted to rock music in parallel with the contemporary art: Live! art meets rock music.

At Pecci Contemporary Art Museum of Prato (close to Florence) you can admire the original guitars, the LP covers, many pictures and videos of many rockstars (from David Bowie, to the Pink Floyds, from Sex pistols to U2) that are compared with the Abstract art, the sculpture and contemporary paintings of artists as Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Basquiat, Andy Warhol.

An history that starts from 1969, the year of Woodstock and of the last live performance of the Beatles (above the Apple Records Roof building) and goes on through the 80s, the 90s and terminates in the 2009, the date of the death of Michael Jackson, maybe the last pop star we had, painted by David Lachapelle.

The exhibition ends at the 16th of September, when there will be a great party with MTV and Ceres.
Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci
Viale della Repubblica 277, Prato
Tel. +39 0574 5317 
Free entrance.