♦ What to say? What to share?
I was up early and on my way to a museum exhibit a little over a week ago and, once again, stopped in my tracks by the beauty of the moment…at a new day dawning here in Firenze…
It’s hard to know what to share and what to say these days…and, in fact, I have been struggling for many weeks…being here certainly doesn’t distance me from what is going on in the USA or anywhere else.
How to hold it all…the emotional snarl of profound sadness frustration anger disbelief…and then the serenity and hope of Buddhist monks on their “Walk for Peace” from Texas to Washington DC. It’s difficult not to be on the verge of tears these days; the tragic and horrific acts of violence juxtaposed with experiencing profound beauty…all that humanity is capable of.
♦ Where to find a sense of solace?
That is, of course, very personal. Navigating the emotional spectrum from rage and frustration…to tears to hope…to putting this into some form of constructive action “what can I do!?”...even if it’s just making calls and keeping myself informed but staying balanced, not succumbing to the mind-numbing barrage of appalling updates and “news” and falling into the pit of despair or pretending everything is “life as usual” – because it is not.
♥ My decision to share beauty…
You must know by now that I love art and one of the greatest gifts and joys of being here is visiting museums and, whenever I can, special exhibitions (in addition to continuing to immerse in art history seminars and reading).
Recently I returned to a simply (and literally) divine exhibit here in Firenze – Fra Angelico – whose heavenly and radiant images evoke a heartfelt reverence and yes, solace and comfort.
Visiting this beautifully curated exhibition twice after a deep dive with Alexandra Lawrence (art history lecturer extraordinaire!) into Fra Angelico’s life and story, my appreciation and experience was compounded exponentially…I was left speechless.
Angelic images…divine golden wings…
A few days later, inspiration came from an unexpected source – an exhibit entitled “Toulouse-Lautrec – A Journey through the Paris of the Belle Epoque” held at the Museo degli Innocenti. The Innocenti (which is a very worthwhile museum to visit anytime) hosts excellent special exhibitions and this was no exception.
He captured the life he loved…the exuberant life of the cafes, the nightclubs, the dancers of the city of light at the end of the 19th century…
It just so happens that I have been a Toulouse-Lautrec fan for decades – yes, decades! I attended a special exhibition in his honor in Rovigo a few years ago but I wouldn’t think of missing another opportunity to learn even more about him and enjoy more of his works…and I did!
Why inspiring you may ask? His story, his life…his art and his talent are truly unique and exceptional. And (much like another favorite, Frida Kahlo) despite incredible physical (and therefore emotional and psychological) challenges…he created and the beauty endures.
A footnote about Museo degli Innocenti – admission to the museum is included with the special exhibit entry. Inasmuch as I have visited many times and wrote about it here on my blog, the history and story never ceases to be touching. I encourage you to read my blog post as well as Joseph Luzzi’s recently published book “The Innocents of Florence – The Renaissance Discovery of Childhood”, about the Innocenti and the story of how this hospital/orphanage cared for thousands of abandoned/orphaned children.
The Madonna of the Innocenti and the famous swaddled baby by Della Robbia, symbol of the Innocenti
In addition to sharing the museum’s history, there was a special exhibit about the archive of some of the thousands of “signs”, i.e., tokens/identifications that record and preserve the memories of so many of the innocents. These remembrances that were left with the abandoned child – usually a piece of jewelry or a medal, often broken in half – were recorded and kept in envelopes and files. The parent would keep the other half in hopes that they could one day return to claim their child.
The museum has thousands of these tokens…you can view many of them in drawers with the names and date they came to the orphanage. Thousands of stories, every envelope a story of heartbreak…it is truly touching and heartrending.
♥ And now…
So, I take a deep breath and continue to reach out to you…bringing a little beauty to you and maybe a little inspiration, too?
Please stay in touch – very soon I will be visiting a special Chagall exhibit (at Palazzo Diamante in Ferrara) and “Belle Epoque” (at Palazzo Blu in Pisa) – both only an hour train ride from Firenze…and, of course, staying updated on what’s happening and what’s new!
♥ Ti aspettiamo…
Yes, we are here, waiting for YOU with open arms! Your Boots on the Ground in the Boot and the fabulous local guides/travel experts I partner with are here!
Despite all of the chaos and uncertainty, or maybe because of it (?), people are planning, people are traveling, people are coming to Italy! Maybe it’s a sense of urgency or “what are we waiting for?”…but whatever the reason, rationale or motivation, people are planning their vacations. Those dreams taken off the list of “maybe someday” and moved to “why not now?”
And I say to you, “why not now??”
Pronto? Ready? Andiamo! Let’s GO!
