Last Thursday our class met at Museo Marino Marini. I have to preface this by saying Marino Marini has been a major influence in my life and work. This museum is one of my favorite places in Florence. It pays great tribute to his work, specificially to his sculptures of the riders. Il museo is in the former space of the San Pancranzio church, just a Florentine stone’s throw away from via Tournabuoni.
Beneath the museum is a gallery space that features the work of contemporary artists. The current show features prints exhibited with corresponding poetry. We were given the opportunity to view the show with the artist. It was quite an experience to learn firsthand of the concept of the show as well as the technical details of the individual pieces.
Most of the questions for the artist were asked and answered in Italian. I often understand about half of these types of conversations. It’s sonically amusing at times when English words appear in the middle of Italian sentences. Cognates are common, but some words use the English pronunciation verbatim, carrying with them the same definition.
Did I just hear the English words donkey shot? And again? And again once more? Now I’m scanning my brain to think of what a donkey shot is. Or what it could potentially be. Whatever I’m hearing, it’s clearly being pronounced donkey shot. A few minutes later, as we view another print, the artist points to an abstract shape. Everyone laughs.
And at that moment I realize Don Quixote is pronounced donkey shot in Italian.
> Museo Marino Marini
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