Newsletter 2

BLENDINGn e w s l e t t e r 2 p a l a z z i S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S O C T . N O V . 2 0 1 1

Breaking newsapicius and DiVa students Take new York by storm and almost get snowed in!By Blending Staff

From October 23 to 30, a team of 14 students and 5 faculty members produced a full week of events featuring the Italian Riviera in

New York City. Events were entirely based on a coastal theme, and took place in the city’s most prestigious food locations such as De

Gustibus Cooking School at Macy’s in Herald Square, Astor Wines & Spirits and the James Beard Foundation. Students also got the

chance to dine as clients at the James Beard Foundation, meet with US wine distributors and producers of event wines, visit the kitchen

of high-end restaurant Cafè Boulud, and even cook with Boulud sous chef Alex Martinez who came to help out at the James Beard

dinner. The team of faculty and staff served over 250 guests at all four events combined, definitely taking New York by storm but not

letting an unusual October snowfall damper the preparations of the final capstone James Beard dinner event on October 30!

Find out more at the PAlAzzI food blog CiboChat: http://blog.apicius.it/?category_name=tuttotoscanajames-beard-foundation-2011

2fall Issue

Photo courtesy of David Andre Weiss

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 2

CUrrenT anD UPCOMing eVenTs

arTs

Upcoming eventsBy Blending Staff

Did you know that modern day banking

was born in Florence? learn all about the

early banks and banking families that ran

Florence and gave rise to a modern day

commodity.

Money and Beauty. Bankers, Botticelli and

the Bonfire of the Vanities

September 17 to January 22, 2012Palazzo Strozzi

info: 055 2645155

www.palazzostrozzi.org

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the

Unification of Italy and discover the role

your home away from home (Tuscany)

played in this important historical event.

Citizens of Italy. First steps of Tuscany in

the Unified States

October 1 to December 20

Archivio di Stato

info: 055 263201

www.archiviodistato.firenze.it

Museums are known for their masterpieces

that take up entire walls and, at times,

rooms. But take a closer look;, explore

tourist- free rooms in the museums, and

you will discover that not all masterpieces

are in plain sight.

The Treasure Rooms. Wonders of the

collectors in the museums of Florence

October 3 to April 15, 2012 Palazzo Medici Riccardi e Museo Bardini,

Museo Stibbert, Museo Horne, Fondazione

Salvatore

Romano, Palazzo Davanzati, Museo

Rodolfo Siviero, Museo Bandini

www.stanzedeitesori.it/

Beautiful Italy. Art and

Identity of the capital cities

from October 11 to March 4, 2012Museo degli Argenti, Galleria

Palatina, Galleria Arte Moderna,

Galleria del Costume

info: 055 23885

www.unannoadarte.it

Exhibition of six paintings by Vasari

from October 13 to January 8, 2012Sala delle Colonne e Sale

dell’Abbondanza, via Bufalini 6

info: 055 2613289 - 055 5384503

www.entecarifirenze.it

The Brooklyn Bridge Moves to italyBy Brittany Benevento

The beautiful ARIA art gallery is showing works by Burhan Dogancay

that focus on unique angles and shots of New York City's Brooklyn

Bridge. The exhibit will be running from September 29 through November

27.

Turning into the entrance of the gallery, one immediately feels very calm.

Surrounded by beautiful landscape with rocks, plants and fountains, the

space is very well put together. Once inside, the grittiness of New York

City hits you immediately. The walls of the gallery are stark white with

only Dogancay’s shots on the walls. There are two rooms with four to five

pictures to each wall.

Each picture has a view of the Brooklyn Bridge that is more amazing than

the previous one; one begins to wonder just how Dogancay could get

such great angles. Some of the photos even evoke uneasiness from their

height and vividness. Any photo that can arise a physical human feeling

is a photo worth seeing.

Upon entering this gallery, be prepared to see a Brooklyn Bridge that

you’ve never seen before. Dogancay makes one open his/her eyes in a

different way toward a monument that had become virtually mundane.

ARIA art gallery presents:

The Brooklyn Bridge as You’ve Never Seen It Before

By Burhan Dogancay

September 29th, 2011 until November 27th, 2011

ARIA Art Gallery

Borgo Santi Apostoli 40 - Firenze, 50123

As briefly mentioned in the Wine News, a piece of Italy moved to NYC

for an entire week! From October 24 through 29, PAlAzzI faculty and

students transplated flavors of the Italian Riviera at prestigious NYC

gastronomic locations.

Read more about it at

http://blog.apicius.it/?category_name=tuttotoscanajames-beard-

foundation-2011.

PHOTO CAPTION: Burhan Dogançay

from the series Brooklyn Bridge-as never seen before

Gelatin silver print, shot in 1986 and printed in 2011

3 OCT-NOV 2011 newsletter 2

Nora SchultzAlex and Becky Chipkin: Whydid you decide to take aresidency program?Nora Schultz: I was selected toparticipate in this fellowship. I washappy to receive this offer after Ihad applied many times toresidencies like this one.

ABC: Why did you choose to dothis residency?NSch: I really wanted to spendsome time somewhere else. Notworry about finances and work onmy artwork. I didn't really knowabout the place [Villa Romana].Angelika Stepken, the director ofthe Villa, really succeeds inkeeping this place lively and open,as guests are invited and events

are happening which are dissolving the confines of this place thatcould otherwise easily become a German enclave in a rather quietcontemporary cultural background of Florence. I really appreciatethis.

ABC: Do you feel integrated in the residency? In Florence?NSch: There is a gap between the Villa and the city of Florence. Iam integrated well with the Villa, but not with the city. I am veryhappy about the whole setup in the Villa; it's a perfect mixture ofvery fruitful and interesting conversation and exchange on the onehand, and on the other there is always the possibility to separateand even isolate which I sometimes need.

ABC: We visited the Villa during the Open Studios on the 10thof September and saw your works in progress. Has your workgone in a new direction since then?NSch: The work I showed in the open studios – I worked with akind of fiction, this idea of Cararra, ordering a stone block and itbeing sent to Firenze. The idea of this way of movement, the ideaof fiction, and the idea of this condensed material. I was alsointerested in locating Cararra outside in the garden [of VillaRomana].

