Centre for Contemporary Culture at Palazzo Strozzi
Palazzo Strozzi
PRESENTATION / Retreat from Reality
Thursday, April 12, at 18:00
Project Presentation Retreat from Reality
On the occasion of the exhibition, American Dreamers. Reality and Imagination in American Contemporary Art, the CCC Strozzina developed a special program, Retreat from Reality, dedicated to American students who experience a period of artistic and cultural growth in the city of Florence.
The project involves art instructors leading different paths of study of six foreign universities in the city of Florence to initiate a shared reflection on the issues faced by artists of the exhibition, American Dreamers. While maintaining their own teaching style, each instructor appropriated teaching materials provided by the CCC Strozzina to explore the theme of Retreat from Reality, and had the option to have guided tours to the exhibition.
At the end of the project the involved teachers selected the students who were best able to interpret and develop the theme. The most representative artworks will be presented at a public conference to be held in English on Thursday, April 12 at 18.00 in the halls of CCC Strozzina (free admission).
The project was divided into three phases.
First Phase (January to March)
The work of artists of the exhibition, American Dreamers, is examined to develop a deeper understanding of the theme of Retreat from Reality. The CCC Strozzina has provided educational materials with which each instructor has made use of in classroom activities. The teachers involved have addressed the theme according to their own teaching styles, guiding students in heterogeneous execution of works (photography, painting, installation, performance).
Second Phase (March-April)
In order to analyze the exhibition with a different perspective than that addressed in the classroom, the students visited American Dreamers for further study.
Third Phase (April 12th)
Evening public presentation of the projects in the halls of CCC Strozzina.
Students will illustrate, through a gallery of images, their personal insights and the characteristics of their own creation.
The program was developed in collaboration with:
CAPA – International Education, SACI – Studio Art Center, Florence, Syracuse University, New York University, FUA – Florence Unversity of the Arts, Washington University in St. Louis – Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
Teachers who have joined the project:
Stefania Talini, Kirsten Stromberg, Lauwerence C. Davis (Syracuse University)
Oliviero Draghi, Jamie Linda Morris (CAPA)
Lorenzo Pezzatini (SACI)
Patrice Lombardi, Alessandra Capodacqua, Giuseppe Toscano (New York University)
Lucia Giardino, Lukas Machalický (FUA)
Regan Wheat, Lindsey Stouffer (Washington University in St. Louis)
