Geniusloci catalog

More than 400 years ago, Galileo Galilei forever changed the

world by deepening our understanding of it. In addition to his

invaluable scientifi c discoveries, his creative method of exploration,

revolutionary ideas, and intellectually rebellious character

caused a shift in critical thinking that still ripples today.

Galileo’s presence in Florence left an indelible mark of brilliance

on the city. Because of this, he is inextricably linked to its genius

loci, the collective creative spirit that is unique to Florence.

For this exhibition, students of street photography, interior

design, videomaking, and illustration and cartooning explored

the relationship between cultural context and creativity, revealing

their individualistic interpretations of Florence’s genius loci.

Genius loci is not a fi xed refl ection of the past, but is instead an

ever-changing quality that is enhanced by those who engage

with it. By visually representing genius loci, these students have

helped shape and preserve the creative heart of Florence.

Lillie Strudthoff

GENIUS LOCI FLORENCE AND GALILEO

GENIUS LOCI FLORENCE AND GALILEO CATALOG STUDENT EXHIBIT FALL 2014

DACIA CARTERWaterloo, Iowa, USA

University of Northern Iowa

This project is titled On The Way Encounters.

Its focus is on the minorities of Firenze, specifically,

the African culture. I could only use gestures to ask to take

their pictures and many declined, but those who agreed

were able to tell their story through their eyes and were able

to communicate with me through their expressions

which was much more than words itself.

Diva/ Ideas Street Photography








NEAL JOHNSONWilton, Iowa, USA


My street photography project is titled Workers of Firenze

Anyone who was working hard, whether it be doing their

job or just being a human, was a viable subject.

The city is full of people who are trying to make enough money to survive,

so it was very neat to dive into those people’s days

and discover what they were doing.











CHELSEA KOZMAAustin, Texas, USA

Clemson University South Carolina

My artwork takes a satirical view of the Last Supper painting by inserting geniuses

taken from different historical periods all gathered around Jesus. In my work,

I deconstruct the idea that geniuses, although not accepted by society during

their times, speak the truth. In the case of many of these geniuses, religious

figures did not agree with their life’s work, having engaged subjects as diverse

as the civil rights movement, appreciation of the human figure, and classical

architecture. However, all of these concepts are now widely accepted and

have evolved to even become acceptable in society and the church. My work

reproduces familiar visual signs, arranging them into new conceptually layered

pieces in order to convey this idea of the Last Convention where great thinkers

can speak at will without judgment or threat to their ideas.

BRIANNA GREENWELLGeorgetown, Texas, USA

Baylor University

Art has been used for centuries to promote products, goals, and ideas. My work

focuses primarily on the iconic images we recognize today and how Galileo’s

theories can be promoted through the use of the same format and techniques.

Galileo became the face of a movement and the face of change. His work in

philosophy, mathematics, engineering, and astronomy paved the way for new

methods of thinking to be explored and for existing theories to be tested. The

use of propaganda was to highlight the political struggle of the time between

the two clashing philosophical ideas, heliocentricism and geocentricism.

The works were also created to simulate commercialized images so that

you would believe that his message was not just for the upper class but

for the common people. Galileo’s theory would never have been accepted

in his time because of the church’s support of geocentricism, but

his theories managed to survive and develop until today.

Diva/ Ideas I l lustrat ion And Cartooning Arts


BRIANNA GREENWELLGeorgetown, Texas, USA

Baylor University

We Can Discover

Digital Media

50 x 70 cm

Diva/ Ideas I l lustrat ion And Cartooning Arts


ELIZABETH RAGOLafayette, California, USA

Baylor University

These three pieces show Galileo hard at work in his lab

one evening. He gets to a point where he is willing

to try anything to get his results. A tryptic, these three

pieces are drawn in a Victorian style, but put

on an antique paper background and done in sanguine to be reminiscent of

Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo-type drawings. Genio Ubriaco is about

the creative process and the necessity for any artist to push themselves

to the far end of insanity in order to make a break through.

Three Drawings

Digital Media

50 x 70 cm

Diva Ideas I l lustrat ion And Cartooning Arts

AMANDA RICCIARDICamden, New Jersey, USA

Florence University of the Arts

Finding the genius loci of a place is a difficult task to communicate.

To see a “spirit” of Florence, such an old city FULL of art and character,

is incredibly endless. The first challenge when communicating this

concept is how do I narrow down my story, to just one topic, in a city

with infinite spirit? My first step to the solution was research... my

solution was to tell the story of human existence not being the center,

rather human existence merely being part of a greater universe.

Genius Loci

Video and audio

Diva/ Ideas Mult imedia Studio I


LAUREN FROMINHollywood, Florida, USA


Being new to video production, conceptualizing a theme was challenging

for me. As a newcoming to proper video techniques, it was difficult to

create a moodboard and storyboard. Figuring out where to shoot was

stressful too, since Florence is a hotbed of unique locations and history.

Once all the types of shots were taught to the class and upon

visiting several locations that embodied the Genius Loci

ideals, it was possibile to organize the production plan.