ABC: Do you feel that there are these underground ideas andmovements which are difficult to penetrate?NSch: I am sure there are. There is this autonomy, and I wouldlike to know more about it. Maybe it has to do with this familyconnection also – the idea of strong workers’ associations, andthe fact that they freed themselves of fascism. They have thiscertain power and possibilities which are still somehow there. I, asa tourist, am confronted with this constant talk – also from otherforeign people about the Italian familiarship, and the good food. Itis like these “good ingredients” – which are, I think, a myth. I don’tbelieve that this is the true Italy; I just believe that I cannot reallydive under to see what this is really about. I don’t want to stick inthis criticism about Italy in this very banal way, and at the sametime, I am confronted with the same questions in my own work. First, how I felt that my work was considered here, that my workwas very much related to Arte Povera. It was seen as somethingthat was beautiful, very formalist – which I didn’t think about – itwas really not my topic, and I felt like there was this certain viewthat I didn’t understand. Now, I think that I had received it wrong.

ABC: When did your residency start? When does it end?NSch: I have been here for around 8 months – since the end ofFebruary. It ends at the end of November.

Maria RaponiAlexandra andRebecca Chipkin:Why did youdecide to take aresidencyprogram?Maria Raponi: Oncein a while, it’s niceto be in a differentplace and not haveyour daily life beexactly the same asit normally is. It’s notever really for justone reason. I tend

to work on my own projects, and then I work on communityprojects and sometimes, when I’m working on other projects, I getwrapped up in them. About that time is when I decide I shouldfocus on my own work, and my mind goes to residencies.

ABC: Why did you choose to do this residency?MR: I have an Italian background, but I haven’t spent much timein Italy. So when I heard that there was a residency in Florence,at first I was unsure whether I would want to spend time inFlorence. I was worried – I guess you hear so much aboutFlorence and how it really is this renaissance city; I thought it mightbe weird to stay in a city like that for four months and to be in a bitof a bubble. But at the same time, I thought it would be really niceto have the time and get to see a lot of the works that I studied allthe time and visit them and sort of make work in that city.

ABC: You have been here in Florence since August. Do youfeel integrated in Florence? In the residency?MR: I don't think something like this is possible in such a shorttime. As my time here passes, I do feel my connection to the citydeepening. Small things, like running into people I know in thestreet and random serendipitous conversations with strangers,add layers to my connection with Florence. The school itself isdifferent. I live at F_AIR and through this, I interact with students,professors and staff daily. It has allowed for friendships to developquite easily and has fostered a strong sense of community almostimmediately. From my very first day, everyone at all levels of theschool has gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. I domean all levels of FUA and not just F_AIR. Teaching at DIVA(another department) allows me to connect more personally withpeople involved in other sections of the school and of course mystudents, but my relationship to the school expands constantlythrough the ongoing series of openings/events and though mydaily activities.

ABC: What is your experience like - living almost in a gallery[at F_AIR]?MR: The gallery functions both a walkway for me to get out of myapartment and for the students to get to their classes. There’s thatdaily practice of walking through the gallery. It is changing the wayI would set up my exhibition – it’s not a normal gallery – in a goodway. Its multiple functions are important.

ABC: Has the concept of your work changed from before theresidency started to what you are doing now?MR: Definitely. And I think it always does. When doing a residencyproject, I think it’s strange for me to be in a different site andpropose something and then come here and do it. The work Iproposed is nothing like what I’m gonna make. There are relationsto it. When I was in Dortmund it was the same sort of thing. WhatI ended up doing was very different than what I first proposed. Thisallowed for a bit more conversation.

ABC: When is your exhibit and when does your residency end?MR: My exhibit will open on December 1st. The residency will endbefore the end of December.

Photo courtesy of Maria Raponi

Photo courtesy of Nora Schultz

aBCs of art: Florence, the new Cradle of artists in residenceBy Alex and Becky Chipkin

There are only two residencies in the Florentine contemporary art scene. F_AIR – Florence Artist In Residence, and its gallery, anextension of FUA School of Fine Arts, hosts one artist per semester. Villa Romana, a historic building just outside the city walls, hostsmultiple residents simultaneously. Currently, Maria Raponi (1975 Toronto, CA) is the artist at F_AIR and Nora Schultz (1975 Frankfurt,DE) is one of the artists at Villa Romana. Both F_AIR and Villa Romana give artists a chance to live on their premises and createartwork. These parallel interviews focus on each artist's experience in their respective residencies and in Florence in general.Interviews were conducted in Florence, October 2011

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 4

“ambient reflections: Candida Ferrari”By Megan Standbrook

Nestled quietly on Via dell'Oriuolo, the unassuming Varart Gallery,

from mid-June through mid-October, held within its walls a striking and

innovative exhibition: La Luce della Leggerezza. The artist, Candida

Ferrari, harnesses the power of light as the driving force principle

behind her work.

The pieces are made using pedestrian materials such as scrap

aluminum from retired perfume bottles and plexiglass. The mediums

are constructed in a way that makes them appear rich and elegant.

The works flow across the leveled backdrop of Varart Gallery and

reflect the ambience of their surroundings. Ferraridoes not confine

herself to the traditional notion of the canvas, and the sprawl of pieces

swim and deepen within each layer.

Ferrari is as unafraid of bold color as she is unconventional mediums

- many of the sculptures and paintings have quick, flowing lines of

bright gold, and in some cases, a savage red that evokes a sanguine

connotation. Many of the pieces also emphasize the contrast between light and dark, often placing the two side by side. While exploring

this duality is far from novel, Ferrari manages to be charming and innovative, leaving the viewer fascinated and stunned. The movement

of the light

throughout the gallery very much resembles the flow of water, and Ferrari's makeshift sea

is a tide to get lost in.

