The Transformative Power of Art and Ideas

Fresco Portraits by Fabrizio Ruggiero

Limonaia di Villa La Pietra, New York University, Florence

Hidden in a forest. High in Anghiari’s hills. A lone artist’s studio.

by Terence Ward

One Spring day, a counselor to the UN President of the General Assembly walked inside. He was stunned by the sculptures and the portraits. And he turned to my wife Idanna. “I see the colors of Africa, the spirit of Asia, I feel the ancient heart-beat of the Mediterranean. All this belongs at the UN.” And he asked us to collaborate.

A theme was chosen – the Transformative Power of Art. Inspiring figures. Artists, exiles, former prisoners, activists. All who used their Art to Raise Consciousness.

Flash forward. On the 70th anniversary of the first convening of the United Nations General Assembly, sculptures stood bold. Frescos lined the walls. The UN motto in 2015 was “Year for Global Action.”

Then, from the East River in Manhattan, the portraits crossed town, invited by NYU’s Casa Italiana for another exhibition.

And now, through Ellyn Toscano’s uncanny foresight and unusual vision, ALL has come full circle here to Villa La Pietra – here in Tuscany where these works first began their maiden voyage.

Joan Baez (USA)

Jiddu Krishnamurti (India)

Miriam Makeba (South Africa)

Edgar Morin (France)

Sebastiao Salgado (Brazil)

Wole Soyinka (Nigeria)

Gong Li (China)

Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan)

The project Ideas, People, Change, of which the exhibition is part, was coordinated by Davide Lombardo, NYU Florence.

|