The Search for Genus Loci

Video and audio


RAMZI MALOUFBeirut, Lebanon


During the pre-production stage of the Genius Loci project,

I was very confused. I didn’t know what I was going to do,

but I knew it had something to do with nature, since I am always

inspired by God’s creations...the hard part was connecting Genius

Loci to Galileo in a single video, but at the end it was a challenging

concept, with a lot of options and things to do and places to visit..

..how beautiful a city can be, when it has a lot of green within it!

The city that inspired Galileo Galilei

Video and audio


GEOFFREY PONCELETBelgium


During the production of this video, I first needed to understand the

concept of Genius Loci. Fortunately, the exploration made me think

of a place I love, here in Florence: the banks of the Arno river.

As we were discovering more and more about this concept, I was afraid it

wouldn’t be fit, because nobody “lives” there nor could tell me its story.

Inspiration

Video and audio


BRIAN POTOPOWICZNew York City, NY, USA


Initial challenges for Genius Loci were represented by

capturing enough emotions and content for the story.

During pre-production I planned many of my shots and left some open.

If I had more time, I would reshoot some earlier timelapse...I think my

concept was well thought-out, but the execution can be tough.

In the end it was a great experience.

Genius Loci Galileo

Video and audio


VALENTINA GONZALEZBarranquilla, Colombia


Florence, Eternal Inspiration

Video and audio

Diva Ideas Mult imedia Studio I

Hotel CellaiThe Cellai Boutique Hotel in Florence, is in via XXVII Aprile, 14. Not far from Piazza San Marco

and Piazza dell’Indipendenza it is in the historical center of the city. The Hotel is located in the

heart of historic Florence, surrounded by monuments, churches and buildings of extraordinary

beauty. All the most interesting and evocative city sites are within a short walking distance,

passing through little streets full of charm and mystery. The 58 individually decorated

guestrooms at the Cellai Boutique Hotel feature original antiques, warm lighting and elegant

classic-contemporary touch, original artworks, refined prints, and tasteful Italian fabrics.

Genius Loci: Florence And GalileoGalileo Galilei was an astronomer, physicist, engineer, mathematician, and philosopher.

Despite his contemporaries’ reluctance to accept his ideas at the time, he is

now viewed as “the Father of Modern Science.” Galileo’s immense scientific and

cultural contributions have become a crucial part of Florence’s genius loci.

Genius loci is defined as “the prevailing character or atmosphere of a place.” It is an intangible

quality, the collective spirit of inspiration that is inextricably linked to a unique location.

Genius loci manifests itself in individualistic ways, but it can only be found through intellectual

exploration and the pursuit of knowledge. In these projects students explore this relationship

between cultural context and creativity. How can the traces of brilliance left behind by

historical figures shape the character of a city and the creative pursuits of its inhabitants?

How can one discover genius loci without merely seeing it as a fixed reflection of the past?

This is an opportunity to define a different concept of the genius loci of Florence.

Diva/ Ideas Intermediate Inter ior Design

Project of a Room for Cellai Boutique Hotel


REBECCA BOHLSMacedonia, Ohio, USA

Endicott College

DANIELLE BOUCHERBedford, New Hampshire, USA

Endicott College

KAITLIN DESBIENSMidland Park, New Jersey, USA

Endicott College

CHRISTINE DONOHOEWoburn, Massachusetts, USA

Endicott College


LAUREN ECKERSaratoga Springs, New York, USA

Endicott College

TAYLOR FARRELLColumbia, South Carolina, USA

Winthrop University

TEAGAN FORTUNEEssex Junction, Vermont, USA

Endicott College

CHELSEA GLYNNMacedonia, Ohio, USA

Endicott College



SABINA GRASSOCumberland Foreside, Maine, USA

Endicott College

STEPHANIE LOWEWest Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Endicott College

AMANDA MERSEREAUManchester, New Hampshire, USA

Endicott College

COURTNEY MUSSELLVineyard Haven, Massachusetts, USA

Endicott College

SARAH NARBURGHCicero, New York, USA

Endicott College

JOHANNA PICARIELLOMarblehead, Massachusetts, USA

Endicott College

LAURA VARJABEDIANMiddleborough, Massachusetts, USA

Endicott College

LAURA WUNSCHAlbany, New York, USA

Endicott College



Gabriella Ganugi

PALAZZI and FUA President

Thomas Brownlees

FUA Academic Offi ce and Conference Curator

David Weiss

DIVA Chair

Giulio Vinci

DIVA and IDEAS Academic Coordinator

Enrica Quaranta

DIVA staff

Francesca Gassani

IDEAS staff

Lillie Strudthoff

DIVA Intern

DIVA

Jacopo Santini

Street Photography

Ivka Markovic

Illustration and Cartooning Arts

Juri Ciani

Introduction to Creative Videomaking

Kirsten Hills

Multimedia Studio I

IDEAS

Giulio Vinci

Intermediate Interior Design

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE

FUA COMMUNICATIONS

& MARKETING OFFICE

November 2014

DIVA/IDEAS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Documents

Geniusloci catalog