Verart Gallery Via dell'Oriuolo 47/49r 50122 FlORENCE

notes from the Venice BiennaleBy Giovanni Bove*

It is really astonishing to find a masterpiece of Italian

Renaissance Art at the Venice Biennale. I don't mean the original

one, I mean a copy as part of a modern installation: Sottopelle,

by Renato Meneghetti. The work is an x-ray detection of the

lamentation of Christ (c.1480) by the Italian Renaissance artist

Andrea Mantegna and of other paintings inspired by the same

topic. Meneghetti’s technique, based on x-ray, is very effective to

reveal the importance of perspective in representing Christ’s

suffering. The subtitle - “Vedere dentro, vedere oltre” - is very

functional to underline this approach. In Mantegna’s work, the

suffering of Christ strikes the spectator’s eye by the original

position of the body (in that period, this topic was represented by

half-length portraits).

By putting x-rays over the paintings, Sottopelle displays how a

modern technique can further enhance the fundamental device

of the perspective. X-rays urge the spectator to consider spatiality

in a completely different way by inviting to the perception that

suffering is not only in the flesh but inside the body as well; that

is to say, “vedere dentro, vedere oltre”.

* Giovanni Bove is an expert of Semiotics and Communication.

For those interested in exploring the subject of "Semiotics in the

Visual Arts," the course will be offered at FUA in future academic

sessions.

Candida Ferrari

La Luce della Leggerezza, 2010

Courtesy of Galleria Varart

Photos courtesy of Giovanni Bove

5 OCT-NOV 2011 newsletter 2

Tuscany and its winesBy Lauren Bushman

Students from Florence University of the Arts caught the tail end of grape harvesting season with a trip to Tuscany this past Saturday.

With an early start at 7:30 AM, students took a bus to Pienza where they enjoyed the beautiful views of the Tuscan hillside just outside

of Siena. A perfect manifestation of a Renaissance town, Pienza was redesigned in 1459 by Pope Pius II according to his wishes for

an “ideal” municipality to serve as his retreat from Rome. Known today for its pecorino cheese, students and tourists alike enjoyed

samplings from the town shops.

Students then traveled to the Bindella winery just outside of Montepulciano. The group got to view the entire winemaking process from

beginning to end. They started with the vineyards that are harvested by hand, then saw the machinery used to press the grapes, and

finished by peering into the wine cellars in which the wine ages for two plus years. After another year spent in the bottle, Bindella winery

considers its wine ready to be labeled and sold. The winery’s motto is “terra vite vita.” (“earth, vines, life.”)

The main event, which students were anticipating all day, was a wine tasting along with a smattering of dishes which included: salami,

toasted bread with olive oil, rice, and cheese. After purchasing a couple bottles of wine, the students were off to their last stop in the

town of Montepulciano. They had the afternoon to enjoy strolling along the hilly cobblestone streets, shop in the artisan stores, and

test their new wine knowledge with a glass of Vino Noblie.

Foodie FlashBy Carey Wong

Carey Wong is a Yelp! Contributer who is sharing her personal

take on the Florentine cuisine.

SemelOverall rating: 4 ½ stars

Category: Italian, Panini

Price Range: €

“The best panino in the world?” Maybe “the most adventurous

panini in Florence” would be more appropriate for Semel’s

selection of unique sandwiches. You can try one of their more

fanciful options, like donkey or boar, if you hunt down the

unmarked doorway on the north end of Piazza lorenzo Ghiberti.

You could walk by a hundred times and not realize it’s there, but it

is magical once you discover it and step inside.

The place is about half the size of my bedroom, adorned like a

hunting cabin with walls covered in antlers and trout-engraved

dishware. When I realized the man behind the counter did not

speak English, I knew I was in trouble. One wrong turn with

anchovies and octopus on the menu, and I would be in for a

surprise. luckily, a couple enjoying their lunch inside spoke

English and took the time to translate each of the panini to me,

eager to boast that you can get things at Semel you can’t get

anywhere else in Florence. I found myself gravitating towards the

pork, but when the owner teased that Americans would never try

the donkey, I just had to get it.

He took a small but fresh roll and carefully spooned what looked

like an intimidating meat stew onto the bread. It came served hot,

keeping with the style of the interior, on top of a mallard duck plate.

Even though he asked what I wanted to drink, I didn’t really have

a choice since there was a glass of red wine in front of me in

seconds. Now this is where you really have to take your time,

because although the portions are small, every bite is delicious.

The bread was soft on the inside, but just crunchy enough on the

outside. Allegedly I was eating donkey with radicchio, but it tasted

Photo by Alessandro Schneider

TraVeL

FOODies

Photos courtesy of lauren Bushman

Photo courtesy of Carey Wong

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 6like a well-seasoned beef stew with peppers, onions, and black

pepper. And I have to admit, the red wine went perfectly with the

meal.

With so many tourist traps in Florence, sitting at one of the three

stools in this tiny, hidden shop made me feel like a true local. Plus

now I can forever say that I have ingested the animal that says

“hee haw” and I don’t regret it! Now how many people can say

that?

Menu Selection: 4 ½ stars

For the lack of options, the selection sure is unique! They have

the basics like: herb pork, veggie stew, fish, and tortello. But some

of the more interesting items included: donkey with radicchio, wild

boar, anchovies with rose petals, and parmesan octopus.

Price/Value: 5 stars

Great value for the quality and novelty of the items found on the

menu, even if the sandwiches are small. A panino ciuco and a

glass of vino rosso came to a total 5€ - what a steal!

Service: 4 ½ stars

If you don’t speak Italian, I might bring a dictionary. Semel is a

risky place to choose randomly if something gets lost in

translation. Also, apparently pairing white wine with donkey is

blasphemous, so he might pour you red regardless of what you

order.

Semel is a lovely place that I immediately felt welcome in, and I

would love to return sometime. Part of its greatness is being the

secret hole-in-the-wall, and they’re not getting a sign anytime

soon. So I challenge you to take the time to find this amazing

place, and maybe even try the boar.

Piazza Ghiberti, 44r, Firenze

(On the north side of the square)

Neighborhood: San Marco

Open for lunch 12-3, closed on Sunday

Da KouOverall Rating: 4 stars

Category: Asian Fusion

Price Range: €€

Good news sushi lovers! You can get all your favorites at Da Kou;

and if you are less inclined to eat that eel and fish stuff, like me,

don’t worry because there are lots of mouth-watering options for

us, too! Before the food, I was immediately excited by their legless

chairs on elevated platforms, so you could sit cross-legged on the

floor while eating your sushi. How authentic!

We were the only ones in the restaurant for an early dinner, which

created a lovely, romantic atmosphere for a date. But regardless

of whom we wish we were with, my roommate and I still had a

great time. After perusing through each item on the menu, she

decided to get the California roll and Ebiten (shrimp tempura) roll;

I got the yakitori (chicken teriyaki), and we split the fried rice with

the mysterious “aromatic meat,” which turned out to just be pork.

Taking into account my Asian background and the authentic Asian

food of my Californian hometown, I was a little weary of what type

of “Japanese fusion” I would encounter so far from home. But I

have to deem this restaurant as delicious after devouring every

morsel of food on that table. I am no sushi expert, but I have been

told it was “delectable,” and our fried rice was some of the best I

have ever had. But what really made the meal, for me, was my

jasmine tea, which was like a little piece of home in a teapot.

Menu Selection: 5 stars

There are lots of options on the menu like: gyoza, salads with

seaweed, sushi, noodles, rice, ramen, seafood, and skewers. If

you’re a tea lover, they’ve got all the bases covered. And if you’re

a sake bomb lover, I’m sure you’ll also leave satisfied.

Price/Value: 3 stars

Da Kou is more on the pricey side, but typical for Asian Fusion.

We paid 9€ for yakitori, 10€ per sushi roll, 8€ for fried rice, 2€ for

pot of jasmine tea, and a 1,50€ coperto per person.

Service: 4 stars

Our waitress worked very hard to make sure she got our special

requests covered, but my yakitori didn’t come until we had finished

the rest of the meal. In true Italian tradition, they let us sit and have

a long, long chat after our meal, but eventually we got a hold of

her for the check.

like Tijuana is the spot for Mexican food lovers in Florence, Da

Kou is mine for Japanese food. I highly recommend everyone,

from Asian-food newbies to veterans, spend an evening here

relishing in delicious food. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to take

advantage of that romantic atmosphere. But for now, my

roommate and I remain the lucky ones.

Via Del Melarancio, 19r, Firenze

Neighborhood: San lorenzo

http://www.dakou.it/

Photo courtesy of Carey Wong

7 OCT-NOV 2011 newsletter 2

wine newsTuscany by the glassCoverage of the wine auction event held October 6, 2011By Allison Miller

The energy was high; you could feel the enthusiasm and excitement in the room; this was a celebration; this was a competition.

This was the annual Tuscan wine auction.

As the sampling of the wines began, I had the opportunity to interview four FUA students from the wine program that were attending

the event. When I asked each student what most took them by surprise since starting their wine program, I got a wonderful array of

input. Valerie Bordelon responded with “I came here expecting to learn how to detect the smell of the wine and how the taste of the

wine effects my palate, but instead I have learned about the anatomy of the grape”. Michael Mischloney added that he was taken

aback by the sophistication of the industry and how many different aspects were at play. He has come to understand that the wine

industry has been overly commercialized and now knows how to look for the small vineyards that still practice the art of fine wine

making. When speaking to Sarah Rizvi, who is studying media marketing for the food industry, she reflected on her experience of the

auction as “something I haven’t ever tasted before”.

This annual event was a perfect blending of local and regional producers, wine experts, commercial producers and distributors, and

wine enthusiasts at every level.

After a couple of hours, there was a noticeable shift in the tempo and mood in the room. The sampling was over, and the serious

business of the auction itself was taking center stage. With complete silence in the room, the auctioneer held everyone’s full attention.

As they moved through the catalog of over 200 bottles of wine, you got the sense that a lot of money was changing hands. The highest

price bottle, Chateau lafite Rothschild 1986, had a starting bid of 15,000 euro. With quite a bit of elegance, several bottles were fought

over which escalated the price even higher. Some were buying for their private collection while others, such as the owners of the

famed Pinchiorri restaurant, sent their representative to purchase bottles for their wine cellar.

True to the Italian way of life, they don’t just make wine. They labor to hone their craft in order to serve you their best artistic rendering

of the taste of Tuscany in a glass.

Harvest in Poggio scaletteBy Jennifer Gross and Yan Cui

Wine Studies professional students Jennifer Gross and Yan Cui

spent a week harvesting at Poggio Scalette, owned and operated

by one of Chianti’s key innovators. Following is an update from

their harvest diary.

We arrived early Monday morning at Poggio Scalette which is a

vineyard nestled in the hills of Greve in Chianti. We were greeted

by Jurij Fiore and his wife who showed us around their beautiful

property. The vineyard sits below the property and is expansive

with over 30 acres of vineyards, 25 acres of olive groves, 25 acres

of crops, 12 acres of woods, and 8 acres of uncultivated areas.

“Greve” in Chianti literally means a small river that runs through

the hills which grace the small town below. The vineyards are

mainly facing southwest and ideal for growing high quality

grapes/wines. The name Podere Poggio Scalette comes from the

hills that it surrounds. When looking down at the vineyard, you can

see a generous slope which looks like stairs that slowly beckon

you towards the town. Most of the grapes grown here are the

notorious Tuscan grape known as the Sangiovese.

On one of the large terraces sits the more then seventy year old

vines that yield the famous Sangiovese. These vines are

considered extremely important as they are clones of the rare

Sangiovese di lamole.

Today, the winery is managed by Fiore's son Jurij. He is now a

qualified Technicien Superieur en Vitocolture and Oenologie a

Beaune, and he is the most humble, passionate, gentle, funny and

sincere person we have ever met. We spent last week together to

observe harvesting and fermentation.We have learned a lot of

things from him.

After four days harvesting at Podere Poggio Scalette, we had

spent lots of time with Jurij's family. We have learned so many

things about wine and viticulture, and we thoroughly enjoyed this

precious experience.

wine & Food appreciationBy Becca Pillola

As we try hard not to stand out as American international students, we tend to change our dress a little. Maybe we try out some

fabulous Italian shoes, a scarf here or there, put away those baseball caps and hooded sweatshirts, but the clothes we wear are not

the only things that make us stand out!

The next time you go out, try observing the role and importance of wine for Italians, as a product involving plenty of science it has

become a central component of the Italian table. Italians have a cultural intuition for wines and how to match them to food. Food and

wine enhance each other and are inextricably entwined in Italian cuisine. Here are a few favorites so far.

For red wine lovers, I would recommend any kind of Santa Cristina. The 2010 I.G.T was great. It has 13% alcohol, but it is not

persistent and the after taste does not last long. There is a fruity, berry, and cherry scent to it. It goes well with pasta, ham, salami

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 8toscano, cheeses, and chocolate. This Santa Cristina is an all day wine. So enjoy it during lunch, with your aperitivo, or with your

dinner and dessert.

For those who enjoy a nice refreshing white wine, I would recommend the Possessioni Bianco from the Veneto region. The producer

is Masi for Serego Alighieri. It is made with 100% garganega grapes. It has a straw yellow color with 12.5% of alcohol. There is a

refreshing, fruity smell to this. It pairs nicely with fresh vegetables, flavored cheeses, anything with lemon dressing, salads, cold pasta

salad, angel hair pasta, and apples with Brie cheese. Enjoy this wine before it gets too cold out there though, it feels much better in

the spring, summer, and early fall weather.

Sit and enjoy these wines and think about their relationship to food culture the next time you’re out wearing those fashionable Italian

clothes, and you will for sure fit in here in Florence!

Watch out for Santa Cristina at our Antinori-Apicius event in New York City that took place on October 25th! Apicius faculty and students

presented at Astor Wines & Spirits, one of NYC’s premier wine retailors. See event info here: http://www.astorcenternyc.com/class-

the-italian-riviera-coastal-flavors-of-tuscany-and-liguria.ac

Milan's Fashion weekBy Megan Looney

Megan looney brings back a sneak peek from Nenette’s Spring collection in Milan and

lets us in on future fashion events in Florence.

Rose pedals were sprinkled across the stage before the brave Nenette models, wearing

stacked skyscraper heels, strutt proudly across the platform and then up the four tiered

mini staircase located in the center of the stage. The mood was set perfectly for the show

last Saturday; French music floating effortlessly over the crowd that was seated outside

during Milan's Fashion Week, awaiting Nenette's spring/summer 2012 collection.

The nearly ten minute long display was cohesive, young, fresh, and flirty. Nenette, a Milan-

based brand created by Marco Fermi and Raffaella Galazzo in 2005, is catered towards

the elegant, modern, contemporary woman. The dream-team featured such trends as:

beautifully draped floral chiffon, dynamic headpieces and scarves, sequined dresses and

skirts, denim t-shirt dresses, lace leggings and bright pops of red with black, white and

tweed.

Some of my favorite looks in the show included a gold sequined mini- dress with an equally

short beige trench. I also enjoyed the beautifully simple neutral toned draped dresses with

bright purple or blue scarves. Tweed was a big hit, and I loved the well-tailored red skinny

pants partnered with a black and white shirt and tweed jacket that hit at the waist.

The collection's presentation ended powerfully with a seemingly retro, aviator-inspired

style, which featured models in neutral, draped dresses, elegant scarves wrapped around

their necks, cat-eye sunglasses, and ear-covering headpieces adorned with flowers.

The overall style in this new collection screamed "effortlessly chic and confident," which

appears to be the underlying theme of everyday Italian fashion.

Florence is where “Made in Italy” fashion originated in the 1950’s with the creation of the

first annual fashion show at Palazzo Pitti. Italian fashion reigned and eventually moved

down to Rome which was teaming with Hollywood actresses filming in Armani or Versace.

In the early 1970’s, the concept of mass production and affordable fashion shifted

everyone’s eyes up to Milan which became a hub for pret-a-porter, or “ready to wear.”

They hosted their first fashion week in 1978 with such designers as Missoni, Fendi and

Valentino and haven’t looked back since.

Fashion Week is an event that happens once or twice a year, all over the world. The Big

Four (New York, Milan, london and Paris) always host two huge shows annually.

Designers showcase their Fall/Winter collections from January through April, and

September through November guests get a glimpse at next season’s Spring/Summer

trends.

But don’t think that Florence has lost its footing. This city continues to be a trade show hot

spot. It was just decided that ModaPrima (a large Italian fashion event held every year)

can call Florence home, as it will be hosted at the Stazione leopolda from here on out.

UPCOMING ITALIAN FASHION EVENTS:

Oct. 29 - Nov. 6: Ferrara Sposi, Wedding Fair, Fiera di Ferrara

Nov. 11-13: UmbriaSposi, wedding show, Umbriafiere

Nov. 26-28: ModaPrima 71, trade show exhibition, Stazione leopolda

Jan. 14-18: Milan Fashion Week, Men’s 2012/2013 Fall/Winter Collections, Milan

For more information on Nenette please go to www.nenette.it. The full fashion show can

also be seen on Grazia's YouTube channel at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMIV3Uzj058&feature=relmfu. Photo by David Andre Weiss

FasHiOn news

Photos courtesy of Megan looney

9 OCT-NOV 2011 newsletter 2

Vows to VintageBy Shakari White, FAST Intern

According to the society of fashion, vintage is something that

will always be admired. Don’t believe me? Just take a trip around

the city of Florence! Vintage shops with different variations of

fashion traced back to earlier centuries are on display and flying

off the shelves. Retro Vintage on Piazza del Fico 20-22 contributes

to the likes of vintage by exposing unique collections of designers

outside of the limelight. The atmosphere is inspired by a retro,

raunchy, over-the edge décor that supports the name of the store.

Anyone who shops there must dare to be adventurous!

In a more casual concept of vintage, Pitti Vintage on Borgo degli

Albizi 72r has the right thing for you. The collections are

specialized in European design, and there's even a pug inspired

collection for dog lovers! The charming boutique has an aura of

1920's inspired dressing quarters that take you back to your dress

up days as a child.

looking for contemporary design? Ellio Ferraro Gallery on 47r Via

del Parione can surely accommodate you. Its reputation to have

the most amazing arrivals has been keeping this store as the talk

of the town. The RSVP list for its customers keeps them inspired

to have the latest designs for their collections. Its hip and cosmic

atmosphere is suitable for the likes of many!

Florence’s newest addition, FlY Vintage Boutique located on

Borgo Pinti 20/r, will also add to the availability of great vintage.

When it comes to the value of vintage, people explore the quality,

brand, and of course, the style. FlY Vintage Boutique aims at a

quality that many other boutiques may not offer: Fashion that

loves You back! Customers can find suitable merchandise that

compliments their interests from any era of fashion.

In most cases, vintage stores offer items that remind you of the

garments you may have seen Queen Victoria of King Henry

wearing in your high school history book. These vintage stores,

along with others unmentioned, take on a more marketable

approach by presenting vintage in a modernized form. Separate

yourself and stand out, yet, look as though you belong in this era.

Take your pick and explore; you never know the love may

pronounce for vintage!

FaCes & PLaCesFaces of FlorenceBy Alessandro Schneider, second year professional photography student

This issue’s images are of people in places: candid-style! The neighborhood location for both is Piazza Santo Spirito. I adopted an

on-the-fly, almost guerilla style approach by entering the locales, taking the shot, and exiting immediately. I didn’t mentally set up the

“shot” but tried to capture the individuals as they entered into my field of vision. These two individuals immediately caught my attention

for their particular styles; they both seemed like interesting characters. First Image (male): Taken at GustaPanino. The male in the

photo is waiting for his sandwich order. Second Image (elderly woman): Taken at Ricchi’s café. The woman wasn’t too happy about

her shot and retorted as I quickly exited from the café.

Best kept secret: aperitivo atBiblioteca delle OblateBy Lauren Bushman

locals and students alike enjoy their evenings at the Biblioteca

delle Oblate, the library located across the street from sQuola at

via dell'Oriuolo 26. However, they are not there to read or study. A

convent turned into a modern library, Oblate harbors one of the

best-kept secrets in the aperitivo world. located on the top floor

terrace, the aperitivo is not only comprised of tastings of pastas,

potatoes, chips, bread, spreads, and quiche, but also boasts an

incredible view of the top of the Duomo.

There are many tables to push together if you want to socialize

with a group of friends, or enjoy an intimate setting for

conversation for two. The evening is fueled with lively music inside

the Caffetteria delle Oblate. In addition, there is live music on the

terrace on Thursday nights. Enjoy a drink, such as the popular

Aperol Spritz mixed with prosecco, for 8 Euro and receive all of

the tastings of appetizers your heart desires.

Aperitivo begins at 6:30 pm Tuesday-Saturday. Grab a free library

card while you are there and enjoy complimentary internet for

three hours on your own device as well as a selection of movies

and CD’s. Of course, there are library books too, for when you

actually do go to the library to work on those grades.

Photos courtesy of Alessandro Schneider

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 110

LOCaL & gLOBaL news

FaCULTY news

Providing a sense of Homethrough Community serviceBy Olivia Johnson

Community Service. What does it mean? It means getting to playwith young children for 4 ½ hours every week according to AshleyOlberding, a community service student at FUA. Ashley volunteersat Canadian Island, a school that teaches English as a secondlanguage to young children.

For your community service, you are working in a school withyoung children. Tell me about that.I love working with children. At home in Memphis, I volunteered ata children’s hospital for a few years, so coming here and workingwith children has brought back so many great memories. Thechildren look up to you, and it feels so great knowing that you’re arole model for them.

Why did you choose to work with children instead of being atour guide or a library assistant?I love children. I have a little sister at home, so working with kidsmade me feel closer to her. The other jobs sound great, but myforte is working with children.

Will it be hard for you to leave “your children” when you aredone with the semester?Definitely. The closer you get to people, the harder it is to leavethem, especially when you will most likely never see them again.

What do you want to take away from your experience atCanadian Island?I definitely think I’ll take home many great memories and a lot ofexperience in working with children. I feel as though I’ll be moreenriched and more in touch with a different culture by workinghere.

gelato and graffiti By Mary Gaule

A couple of weeks ago, my roommates and I eagerly rose before dawn to take a day trip to Cinque Terre. We couldn't wait to exploreone of the many stops on our quest to experience the "real Italy". Fast-forward five hours and our trip, along with our anticipation, had been forced to a stand-still. A strike had stopped our final train toCinque Terre. This wasn't the first time politics had interfered with my study abroad experience. In fact, the very first day of school, the noise madeby a rally protesting newly enforced taxes by the premier forced my class to switch classrooms. What struck me even more than thecacophony outside was my teacher's reaction to the protest. "Being an Italian I wish I was out there," she told us. Before returning home from "almost-Cinque Terre", I felt it was about time questions were asked. Interestingly, our two young tour guides were from opposite ends of the political spectrum. We were able to get two opinions aboutSilvio Berlusconi, the current Italian premier, and the topic of this debate. One of the men argued that the conservative politician shouldbe admired for being a self-made man, that there is nothing wrong in being proud in what you have earned for yourself. The otherman's opinion was that of most Italians I have asked: that Berlusconi is a corrupt man who is an embarrassment to Italy and whosedays should be numbered. Although I don't feel educated enough to form an opinion of Berlusconi myself, my friends and I can no longer claim that what is goingon in Italy has nothing to do with us. From the moment we stepped off the plane, it had something to do with us. To experience the realItaly that we yearn for, it is important to know what makes its inhabitants tick. What pleases them in life, as well as what angers themenough to protest. Feel free to enjoy the world-famous gelato, but don't ignore the graffiti screaming off the beautiful Florentine walls.

Faculty spotlight: andreaMorgantiBy Olivia Johnson

Andrea Morganti, professor of Human Resource Management

at Florence University of the Arts, is way more than just a

professor. He is also a full-time student, worker at Coopertiva for

special needs, and an avid soccer fan.

Andrea, how long have you been teaching here at FUA and

what are you currently teaching?

I have been teaching for one year and a half. One of my teachers

told me that FUA was looking for a teacher for Human Resource

Management and that he thought of me because of my degree

and my English. I started teaching May 2010. It was a summer

session, so I taught class every day. I then taught the Fall and

Spring sessions, skipped Summer 2011, and am teaching this Fall.

I only teach Human Resource Management now, but I hope to add

another class once my work schedule slows down.

What is your favorite thing about teaching?

To sit with the students and try to transfer something to them. I

don't like to be called a professor because I learn from the

students too. For example, if you get change for 10 euro and one

person gets a 10 euro bill and the other gets two 5 euro bills, you

each leave with the same thing. In teaching, you go away with

two ideas: one from yourself and one from the students. It's a

growth for both. I think school is one of the most important things

in life, ya know? It's like an exchange between students and

teacher, especially with my subject because you speak a lot about

people. I'm a little egoistic, so I feel useful to them.

You are not a professor that stands up and lectures the class

for two hours like many others professors. Why not?

I think it's boring and not useful. If it's only a one-way

communication, you lose people- even after 5 minutes... if it's

interesting! I also think it's too easy for the students to just sit and

listen. I am a student, so I know, I understand. If you are watching

TV, each scene changes every 2-3 seconds. Teachers need to

do that. One of my favorite sayings is, “If you say, you will forget;

if you do, you will remember.” I try to teach thinking of that. I like

to introduce the topic, and then give the students a case study

where they can act out the roles themselves.

What other activities are you involved in professionally?

Most of my time, like 90%, is spent in banks such as the Bank of

Florence. I also take training and development courses for

industrial companies. On the days I'm not teaching, I am in

classes all day. I start at 8:30 in the morning and get done at 5:00.

I'm a busy person. I also work with special needs at Coopertiva

1 1 OCT-NOV 2011 newsletter 2

about eight hours a week.

If a student wanted to welcome more involved in thecommunity, what do you suggest they do? Start to speak Italian. Put yourself in a situation where you haveto. You will be surprised what you know. Also, stay with Italians(or non-Americans) if you can. It's good to see Florence in adifferent way. When I studied abroad in Barcelona, I lived witheight guys in one apartment; I was the only Italian. It made merealize my Florentine values more, but also changed myperspective on life as well. Students here should try to get thatfeeling, too. Also, if you have a hobby, follow it here. Just go outand follow it! You're a soccer fan. What are the top games students should

see? And most importantly, will Fiorentina beat Cesena nextweek?The best game is when we win. (laughs) The number one gameI would see is Fiorentina vs. Juventus. They are our biggestenemy; Fiorentina hate Juventus supporters. It is a big big rivalrythat has gone on for 30 years. Fiorentina will be playing atJuventus, but on October 26, go to the bar/restaurant and watchit on TV. It will be crazy! I would also recommend seeingFiorentina vs. Inter-Milan on November 20 or Roma on December4. I don't know if we will win. We have to be very careful aboutMutu Adrian. He is an ex-Fiorentina; a fantastic player. Usually,the ex-players always make the goals against us, so we mustwatch out for him.

DO’s anD DOn’Ts

iT’s O.k. iF YOU...

By Lauren Bushman

Do: Plan your own day trip to lucca and use multiple modes of transportation - the best way to get around once you’ve enjoyed the

train ride in is to rent a bike for 3 Euro/hour.

Do: Talk to the man at the tabacchi when buying stamps, even in broken Italian.

Do: Check out the audio guides at the Uffizi so you don’t get lost in the tour groups and miss the best paintings.

Do: Enjoy the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo at noon, dusk, and night. Hit all three for the best picture collage.

Do: Ask to sample that gelato you’ve been thinking about before actually committing to it.

Don’t: Overpay for a cappuccino - on a student budget it is possible to find a quality hot drink for 0.90 to 2 Euro. Get out of the touristy

areas and cross the river to find better prices and drink twice as much for the same amount!

Don’t: Shop at over-priced grocery stores when you could go enjoy the fresh air and even fresher produce at Sant’ Ambrogio or San

lorenzo market. Make sure to stop by the dried fruit section for fruit that will last twice as long.

Don’t: Keep your bathroom musty and breed mosquitos - open your window and enjoy the Firenze breeze.

Don’t: Feel like you have to stay at the museums for hours and hours because you paid an entrance fee. Invest in a student museum

pass at the front desk in DIVA (25 Euro) and allow yourself to see the sites, if only for an hour, or study in a quiet space.

By Megan Looney… don’t associate yourself with “those tourists” after living here for only one week.… consider your daily exercise walking to class.… are intimidated (and a little frightened) to order meat in the open markets.… find the “ciao bella’s” to be an ego-boost sometimes.… buy the wrong thing alla farmacia because you’re tired of asking for help with the labels.… still get lost.… still only know how to cook pasta.… wondered why people said “prego” to let you go first. (It also means “after you”)… still don’t understand how Italian women walk on cobblestones in 4” inch heels.… don’t ever want to leave.

sTUDenT serViCes

student spotlight: Brianna BondBy Lindsay La Marca

The student body of FUA has a new fellow student, Brianna

Bond, to thank her for all of her support, dedication and

volunteering that she has given to the school. Brianna is a certified

yoga instructor and has recently volunteered to teach different

yoga classes throughout the week. I recently sat down with

Brianna to take a further look into how yoga affects her life and

any advice she might have for others.

Q: When did you get into yoga?

A: I started in high school when I had gotten injured from playing

sports. My mom had suggested it to me, and I found it calming.

Q: What made you want to become a yoga instructor? When

did you become officially certified?

A: I became an instructor because I wanted to learn more about

the art of yoga and I have always enjoyed teaching people. I

became officially certified in January 2010.

Q: What advice would you give to people interested in

starting yoga?

A: In general, it is good to try different styles. It has become very

westernized and now there are lots of styles. Yoga can be anything

from very calming to very aggressive. It is so important to try more

than one kind of yoga and, like anything, you have to be patient

and keep an open mind.

For those students staying longer

than the Fall 2011 semester, be

on the lookout for the FAB club

coming next semester which will

introduce not only yoga classes

but a safe haven from the chaos

of studying abroad. According to

Brianna, who studied abroad as

Creatingindependence inFlorenceBy Lindsay La Marca

Upon our arrival to Florence, we were all

anxious about many things: classes,

professors, settling into a new community.

For me, it was most certainly our new

roommates and apartments. What would

our roommates be like? Would we all get

along? How big or small was our

apartment? Would it be what we were

expecting?

Well, I can honestly say the roommate

situation worked out for the best. I love my

roommates and would not trade them for

the world. While I certainly cannot complain

about our apartment, I can, however, say it

was not what I was expecting. The

European style of our apartments should

not have been a shock to me, but for some

reason it was.

There are many things that would have

been available to me back at home that are

rare here in Europe, like household

appliances for example. These items may

be less common for many reasons; for

starters, European houses and cities are

centuries older than those in the United

States. Therefore, it is harder to wire or

reconstruct the houses and apartments for

things like air conditioning that our more

modern US homes may have. However,

modern does not necessarily mean better.

I, for one, would never be able to find the

rich history in my hometown. Another

positive for having historical homes is that

it is so much more environmentally friendly.

One upside to our apartment is the fact that

we are totally alone. Whether you

commute from your home or live at a

university dorm, this is an entirely different

experience for us because there are no

Resident Assistants (R.A’s), parents,

siblings or maybe even grandparents that

you see on the daily at home. When asked

to compare living in apartments with living

in dorms, Sam Kolesnik responded by

saying, "I definitely prefer apartments to the

school dorms because you just have so

much more freedom living in an

apartment."

This really gives us the opportunity to

become one with the Florentine community

because we are living amongst native

Italians. In addition, we are not sheltered

in the normal university life but actually

living in a famous city that offers incredible

amounts of art and architecture

everywhere we turn. We also have our

own kitchen, which may be new for many

of us. This means trying to figure out what

to make for dinner every day because the

same dishes get boring after a while.

Coming to Florence definitely made me

more independent .

ganzO newsThursday November 10: SANTACRISTINA NIGHTPaul Salmeri, Ganzo's Sous Chef andauthor of the Santa Cristina recipe blog,and the Master students of Apicius willbring to the table his creations which areinspired to compliment one of Antinori'sbest known wines.

Monday November 14: WINE CLUBWine Club is an opportunity to taste someof Italy’s highest quality wines in a fun,friendly and social atmosphere. Thisweek's theme: From the Town of Romeoand Juliet: the lovely Amarone.

Wednesday November 16: AperiArt Antonia Barbarossa -Nouvelle Flâneurs (meaning“contemporary urban studies”)The title comes from Painters of ModernTimes by Charles Baudelaire, whichdiscusses the way of life during

Impressionist. This exhibit by AntoniaBarbarossa presents not only visions of thecity but most importantly the loneliness ofits inhabitants rendered by the materialsand colors, mostly shades of gray, used inthe artworks. The city is everywhere, evenif not present in the work it manifests itselfthrough its inhabitants. This exhibit will beopened by Dott. Marco Borri, ex-director ofSpecola dell’Università di Firenze.

Thursday November 17: CUCINAREGIONALE: PIEMONTEPiedmont’s long history of both noble andtraditional cuisine lends itself to some ofmost delectable creations in Italiangastronomy. Experience the best of thishybrid cuisine on our night dedicated to theculinary delicacies of Piedmont.

Saturday, November 19, 8:45 pm:culture beyond borders: food forpeace

Ganzo is proud to present a special menuby Apicius Alumni Shaul Paloge. ChefPaloge's menu is not only about theculinary traditions of his native Israel, butalso reflects the project Chefs for Peace,which promotes integration between Araband Hebrew cultures through cuisine.Come take part is this unique culinaryevent that will both open your mind andexcite your palate.

Wednesday November 23, 6:00 pm:AperiganzoJoin us for an exceptional aperitivo buffetfull of international and Italian flavorsprepared by the Culinary students fromApicius, cocktails, and a selection ofextraordinary wines at the Apicius winecorner. This week features wines from theSouthern Italian producer MastroBerardino: Fiano di Avellino, Greco ditufo,and Taurasi

newsletter 2 OCT-NOV 2011 112an undergrad, “[She] knows how hectic studying abroad can be. It will offer space for people that would give them a break from all the

immersion. A safe space where people can gather and share recipes, goals, settling in issues and learn how they can help each other

adjust.”

"Feedback from former students confirmed that they wanted to maintain a healthy lifestyle while studying in Italy. They also wanted to

have fun and make new friends. Hence, the creation of the FAB Club! We're extrememly excited about implementing this new avenue

for bring students together in the Spring," Kandace Phyall, Student life Manager.

Blending NewsletterSupplemento di Blending Magazine

Reg. Trib. di Firenze n° 5844

del 29 luglio 2011

Anno I - Numero 2 - Novembre 2011

EditoreFlorence Campus per INGORDA Editore

Via Alfonso la Marmora 39, 50121 Firenze

RedazioneCorso Tintori 21, 50121 Firenze

Tel. 055-0332745

Stampato in proprio

Blending MastheadEditor-in-Chief Matteo Brogi, Senior EditorGrace Joh, Copy Editing Olivia Johnson and

Rebecca Valpy

Blending is a monthly newsletter created with

and for Palazzi FAIE students,

in collaboration with the Student Services

department of Palazzi.

For information [email protected]

Newsletters can be viewed at

www.florencecampus.it/newsletters

www.palazziflorence.com